EMD F59PH and F59PHI
Two F59PH locomotives owned by GO Transit at Oakville station in 2008
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderElectro-Motive Division (EMD)
Build date1988 to 1994 (F59PH)
1994 to 2001 (F59PHI)
Total produced72 (F59PH); 83 (F59PHI)[1]
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo'Bo'
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
LengthF59PH: 58 ft 2 in (17.73 m)
F59PHI: 58 ft 7 in (17.86 m)[2]
Prime moverEMD 12-710G3A (F59PH)[3]
EMD 12-710G3C-EC (F59PHI)[4]
Cylinders12
Performance figures
Maximum speed110 mph (177 km/h) (F59PHI)[4]
Power outputF59PH: 3,000 hp (2.24 MW)
F59PHI: 3,200 hp (2.4 MW)
Career
LocaleCanada, United States

The EMD F59PH is a four-axle 3,000 hp (2 MW) B-B diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division from 1988 to 1994. A variant, the F59PHI, was produced from 1994 to 2001. The F59PH was originally built for GO Transit commuter operation in the Toronto region. Metrolink in Southern California also purchased a fleet for its 1992 launch. The streamlined F59PHI was designed for Amtrak California intercity service. A total of 72 F59PH and 83 F59PHI locomotives were built.

F59PH

Between May 1988 and May 1994, 72 F59PH locomotives were built for two commuter transit railroads: GO Transit of Toronto and Metrolink of Los Angeles.[1] Based on the GP59, the locomotives had a turbocharged EMD 12-710G3A, a 12-cylinder, two-stroke Diesel engine (prime mover).[5] Head end power was supplied by a separate diesel generator.[6]

GO Transit began retiring its F59PH locomotives in 2008 in favor of newer MPI MPXpress locomotives.[5] Most were purchased by other operators including Exo (10 locomotives),[7] Metra (3),[8][9] NCDOT (11) for use on the Piedmont,[10][11] and Trinity Railway Express (7).[12] Five of the NCDOT units were rebuilt into cab control units without prime movers.[13]

Seven Metrolink units were rebuilt as F59PHR. The non-rebuilt Metrolink locomotives were retired by 2020.[14] Five of those were purchased by NCDOT in 2018.[15]

Original owners
Owner Number Year built Unit numbers Refs
GO Transit 49 1988–1994 520–568 [1]
Metrolink 23 1992–1993 851–873 [14]

F59PHI

A Caltrans-owned F59PHI locomotive on an Amtrak Capitol Corridor train in 2010

The F59PHI is a variant with a fully enclosed streamlined carbody. The first nine units were purchased by Caltrans for use on Amtrak California services and entered service in 1994.[16] Like the F59PH, the F59PHI is equipped with a secondary electrical generator – rated between 500 and 750 kW (670 and 1,010 hp) – for HEP.[17] A total of 83 locomotives were built, most for commuter rail and Amtrak corridor services on the West Coast.[18]

Two F59PHI locomotives were built in 1995 for Philip Morris Companies to haul the Marlboro Unlimited, a custom built luxury train to carry winners of a Philip Morris sweepstakes around the country. After Philip Morris cancelled the train, the units were stored before being sold to Metrolink in 1998.[19][20]

Some units are still in service with the original owners, while others have been retired. The 21 ex-Amtrak units were sold to Metra in 2018.[21]

Original owners
Owner Number Year built Unit numbers Refs
Amtrak (for Pacific Surfliner and Cascades) 21 1998 450–470 [21][4][22]
Caltrans (for San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor) 9 1994 2001–2009 [22][23]
6 2001 2010–2015
Exo 11 2000–2001 1320–1330 [18]
Metrolink 10 1995 874–883 [14][19][20]
4 2001 884–887
NCDOT (for Piedmont) 2 1998 1755, 1797 [18][24]
North County Transit District (Coaster) 2 2001 3001–3002 [25][26]
Sound Transit (Sounder Commuter Rail) 11 1998–2001 901–911 [27]
Trinity Railway Express 2 2001 569–570 [12]
West Coast Express 5 1995 901–905 [28][29]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c McDonnell 2015, p. 208
  2. ^ Marre, Louis A.; Withers, Paul K. (2000). The Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide. Halifax, Pennsylvania: Withers Publishing. pp. 112–114. ISBN 1-881411-25-7. LCCN 99069543.
  3. ^ "Canadian Trackside Guide". Canadian Trackside Guide. Bytown Railway Society. 2019. p. 1-99. ISSN 0829-3023.
  4. ^ a b c Amtrak Cascades Fleet Management Plan (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. November 2017. pp. 29, 95.
  5. ^ a b Solomon 2011, p. 159
  6. ^ Weaver, Christopher S.; McGregor, Douglas B. (March 1995). Controlling Locomotive Emissions in California: Technology, Cost-Effectiveness, and Regulatory Strategy (PDF). California Air Resources Board. p. 27.
  7. ^ Vantuono, William C. (January 31, 2022). "Siemens Mobility Chargers for Montreal". Railway Age.
  8. ^ "Metra to buy three used locomotives" (Press release). Metra. November 9, 2018. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
  9. ^ Danneman, Tom (November 9, 2015). "Metra's first F59PH is now in service". Trains Newswire.
  10. ^ Warner, David; Sutton, Harry (March 1, 2022). "Amtrak Motive Power Roster: North Carolina DOT Equipment". On Track On Line. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022.
  11. ^ "NCDOT adds two refurbished locomotives to passenger fleet". Trains Newswire. August 4, 2017.
  12. ^ a b "TRE Facts". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022.
  13. ^ "Attachment 3E: Statement of Work (February 2014)". Brownfields Property Application: Charlotte Locomotive & Railcar Maintenance Facility. North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 9, 2014. p. 2.
  14. ^ a b c "Part 2: Existing Fleet and Facilities". Metrolink Rail Fleet Management Report FY2020 – FY2040 (PDF). Southern California Regional Rail Authority. 2020. pp. 32–35.
  15. ^ "Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – December 14, 2018". Southern California Regional Rail Authority. January 4, 2019. p. 4.
  16. ^ "F59PHI debuts in California". Railway Age. December 1, 1994. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  17. ^ Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A field guide to trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 94. ISBN 0-395-70112-0.
  18. ^ a b c Solomon, Brian (2013). Classic Locomotives: Steam and Diesel Power in 700 Photographs. Voyageur Press. pp. 510, 527–529. ISBN 9780760345283 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ a b "The Motive Power and Equipment Scene" (PDF). Branchline. Vol. 35, no. 2. February 1996. p. 26. ISSN 0824-233X.
  20. ^ a b Metrolink Fleet Management Plan FY2015–FY2025. Southern California Regional Rail Authority. October 2015. pp. 42–45.
  21. ^ a b "Metra F59PHIs get ready for service". Trains. November 5, 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Appendix A: Asset Inventory". Amtrak Five Year Equipment Asset Line Plan: Base (FY 2019) + Five Year Strategic Plan (FY 2020–2024) (PDF). Amtrak. 2018. pp. 56–57, 104.
  23. ^ "Chapter II: Capital Program". California State Rail Plan 2005–06 to 2015–16 (PDF). California Department of Transportation. December 2005. p. 18.
  24. ^ Frey, H. Christopher; Graver, Brandon M. (August 13, 2012). "Chapter 2: Rail Yard Testing". Measurement and Evaluation of Fuels and Technologies for Passenger Rail Service in North Carolina (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. p. 28.
  25. ^ "Staff Report" (PDF). North County Transportation District. February 21, 2019.
  26. ^ Luczak, Marybeth (February 12, 2021). "NCTD introduces new cleaner locomotives and refurbished coaches". International Railway Journal.
  27. ^ "Motion No. M2016-123 Sounder Locomotive Overhaul Contract Amendment" (PDF). Sound Transit. December 15, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2017.
  28. ^ van Hattem, Matt (June 30, 2006). "West Coast Express". Trains Magazine.
  29. ^ "The Long-Awaited "West Coast Express"" (PDF). Branchline. Vol. 35, no. 2. February 1996. p. 10. ISSN 0824-233X.

References

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