ALC-42s in revenue service

Per Railfan & Railroad Magazine the ALC-42s are to enter revenue service on the Empire Builder "before Spring."

Per draft Section 305 Technical Subcommittee minutes of 2/3/22, revenue service of the first unit is expected to be next week. http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents ... 0draft.doc

Route not specified.

Hearing today's (2/8) #7 leaving Chicago

It happened today (2/8) on the Builder. 301 was leading but couldn't get PTC to work so a P42 was added to lead. Heard they had a fire in the lounge at Glenview but don't know the results.

Heard of the fire in Glenview caused by a HEP unit in there, plus that P42DC 84 (which was put up front) blew a HEP generator and had to get it fixed in Glenview. Currently just rumor, no press just yet.

I'll drop this here. It should be in Seattle today around lunch time.

Lead unit 302 on train 8 (eastbound Empire Builder) last night struck an unoccupied truck near Sultan, Washington.

From what I observed on Friday Feb 25, the sooner this motive power gets placed in revenue service, the better for Amtrak and the "host" railroads.

From and "up close and personal" observation of 92(25) at DFB, i.e. from the platform, I noted that both the 1XX P-42 and the 8XX P-40 had bodies that were corroded through. If any boarding passengers noticed such, I must wonder if it deterred their confidence in their journey.

Hopefully, those engines worked better than their cosmetics suggested they would.

Maybe. Do those engines get hit with a ton of sea spray? I'd imagine the salt from the ocean would cause the corrosion, and that area would be a "train rust belt".

http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents ... uppert.pdf indicates ALC-42s will be deployed to these routes as units become available:

• Empire Builder (CHI-SEA/PORT)
• City of New Orleans (CHI – NOL)
• Then operate WAS trains (Mid ‘22)
• Then operate NE trains (Late ‘22)
• Remaining LD service (2023)

Observed two 3XX locomotives, along with two P-42's (leading), in consist of #4(14).

Four engines for six cars - should not have been 65ML.

The ALC-42 is supposedly coming east on the Capital Limited. I might try to catch it coming though Point of Rocks. Anyone know what time it would be coming though? Early tomorrow morning prehaps?

Shortline614 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 16, 2022 2:44 pm The ALC-42 is supposedly coming east on the Capital Limited. I might try to catch it coming though Point of Rocks. Anyone know what time it would be coming though? Early tomorrow morning prehaps?

Capitol Limited. It’s for the building, not the place.

I believe all ALCs will be delivered to DC on the Capitol, as it gets them closest to Bear, DE.

Phase 7 livery ALC-42s are leaving the factory now:
https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... nt-scheme/

Spotted the ALC-42 on the Capital Limited at Point of Rocks.