Any HHP's or Toasters left on NEC

HHP8s are gone. Only way to see them on the corridor is to scout out the VERY small number of MARC units running commuter service out of Washington. 

 

AEM7s are still running but that number is dropping quickly....

I see AEM-7 toasters running Amtrak trains every day.

 

I also see AEM-7's all the time.. HHP's, they are now in the scrap yards, about the only place you will see them. 

Great article in the latest Trains Mag about the new electrics ACS-64.  Engineers love them.

Not all of them. MARC is still running a handful of HHP8s between Washington and Baltimore. 

Bombardier actually owns the HHP8s and leases them to Amtrak. Time still remains on the lease so, other than retiring them from service as has been done, Amtrak has to wait for the lease to expire or until such time an agreement regarding further disposition of the locomotives is reached with Bombardier. For now, they'll be staying on the property at Bear....no scrap yard just yet.

 

Bob

Any  preservation plans for at least one HHP-8?

I actually saw an Amtrak HHP-8 at Union Station not more than a few weeks ago.  I see the AEMs with regularity as well.  MARC also uses a few HHPs.  They look very sharp in the purplish-blue and orange color combination.

 

SEPTA continues to run their toasters.  They are generally looking somewhat ragged.  I am not aware of any replacement plans at this time.

Amtrak has purchased (according to one Amtrak conductor), some 200 Siemens locomotives from Germany. They are replacing all HHP's period. The new locomotives are way more powerful and boast many technological features. The locomotives resemble the Siemens Taurus. A popular locomotive in use, throughout Europe. I will always like the HHP, but life goes on and the mile post add up in terms of wear and tear on Amtrak's NE sector locomotives and cars.

 

 

Pete

 

 

200?

 

Not even close. Amtrak has purchased 70 ACS64 locomotives. 

 

They are based on German locomotives but overall built in the USA. Not just shipped over. 

Just relaying what a conductor told me. I might add that these locomotives are in use right now. I took quite a few pictures of several that passed through the BWI train station. Regardless of the actual numbers, they are really fine looking locomotives and will likely serve Amtrak very well into the future.

 

German technology is awesome, if not complicated.

 

 

Pete

Do you have much experience in troubleshooting "German technology"?

If you mean trains, no not at all, but I merely offered a basic opinion based upon years of historical research of German technology as it relates to WWII and post WWII armor.

 

No doubt the Germans build absolutely fantastic locomotives in my humble opinion. I think what I may have been eluding too was the fact that much of what the Germans make can be rather overdone and thus complicated to work on. Which is not to say that what they manufacturer is bad.

 

Hope this answered your question and thanks for asking.

 

Pete

 

A couple of recent pics on the corridor in RI

The AEM7s were so reliable...why didn't Amtrak just continue with that supplier to make Generation II instead of ground up fresh designs each time.  

Because the AEM7 units were a result of a "partnership" between EMD-GM, ASEA, and Amtrak. Obviously EMD is no longer part of GM and ASEA is essentially gone. Thus, Amtrak need a new, more reliable supplier.