Engines of Metro North Bl20GH

Engines of Metro North BL20GH
This is a video all about the BL20GH and GHM, they are Metro North's primary option when it comes to diesel shuttle service. They run on the upper Harlem, Waterbury and Danbury branches pulling 3 or 4 car shuttles as that is all that they can due to the head-end power restrictions. The locomotives replaced Metro North's tried and true EMD FL9 locomotives as well as the newer EMD FP10 locomotives as well. When the BL20GH's were rebuilt into BL20GHM's to try and make them more reliable, the Connecticut Department of Transportation changed the paint from old McGinnis Scheme to a version of CT rail scheme just without the CT rail logos. Metro north BL20GHM 125 came back in this scheme and has recently entered into revenue service after being placed onto rail wash service. The Staten Island Railway also owns a similar version just without HEP or head-end power. Metro North's BL20GH and in the future BL20GHM locomotives will go on to pull shuttles for hopefully years to come.

[@daf827]

While traveling Metro-North’s Danbury Line, I asked a conductor what were the crews’ reviews on the BL20GH. He told me about their pulling limitations, as you pointed out. He also said they had mechanical issues but wasn’t specific. I think they look good, but being an old NHRR fan, I miss the FL9s.

[@nyrailfan202]

Looks great, but the fl9’s looked better

[@christopherjensen605]

@@nyrailfan202 I miss the old RDC Budd Cars that ran the Waterbury Line. Those were the first trains I have ever rode.

[@NorthAtlanticRails]

Current BL20 fleet:
BL20GH: 110, 113, 115
BL20GHM: 111, 112, 125, 126, 127, 128, 130
114 and 129 are currently missing (I presume they are being rebuilt into BL20GHMs)

[@MattyPLayzYT27]

You got my favorite locomotives in here, 115 and 228

[@tom-and-mom]

1:07 What year was that taken?

[@nolantherailfan5048]

2:19 it's called a mixed traffic engine

[@randomstuff42929]

great video

[@nyrailfan202]

Thanks

[@nah_144]

This was an interesting episode. I didn't know that the FL9s lasted into the mid to late 2000s

[@nyrailfan202]

It’s very amazing

[@BrandzX93]

@@nyrailfan202 shows that emd built some durable locomotives

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Wonder why they didn't put on bigger head-end power generators (at least during the rebuild)? Weight restrictions? (These locomotives already weigh average 33 tons per axle, which for modern times seems awfully heavy for units of only 2250 hp, considering that the F40PH of the 1970s was already 3000 hp, AND some rebuilders managed to cram in a separate head-end power generator engine anyway.)

[@nyrailfan202]

The world may never know

[@southwesternct2222]

I think I saw one of these the other day

[@nyrailfan202]

It’s possible

[@Travelstar98]

Is there a BL20GH hauled trains into Grand Central?

[@nyrailfan202]

Rarely and only in non revenue service

[@TRRailfan]

Not really. You can see them on the Waterbury branch though

[@apr859]

Went to gct with my dad and his conductor friend. The conducter and his friends were ranting about the "little b's"

[@nyrailfan202]

They’re not wrong

[@apr859]

@@nyrailfan202 yeah. One of the engineers said they were fun but the conducter did not. He was a cool dude. Very particular about equipment. Doesn't like the m8s but he thinks m7s are worse. (Cramped) He likes the p32s he runs on the danbury branch

[@maxhemenway]

Cool!

[@tedbownas2748]

These run on the Upper Harlem and Connecticut branch lines. They pull three-car shuttle trains, and are generally considered much less reliable than FL9s were. They are universally disliked by the crews and mechanics alike. Lol

[@nyrailfan202]

Yup

[@StocktonSubber]

I think we have a few here on the Central California Traction to replace the aging GP18s from Rock Island

[@nyrailfan202]

The ones on CCT are not exactly bl20gh’s they are actually a type of gen set that Brookville makes

[@StocktonSubber]

nyrailfan 202 Thanks. I now know that what I thought were BL20GHs on CCT, they are really BL12CGs

[@keelanthejet7082]

What does it stand for?

[@jackslc01]

I miss the FL9s they look honestly better as well the P32AC-DM with the shoreliners than the Bl20GH

[@upstatenewyorkrailfan6775]

Nice video and I actually saw CDOT Brookville BL20GH 130 on the CSX q363 last Friday in Fairport

[@harold1098]

Very informative!

[@kNo1bdy]

It’s like a modern version of a emd gp locomotive.

[@nyrailfan202]

And that is basically what metro north wanted

[@apr859]

They weren't as reliable. In fact I hadn't heard of Brookville until 7 months after I got into railfanning. And that's why mpi rebuilt them.

[@klevis2547]

4:30 what’s the name of that station?

[@galaxyrailfanning7860]

Hey awesome video! Very informative!

[@nyrailfan202]

Thanks

[@Feliex430]

Amtrak with a happy face and 1:33

[@southwesternct2222]

I also saw a leased P42 with State of Connecticut cars on an express train quite a long time ago.

[@AGM-TRAINS]

Really enjoy your videos, if you could do the engines of The Long Island Rail Road, EDM DE/DM30AC would be awesome, I think we’re the only Rail Road with these diesels

[@nyrailfan202]

Yes the LIRR is the only railroad with those

[@Robbi496]

Good video, but I BELIEVE that the proper way to say the name of the Ex-NH president is MICK - Ginnis, not Mick - Jinnis

[@beelineenthusiast]

What's funny is I've seen I think 110 and 115 running as a work train. I can't remember the number

[@guggenheimasg]

do they have them still running today into grand central Terminal?

[@nyrailfan202]

Rarely and mostly in non passenger service

[@johnkurtz8360]

I like this locomotive better then LIRR 400 series locomotives

[@hmitchell8618]

What horns do the BL20GHs have?

[@turbochargedtransit7241]

Nathan K3LA.

[@njrailfanner45]

Do the SPV 2000 next

[@JerzeyBoy]

If it has a Detroit Diesel. Then it should sound like a Detroit.

[@nyrailfan202]

Well it does break down a lot

[@thetrainguy1]

I think once Railroads start retiring their Geeps then this little locomotive will shine.

[@nyrailfan202]

If theese aren’t retired first

[@novus201]

@@nyrailfan202 LMAO

[@tylergreen4843]

You should do the budd spv-2000 next

[@TheKfeliciano2]

I've seen them in 161st street NYC but unfortunately they only use them for rail work.

[@mitchtube00]

Are there going to be any more Engines of Metro North?

[@nyrailfan202]

Yes definitely

[@mitchtube00]

nyrailfan 202 awesome can’t wait to see it

[@ginogalante]

Spv-2000 and rdc

[@lehl_railfan5325]

what kind of horns do they have?

[@nyrailfan202]

Loud ones

[@metronorthrailfan2244]

The BL20GHs have Nathan K3LAs

[@BrandzX93]

what is the song in the intro?

[@jimbobcramden]

how much torque does the locomotive has?

[@nyrailfan202]

I don’t know as torque is not an important figure for locomotives as the Diesel engine does not directly power the wheels.

[@jaysmith1408]

The engine itself, 6157 lb/ft between 1650-1800 rpm. 6060 at 2000. Mind you, that is Oilfield Spec, the only data I could find.

[@nyrailfan202]

But due to the drivetrain who knows how much at the wheels

[@orangefan200]

Can you make SPV-2000

[@mitchtube00]

Omg yes I have been waiting

[@914_ryan8]

Great video! I was also wondering how old are you because you sound young. I’m 17 and I assumed you are still in high school

[@nyrailfan202]

Thanks

[@ginogalante]

Omg yes

[@governorrat8640]

I've return

[@Wes8761]

Great video

[@nyrailfan202]

Thanks

[@Wes8761]

nyrailfan 202 hey if u can check out my comment on the FL9 video