by 8th Notch
It has already been testing. *NOT MY PHOTO*
Railroad Forums
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STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 7:54 amI did some digging this morning in the STB database. AMTK 691 (formerly AMTK 661) was not subject to the PMCC lease. The lease it was subject to was terminated back in 2010 so Amtrak owns that unit free and clear.8th Notch wrote: ↑Sun Dec 12, 2021 12:13 pm It has already been testing. *NOT MY PHOTO*Yep, that's Amtrak equipment. Now I really want to know how they pulled that off with the settlement.
STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:13 am Onto speculating how to turn those HHP-8's into cabs... or maybe run them through what MARC did and turn 'em back into proper engines.Doing some quick digging, It looks like the pantographs are removed and the traction motors are just disconnected. Very light on details other then that
rcthompson04 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 11:56 am I predicted this back in November 2019.Heh, 2 year old prediction. In this case, I was wrong... but this means I can re-predict with more info. Let me ask some fellow fans over in another chat... Huh... MBTA got a pair of AEM-7's now for their slow electrification progress. There's rumors that 15 of them went up to Davisville as they got bought by Keolis for MBTA operations.
https://railroad.net/post1525507.html#p1525507
Amtrak probably got a deal these units and the Acela cars. Seeing the Acela replacements are taking longer and Amtrak has a control car problem, writing a check to PMCC probably made sense. For PMCC, getting something for these units probably got someone at the winding down PMCC a nice bonus.
STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 6:37 pm Take Amtrak's AEM-7's (and include MARC's and SEPTA's)... and send them out to Caltrain...Caltrain has purchased two AEM-7s from Amtrak and they're stored in San Francisco now. But these are just for testing and possibly emergency/rescue use. Revenue equipment for electric operations will be new EMUs. maybe in 2024 or 2025?
8th Notch wrote: ↑Mon Dec 13, 2021 8:58 pm I’m pretty sure the AEM7s weren’t purchased by Keolis, IIRC the actual private owner was never fully disclosed. The last I heard awhile ago was the T possibly testing ACS64s but that never came to fruition. With the Siemens sets on the horizon, I’d be surprised if Amtrak put any significant work into the HHP8s to get them running .I know the private owners, as I am one of them. The business of the future of the 15 is possibly bright. The one Caltran unit was painted as some have seen on social media. The merits of use of these beyond testing is being discussed. IF the second unit is livened up, this will be explored further. There are people working hard to ensure this success. The AEM 7 AC still shares many many critical propulsion electronic parts with the newest acela sets and should make bringing them into the future that much easier other than the ye olde bodies.
ApproachMedium wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 12:38 am I will also add, that amtraks constant need to shop ACS 64s because of their plague of bugs and other such problems will likely prevent them from being leased to any agency anytime soon.Oh dear. What's the MDBF these days?