Alcochaser wrote:When they were working, which was a screaming ordeal to get them synced. Im not sure.
But the system was a huge HUGE pain in the rear, it got so bad Amtrak hired electricans to staff endpoints to get the HEP sets synced up. Auto train terminals as well.
But then again, back them no one had portable gadgets. Only the bathrooms had outlets for pax, which were clearly marked RAZORS ONLY. There were some plugs for sweepers, but those were when the car was on ground power.
That answers my question, I guess, though I suspect it was marked "razors only" more for load limitations and power spikes than for phase discrepancies. In any case, I think the only easy way to ensure synchronized power from multiple sources would be to run a DC line and convert it back to AC in each car.
Oh, that reminds me. Back to the F40PH, did they have the capability to run 32vdc trainline-powered lights in their older steam-heated cars? I'm not sure if the trainline is standard on all locomotives, or only pre-HEP passenger units.