The first locomotive assigned its new Metra road number, No. 84, also received minor electrical upgrades to bring it to Metra standards before being released for service. Metra is scheduled to being training their operating crews on the new locomotives in December. Due to the lack of cab signals on the F59PHI fleet, they will be based at Metra’s Western Avenue shops and work the Milwaukee, North Central and Heritage routes which do not require cab signal equipped locomotives.
The F59PHI is the second model Metra has purchased with EMDs 710 prime mover, following the acquisition of three F59s in 2014. The F59PHI was built between 1994 and 2001 and is the F59s successor which was built between 1988 and 1994. While both are essentially the same mechanically, the largest differences are the F59PHIs additional body panels, cab, and nose redesign to accommodate the isolated cab, giving the F59PHI a slightly longer overall length than the F59. The isolated cab design was found on many EMD freight and passenger locomotives, designed to create a quieter working environment for the operating crews.
The commuter agency paid $1.3 million each for the F59PHIs while it continues to look for additional new or rebuilt power. The agency in January issued a request for proposals for at least 12 new or 15 remanufactured locomotives with options for up to 30 additional new locomotives or 27 additional remanufactured locomotives, for a total of up to 42 new or remanufactured locomotives. That RFP is in the evaluation process.
The F59PHIs are being shuttled from California to Chicago on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief at the rate of one locomotive per train, which should place the balance of the order in Chicago before the end of November.
Last Saturday, I rode #8 from Whitefish to St. Paul. The trailing unit was a F59PHI that was used on the Cascades. The out going engineer told me that the Cascade F59PHI’s we’re being sold as well.
Mike Lustig.
Two of the first units sent east, one in Pacific Surfliner colors and one in the Cascades scheme, actually went to North Carolina for temporary service on the state’s Piedmont trains while two NCDOT units were in Colorado for PTC testing. Both ran in this service in their existing colors.
I hope they got new horns.
When we made a trip to Chicago on the Capitol Limited and were in the middle of hi-level cars ( in a PV ) heading West, one of the locos on the head end was a brand new F59PHI heading West. That has only been 20 years ago. Short time for a loco’s lifetime so they should still be in decent shape. And as they are likely moving East live, they would not be getting a bill from Amtrak. They would be saving wear and tear on Amtrak’s locos so Amtrak would come out ahead as long as they don’t deliver them with a full tank of fuel.
Another thing that crossed my mind is that what used to be this F59PHIs original Amtrak number that is pictured above for this newswire story? Is it 450 cause that was the first Surfliner F59PHI to leave Southern California.
I meant for Metra (new engines)
Apparently from what I have heard the Northern California F59PHIs that are used on the Capital Corridor and San Joaquin Trains are Not going to Metra as apparently Caltrans or CDTX which owns the NorCal F59PHIs (not Amtrak) plans to keep the F59PHIs and not replace them with the Siemens Chargers that they have running now.
Hopefully for new engines it’ll be the F125s. Just because they got off to a poor start doesn’t mean that they are worthless and embarrassing to have. The F125s are becoming more and more reliable and are actually great locomotives.
The F59PHIs running in northern California are owned by Caltrans, not by Amtrak.
The sale to Metra eliminates the model from Amtrak’s roster… But these are all being sent via the SW Chief. What about the locomotives used in the San Joaquin and Capital Corridor services? Or is it that those aren’t owned by Amtrak since they they carry the CDOX reporting marks?
Hmmm…If they belong to Metra, I wonder if they are “private cars,” subject to the new rates and restrictions published a few days ago. Here’s a chance for Amtrak to “soak ’em” for as much as can be extracted in fees. ( Just a little gallows humor, for those of you who take everything too seriously.)