Genesis discussion (AMD-103, P40DC, P42DC)

For the last several weeks I have seen the Southwest Chief (3&4) leading with P42's and trailing P32BWH (#502-519 Series) and P40 (#800-843) in back.

Is this a lack of P42's or for maintenance reasons?

Last I heard, Amtrak had too much power, and mothballed some units.

Most of the Dash-8's were used for switching and maintenance use before Amtrak received new switchers. I think the Dash-8 is simply "available" now, so that's what they use. They find themselves on the Sunset Limited as well.

Amtrak nees about 149 diesels for daily use.
average availability of P42's is about 169 per day.
that leaves about 30 units to be shopped per day and still have spares.

Mr. Railnut,
The correct number is 158 needed. Mr. Arnstag the reason the P40's have been used on 3/4 are they use what's avaible as the 3rd unit on 3/4 like I've seen P42, P32 and P40's all as 3rd Units.

According to the most recent issue of Trains magazine, Amtrak has 17 active P32AC-DM locos. Has one been lost, or did someone simply make an error? 700-717 makes 18 units, right?

Correct non are lost they just counted wrong.

DutchRailnut wrote:Correct non are lost they just counted wrong.

I THINK THEY LOST 703 I heard some where.

AmtrakFan wrote:

DutchRailnut wrote:Correct non are lost they just counted wrong.

I THINK THEY LOST 703 I heard some where.

I hope not; however, this roster shows only 17 active. If that's true, I wonder what happened. I turned up a 2003 photo of #703 in Phase V paint, so if it was lost, it happened recently.

AmtrakFan wrote:I THINK THEY LOST 703 I heard some where.

There's no need to shout.

The 703 just came back from its rebuild, but I think we lost the 713 last week after it too came back from its rebuild, first or second trip and it died.

RMadisonWI wrote:

AmtrakFan wrote:I THINK THEY LOST 703 I heard some where.

There's no need to shout.

Sorry everyone! I didn't notice my Caps Lock was on again

<i>The 703 just came back from its rebuild, but I think we lost the 713 last week after it too came back from its rebuild, first or second trip and it died</i>

Um...isn't the point of rebuilding it so that it doesn't die?

I'm sure they got the Phase VIIX paintjob and the new logos perfect, though...

The figures for active units include those on programed overhaul but not those long term out of service (usually wreck, fire or major mechanical repairs). The number of active units changes from day to day. I'd expect that P32ACDMs figure has returned to 18 by now.

It is 703 that has been off roster for some time. It was overhauled in 2003 then after an unknown indicent returned to Beech Grove for most of 2004. From posting above it now seems to have returned.

713 returned last month from programed overhaul at Beech Grove and as such would not have been off-roster.

The surviving active P40s are now operating all over the system after recently being transfered from the Auto Train to General Pool use and are freely inter-mixing with P42s.

Was told the 713 "blew up" Easter eve dont have details but I got that info from the shop foreman while getting a couple of lite engines ready for there trip to SPG Easter morning. As for the 703, I had the luck of drawing that engine on a rescue ( the crew was short time) picked up train in POU and made it as far as HUD with all types of faults.

Here's a link to anarticle on the design of Amtrak's (& VIA's) GE "Genisis" Locomotive and the Next Generation Concept.