Siemens-made SEPTA ACS-64 No. 901 moves through Roslyn, Pa., on Feb. 10.
Gary Pancavage
PHILADELPHIA — Watch for sleek new power on lines in and around the City of Brotherly Love as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority begins testing their first copy of Siemens’ ACS-64 electric locomotive. Railfans spotted SEPTA No. 901 at the intersection of Easton and Susquehanna Roads in Roslyn, Pa., on Feb. 10 during a round-trip to Warminster, Pa., on the agency’s north-south Warminster Regional Rail line. SEPTA is expected to purchase 15 locomotives that will upgrade service and replace 7 AEM-7 and 1 ALP-44 locomotives.
From the earliest days of electrified railroading and the GG1s, standard practice has been to use the REAR pantograph as the primary power source. Premise is that if something snags it or causes it to dewire, the
forward ‘graph should be undamaged and that improves the odds of resuming movement. The new Seimens motor was set up to run that way. Probably the operator of #901 is too young or undertrained to understand this basic principle!
To Mr. Forbes: That line normally is serviced by SEPTA EMUs. The new motors are to be used along the NEC and potentially will haul bi-level coaches on high-density routes. Because of the height limitations in the North River tunnels and NYP, [and almost certainly elsewhere on SEPTA] no one has figured out a way to construct bi-level EMUs that will fit the template. To test a new motor under energized wire, it is entirely logical that a low-density branch line would be first choice. If Conrail hadn’t de-wired the freight-only Trenton Cutoff, that would have worked also.
I believe SEPTA cut a deal with Conrail/NSC to leave the overhead support structures along the Cutoff in place in case passenger service ever comes to pass on that route. New constant-tension catenary would go in. Anyone know if that’s still the case? Isn’t there a SEPTA line item covering an engineering assessment of overhead clearances along all their electrified lines to determine clearance requirements in case they want to convert to 25KV 60Hz, which would be a logical future-looking move?
Joseph: I guess that you’ve forgotten what people called the AEM-7 when they first came out. Swedish Meat Ball, Toaster, Mighty Mouse.
I suppose everyone has their own idea of beauty. While I don’t doubt the operational power of these units these streamlined bricks will hardly entice anyone an already doubtful public about the efficiencies
Nice looking locomotive. Sleek lines that convey speed.
I realize the one car train is probably just for testing. My question is since the line is electrified why not transition to EMU’s?