Amtrak’s retired HHP8 electric locomotives — nicknamed “Hippos” during their relatively short operating life — are nearing their return to service as cab cars. The company operated crew-familiarization specials between New York and Wilmington, Del., on April 7-8, and will reportedly operate more this week. On April 8, cab cars Nos. 9751 and 9750 sandwiched an extra powered by ACS64 No. 623.
Fifteen of the Bombardier-Alstom locomotives were delivered in 2001 and retired by 2015 after a career marked by reliability issues. Amtrak began testing the depowered locomotives in a cab-car role in 2023 [see “News photo: Amtrak HHP8 tests …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 3, 2023]. The converted locomotives will allow Amtrak to retire or bolster its fleet of ex-Metroliner cab cars for the increased use of push-pull service on the corridor [see “Fixed forward and backward seating …,” News Wire, Feb. 28, 2024].
Given that Amtrak is qualifying crews on the NE Corridor between Wilmington and NY Penn, should we assume these will be deployed only on Keystone Service trains?
Alan Jones, in the absence of information, I would assume AMTK simply disabled the original traction equipment and left it in place, thereby avoiding altering the weight and balance of the units.
Well if Amtrak needs bells I know where all the surplus ones are!
The Hippos suspension was tuned to the weight of the units. What did Amtrak take out of the units and what did it replace to meet the same weight profile for the suspension?
I would think that the operators will appreciate some steel in front of them as they thunder down the tracks, some of the vehicles they have had to operate in the past made them first to arrive at any accident!
It’s certainly a much better situation than being exposed to the torch of the scrappers…
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
IF Acela 2 had been placed in service two years ago then Acela 1 power cars could have been neutered into cabcars. It is a shame to see all that freshly vacated space going to waste. Maybe they could install some windows and bring back the smoker’s lounge.
Remember that Amtrak’s unlucky HHP-8’s electrical system were based on Alstom’s SNCF Class BB 36000 locomotives (named Astride).
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
And this is what it takes to make the HHPs reliable… maybe.