PL42s. Success or failure?

I believe only NJTransit bought this locomotive? I’m wondering why no other company bought PL42s. We’re they bad problem engines? Are they still in service?

still in service , but poorly thought out most other commuter agencies have no use for them , as they are to high and do not have dual mode capability.

DutchRailnut wrote:still in service , but poorly thought out most other commuter agencies have no use for them , as they are to high and do not have dual mode capability.

Dutch, were they ever rebuilt? Can they be rebuilt or are there no parts because there is so few of these PL-42s.

its EMD in a Alstom body .

NJT has a habit of customizing everything they buy to the point where it makes no sense for any other agency to use the same equipment. When the PLs arrived on property, they were plagued with software problems and teething issues.

Fast forward to today, and NJT is getting rid of most of them with the new ALP-45A order. They have not seen a major rebuild, and likely won't. I've heard from crews that they ride like garbage at speed lol.

DutchRailnut wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2019 8:24 pm its EMD in a Alstom body .

With assembly in Hornell. Much like the Super Steel DE30/DM30 - EMD in a custom, one time designed car shell assembled by another builder.

Fan Railer wrote: ↑Sat Feb 20, 2021 11:50 pm NJT has a habit of customizing everything they buy to the point where it makes no sense for any other agency to use the same equipment.

Other than the GP40s and F40s, though. The Multilevels are now a standard design, with EXO/AMT and SEPTA (built by CRRC) with the same design. Comets were a standard built for multiple agencies between 1970 and 2001.

@R36 It’s funny you should mention the DM30AC. NJT was once considering getting an engine that was very similar to those except with an overhead pantograph instead of low-mounted electrical pickups. (Whatever they are called)

While I do personally like the PL42s, I personally think NJT would’ve been better off rebuilding their existing diesel fleet they had at the time. Maybe put new motors and cabs on them too, like the SD40E3s that CSX has.

The main purpose of the PL42s were to replace the GP40FHs (a non-standard design) and allow for a fleet of diesels that could haul the heavier, more demanding Multilevel cars.

But if MARC is now overhauling their GP39s to GP39H-3, there's no reason not for a GP40H-3 rebuild at NJT, especially many will be around (as work service and passengers as well).

They were assembled in two stages in order to beat the emissions deadlines for their respective engine tier class. Engine mounted to frame inside the shell and put on trucks to qualify as a new build before the Dec 31 cutoff date for that respective tier class. Many of these rush-built incomplete units were then hauled off to Wellsville on the WNY&P for indoor storage at the old Air Preheater facility, and it was only after the first of the year when they could no longer apply that engine tier did they come back to Hornell for software, paint, and other finishing work.

How old are these units, older than the PL42s?

03/08/23 03:00
Proposals Due: Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 21-056 "Overhaul of Seven (7) of NJ TRANSIT’s GP-40PH-2 Diesel Locomotives" No Fee** To obtain a copy of the RFP & Proposal submittal instructions please send an e-mail request to [email protected]. Please include your complete mailing address and business contact numbers.

RFP No. 21-056 Electronically via Secure File Transfer. Contact [email protected] for instructions

Yeah they are older. But according to Wikipedia, the PL42ACs can't be upgraded with EPA-compliant engines, so out to pasture they go.

@lensovet Correct me if I’m wrong, but the PL42 uses a EMD 710 prime mover right?

Hasn’t EMD made a Tier 3 compliant 710 in the past? And if so could the PL42s be upgraded with such engines?

lensovet wrote: ↑Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:01 pm Yeah they are older. But according to Wikipedia, the PL42ACs can't be upgraded with EPA-compliant engines, so out to pasture they go.

It this is true, then no other railroad can buy and operate the ex-NJT PL42ACs?

What Dcell said, And why is it an issue that the PL42s don’t meet emissions requirements but the old GP40s, some of which are from the CNJ days, are still running around not having to worry about such requirements?

Tier 3 isn't going to cut it. You need tier 4.

From NJT's press release in 2020:

The ALP-45A locomotives will replace some of the older PL-42AC series diesel locomotives in NJ TRANSIT’s fleet. The locomotives also feature upgraded diesel engines and an after-treatment system to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Tier IV emissions requirements, further reducing the locomotive’s emissions when operating in diesel mode. By contrast, even if overhauled, the PL-42’s EMD 710 diesel engine cannot be upgraded to Tier IV.

Presumably, the GP's engines can either by upgraded or replaced to be tier 4 compliant, the PL42's can't.