Screamer? (Nickname for 1976/78 EMD F40 in full HEP mode)

What's a "screamer"? I hear the term bandied about but am not sure what it's reffering to.

That's the first F40PH locomotive order bought by the MBTA new in 1976-77, numbered 1000-1017.

It turns out that a participant here likes to call them "screamers", citing the loud noise these commuter rail engines make.

engineers also call them screamers

conductors do too

They are called screamers because they lack a seperate head end power engine, and when in normal operation the main engine is going full tilt to provide HEP. The can operated without that feature when the HEP is not needed.

Ah, mystery solved. Thanks for the replys
Saw the 1000 at Islington yesterday, BTW

cpf354 wrote:Ah, mystery solved. Thanks for the replys
Saw the 1000 at Islington yesterday, BTW

A fellow Westwoodian? You live in Islington, cpf?

Maybe he lives in Franklin who knows LOL

Islington is on the Franklin Extension, 1000 must have been headed for Franklin/Forge Park

The term "screamer" tends to be viewed as being politically incorrect these days. If you use it in the office, you are likely to be attending "sensitivity" training until it can be clinically proven that your brain cells have all been neutralized.