BOSTON – The first of 40 new MotivePower Inc. HSP46 commuter locomotives will enter service Wednesday for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The first train with the new locomotives, which feature a new MBTA paint scheme, will be No. 213, departing Boston’s North Station at 10:30 a.m., arriving at Haverhill at 11:38 a.m. MBTA is the first customer for the new locomotive design.
The locomotives will be deployed across MBTA’s 12 commuter rail lines and placed in service as they arrive through summer 2015. On Oct. 24, 2013, the first unit was delivered to MBTA’s Boston Engine Terminal to begin testing and training.
The AC traction HSP46 uses a 12-cylinder, 4,650 hp prime mover. It is equipped with a static inverter for head end power, and meets Tier 3 emissions regulations. The AC traction systems, prime movers, head end power equipment, and computer systems are supplied by GE, while MPI supplies the brake, air, and cooling systems.
Orders were placed for 20 of the new units in 2010. In 2012, the MBTA board voted to approve an option for seven more locomotives, and in April 2013 approved the purchase of an additional 13 option locomotives, bringing the current order total to 40 units, Nos. 2000-2039.
It's ugly that only a mother could love it. However, if can do the job that it was designed for, with only in the shop for regular maintence and doesn't drink fuel like a drunken sailor. Then, it's a great locomotive. Now, the Long Island Rail Road's new diesels, all I can say is that someone must have hit them with an ugly stick!
Nathan Anderson, here in the Toronto area we run 12-car trains of Bombardier bilevels behind MP40's and they are full at rush hour. People go where the transportation is.
Paint job – Great!
Locomotive – dang Ugly!!!!!
@FRANCIS X CARLIN from CALIFORNIA ..In My post I was talking FP9, NOT F9…. Passenger gearing. Cant throw in an SD comparison on this..
Canada ran them efficiently.
Bruce, you're right 'bout talki'n, FP9 not F9.
Stipulation: an F and an FP are mechanically, and electrically and ergonomically identical. Structurally the FP's are longer to hold a boiler water tank in the car body behind the electric cabinet and ahead of the main generator.
But that is it! The FP's were F's. Note what Santa Fe did with !00 mile an hour geared F3's and F7's.
Bruce,
There's no reason not to believe that in Canadian winters "Canada ran them efficiently."
Longest consist I've seen on a commuter rail train is six duplex coaches, if more than that are needed then a) the T is doing a great job selling the service and b) they will need a whole lot more coaches to fill the need. Some lines are currently SRO but certainly not Greenbush which is the one I take every day.
Its has a great horn, but has an e-bell, pulling 10 cars, no sweat! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc1ZNxzAGd8
This may not be the prettiest passenger locomotive out there, but it's better than what MBTA currently runs!
I'd love to see Amtrak get some of these…those P40's and P42's aren't cutting it anymore. Hope EMD gets back into the passenger business.
@TED ELLIS – I was thinking the same thing. Yes, they're not exactly an E-unit, but the above photo shows a pretty nice looking loco.
I made a point in another thread about how important liveries are in terms of making a locomotive look great. The above is a good example.
Bruce
I doubt the F9 would "do as well on fuel, too."
I couldn't find the paper to back up a recollection that at full load an F9's V16 burned 108 gallons an hour, 1750 hp; at full load an SD40's V-16 burned 168 gal. an hour, 3000 hp; at full load an SD70's V-16 was advertised abt 4% more fuel efficient for each hp, 4000 hp
Solve for fuel used for each horsepower.
The above are 2 cycle, acknowledged less fuel efficient than 4 cycle and these MBTA engines have GE's up-to-date 4 cycle, right?
My mind, dithering, wonders: were there any FP9 or FP7 designated "A"?
there was no need to, 'cause boiler equipped "B" didn't need a different carbody.
And wonders: were FP9's unique to Canada or were any sold from the factory to Mexican or US railroads?
As long as it runs and never breaks down, I don't care what it looks like. Running push-pull out of both North and South Stations, riders never see their loco , anyhow.
4650 HP is overkill for what these do…and they will run at a higher RPM for tier 3 emissions..making them need more repairs. An updated FP9A could do this same job, probably do as well on fuel too..
Will they ever quit designing locos that look like a shoebox on a skateboard?
I'll take the Metrolink MP36 over these monstrosities!!!
Young designers played with Legos Legos are square blocks. When they grew up they went back to what they loved. Hence Lego locomotives
I guess I'm in the minority by saying they don't look half bad.
I hope Motive Power Inc. has field tested a prototype so no surprises crop up while the units are in regular service.
Ok, so the carbody design Engineer was probably a college intern. Still 4650 hp…not bad.
Please: someone 'Photoshop' an Alco PA (or even a FA, or a F-M 'C-liner') nose on it.
It looks like an MP36PH punched in the nose, but………we gotta move on. Just wait till the Siemens locos from Midwest acquisition start rolling, this HSP46 will look GORGEOUS!
Well put, Ira P Schreiber, this looks as if it was built by committee.
"Beauty may be skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone"
Roy Clark