Potential for more dual mode locomotives?

Considering the LIRR's shortage of diesel equipment and the popularity of it's dual mode runs, what is stopping the LIRR from ordering a special run of ALP-45DPs from Bombardier equipped with 750v DC gear?

This locomotive obviously fits in Penn Station, and savings could be realized by ordering at least a semi-off the shelf locomotive, using the existing car body, prime movers and controls, and simply swapping out the electric gear.

Is this more technically difficult than a layman like myself would imagine? Or is the railroad just not interested in spending the money, even though it's current diesel fleet is sorely lacking?

They should have gone for some 30 P32s back in 1998. The P32 is a proven design in daily service.

R36 Combine Coach wrote:They should have gone for some 30 P32s back in 1998. The P32 is a proven design in daily service.

True, but then politics got involved in building locomotives.

The 45DP is a bit weighty but presumably not having to install a 25kV transformer will take off a few pounds. Is Amtrak looking to rebuild or replace theirs? If replace, a joint order might be precluded by Amtrak and BBD's icy relations.

The P32dm has become the proven design,if Amtrak goes the repower route with EVO passenger kit,it
might be the easy route,the DE 30 carbody might be a bit tight for a repower.
If MPI and GE join up again for a new dual mode(depending on how well MBTA's HSP-46 does)
figure on Amtrak and MN being in line for them,LIRR will need to be "nudged" to join in by MTA HQ,
instead of finding "their" own solution as they did with "Super Steel/EMD" DE's and DM's

More liked "directed" into the Super Steel deal.

With "Senator Pothole" up for re-election that year, arm twisting for Super Steel to get the contract behind the scenes was part of the package. The candidate exploited this by using the "look what I did for you" theme in his re-election commercials on radio throughout the State.

And Sen. Pothole is........................?

ALP45 was manufactured overseas - might be a strike against getting any on LIRR if MPI or Siemens came forward with a US assembled unit. It's a small production number though if it's just LIRR ordering.

Rockingham Racer wrote:And Sen. Pothole is........................?

Alfonse D'Amato is "senator pothole".
MADDOG

I thought it was Joe Bruno who had those deals with Super Steel.

GEVO re powers? What are you talking about. The 710 is just as proven, if not more so than the GE engine.

the 710 is not Tier IV compliant.

So? The current diesel fleet is grandfathered under tier changes.

EM2000 wrote:So? The current diesel fleet is grandfathered under tier changes.

That's the key word. A new locomotive has to be Tier IV compliant.