ALP-45DP Thread

[goodnightjohnwayne]

To me, that seems only the consequences of having prioritized only freight trains and not passenger trains since CN is a private, freight train company, so their tracks are only good for freight trains and old less fuel efficient locomotives, and not brand new, high-tech trains...

You can listen to this report, and read the news report about this, even if it's in French, at the following link: http://tvanouvelles.ca/lcn/infos/region ... 70256.html

The ALP-45DP has exceptionally high axle loadings and, to the best of my knowledge, is the most expensive locomotive ever built. It should have been clear from the beginning that such an exceptionally heavy locomotive would be hard on the track structure. In the end, the real choice is between AMT upgrading CN's track, or reducing the weight and axle loadings of the world's most expensive locomotives, something that is hardly feasible. So the real solution is to pay the price in terms of track upgrades, maintenance and more frequent track inspections.


Here's a google translation of the article:

http://translate.google.com/translate?u ... 70256.html

It would be interesting to compare CN's track structure in the Montreal area(weight and age of rail, tie material, spacing and ballast) with the track structure that NJT is employing, both on and off the NE Corridor. At very least, there are two commuter rail agencies using the same locomotive, and I'm sure that they are comparing notes.

[Montrealrail]

heres some new about AMT ALP45DP

the derailment cause was track too much used
it's in french.from LCN
notice that they used two of my videos in this reporting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKEqUdU7nSk

heres the originals videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDcqKsSG3gs&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7BSpcC3x_0&

we are now in confusion,CN should gaved the OK to get them back in service,BUT,in another way,they don't want them over their tracks..

the only one line who should be able to run them is de Montreal/Deux-Montagnes line,but,still have to work on Central station tracks,by putting new rails and concrete ties,and use it on electric mode all the way long..

[AMTFan1]

The AMT ALP-45DP might be back for testing on Canadian Pacific tracks:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/She ... story.html

Shelved AMT locomotives to be tested on Canadian Pacific tracks

By Andy Riga, GAZETTE TRANSPORTATION REPORTER

November 5, 2012 6:31 PM

Montreal’s mothballed locomotives are hitting the tracks for tests and could be pulling trains carrying commuters within weeks.

The Agence métropolitaine de transport spent $308 million on 20 new German-built Bombardier locomotives. But it was forced to put them in storage after the first one derailed days after being put into service in December 2011.

Test runs involving eight locomotives will take place on Canadian Pacific tracks this week and next week, according to a memo sent to CP commuter train crews on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by The Gazette.

“AMT and Bombardier representatives will be on board to perform the tests and will train our crews” at the same time, says the memo, signed by a CP superintendent.

The tests will take place between Blainville and Saint-Jérôme.

The AMT is to begin using the locomotives to pull trains carrying passengers on its Blainville-Saint-Jérôme, before putting them into service on the Vaudreuil-Hudson line, the memo says. The locomotives will not be used on the Candiac line.

All three of those lines operate on CP tracks.

Claudia Martin, an AMT spokesperson, confirmed the tests. If all goes well, the locomotives will be put into service within weeks, she said.

The Dec. 7, 2011 derailment occurred at Central Station on the Mont-Saint-Hilaire commuter line, which runs on Canadian National tracks.

CN, whose tracks are also used for the Deux Montagnes line, has said it will not allow the locomotives to be used on its network until the Transportation Safety Board releases its report into the derailment. That report has not been completed yet.

There have been reports that CN tracks at Central Station may have been defective and unable to support the new locomotive, which is more powerful than others in the AMT fleet.

The locomotives are dual-mode, meaning they switch between diesel and electric.

The AMT has been criticized for opting for dual-modes, which are much more expensive than regular locomotives. They were purchased in part because the AMT planned to gradually electrify the commuter train network. That idea was shelved this year after CP and CN rejected the idea.

Questions have also been raised about the AMT’s plan to use the diesel-carrying dual-mode locomotives in the Mount Royal tunnel, which lacks modern safety features and escape routes. That tunnel is owned by CN.

[email protected]

Twitter:@andyriga
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/She ... z2BP50qvR8

[AMTFan1]

Some AMT ALP-45DP's were sighted at the Sortin yard. There are stored there for upcoming tests on Canadian Pacific (CP) tracks. Here's a picture taken by metrodemontreal.com/forum member le PAB this afternoon in which we can see one of them at the right of the picture:



Link: http://www.metrodemontreal.com/forum/vi ... 628#217628

If testing goes well, they could be back on duty in the coming weeks in the Vaudreuil/Hudson line and the Blainville/Saint-Jerôme line after being removed for nearly a year since AMT 1352 has derailed in Montreal Central Station last December.

[TrainDuNord]

The ALP-45DP has been back into revenue service since yesterday, but on the St.Jerome line this time (on a CP track). It was on train 191 from LuLA to St.Jerome last night and on train 174 inbound from St.Jerome this morning.

[AMTFan1]

Here's a picture and a video showing the ALP-45DP back on duty on the Blainville/Saint-Jérôme. AMT 1357 is the first to be put on duty after all the locomotives were shelved for an entire year following the derailment of AMT 1352:

Picture: http://emdx.org/photos/cptdb/j59283_QC- ... P-45DP.jpg

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwhiZKA ... ata_player

[Montrealrail1]

I will try to go see that tomorow

[TrainDuNord]

This morning at Concorde station:

http://esterel01.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... id=3292239

[AMTFan1]

Some pictures of the AMT ALP-45DP were taken today by metrodemontreal.com/forum user Le PAB at Montreal-Ouest station on CP Westmount subdivision. We can see AMT 1354 & 1357 on duty on the same train. For a brief period, the AMT will be using two locomotives on the same train, but then will be using only one locomotive on each train since one ALP-45DP can pull 12 multilevel cars:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/Bombardi ... story.html

The AMT says the new locomotives will cut operating costs. For one thing, they will replace leased ones. In addition, diesel fuel costs will be cut by 10 per cent thanks to the new equipment, Léonard said. That’s because they’re more efficient and because on long trains, the AMT will be able to operate with only one of the new, more powerful locomotives. Currently, on long trains, the AMT uses two of the old locomotives.

For a brief initial period, however, Blainville trains will be operating with two locomotives, Léonard said.

Here's the pictures, all the credits belongs to Le PAB:







Link: http://www.metrodemontreal.com/forum/vi ... 664#218664

[AMTFan1]

After AMT ALP-45DP 1354 & 1357 were put back on duty on the Blainville/Saint-Jerôme line, it's now the turn of AMT 1355 & 1358 to be on duty. Here's a picture of AMT 1358 with AMT 1355 at the rear of the train at Montreal-West station. The picture was taken on December 5th by Michael Berry and published on the CRO:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 8562_n.jpg

Other pictures and video were taken by metrodemontreal.com/forum user Le PAB today:



Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_e8sj0YJqk

[sparkyhero]

So if I understand correctly, the ALP-45DP's are in revenue service on the Blainville line only, and are not yet being tested on the Deux-Montagnes line because the CN is waiting for the accident report from the derailment?

[AMTFan1]

So if I understand correctly, the ALP-45DP's are in revenue service on the Blainville line only, and are not yet being tested on the Deux-Montagnes line because the CN is waiting for the accident report from the derailment?

Yes sparkyhero, the AMT ALP-45DP's are in revenue service only on the Blainville/Saint-Jerôme line as pure diesel engines and are currently being tested on CP tracks in diesel mode since the Deux-Montagnes line is the only electric train line and the tracks of the Deux-Montagnes subdivision belong to CN. CN still forbids those locomotives to be used on their tracks while CP has allowed them.

[sparkyhero]

Ok. Are all the locomotives on the Blainville line now ALP-45DP's? And what about Vaudreuil/Hudson, Candiac and Mont-St-Hilaire?

[AMTFan1]

Ok. Are all the locomotives on the Blainville line now ALP-45DP's? And what about Vaudreuil/Hudson, Candiac and Mont-St-Hilaire?

Only AMT 1354, 1355, 1357 & 1358 are on duty on the Blainville line only. AMT 1350 & 1353 are on CN tracks probably following testing, AMT 1352 has been removed since its derailment. The rest of the ALP-45DP's are following testing on CP tracks and will be deployed on the Blainville line and on the Vaudreuil/Hudson line in March 2013. None of the ALP-45DP will be used on the Candiac line. For the Mont-St-Hilaire line and the Deux-Montagnes line, since the tracks belong to CN, they won't be used on those lines until the TSBC publishes its investigation report. However, from unconfirmed sources, the ALP-45DP might be used on the Deux-Montagnes and Mont-St-Hilaire line in summer 2013, once the investigation will be completed...

[sparkyhero]

Allright. Question: besides the Deux-Montagnes train, does every line have it's own model of train and locomotives?