ACS-64 Heads Up

[Acela150]

Reports are circulating that 600 will debut on train #171 this Friday with a possible Press Run Thursday.. Keep your eyes and ears open for further reports.

Confirmed by an Amtrak Engineer. The following will take place:

Wednesday unit 600 will run WAS-PHL as train 880. Train might show in ARROW as of now it is not showing.

Thursday unit 600 will run as train 882 PHL-BOS.

Friday unit 600 will run on train 171 between BOS-WAS.

Get your cameras ready! Good luck to all!

 

[PerRock]

Any idea if it'll run at all on Saturday?

peter

 

[Guest]

Just saw two more ACS64 Locos in Philly. I'm pretty sure there are at least three of them at the moment in the 30th Street Yard.

 

[Fan Railer]

Any idea if it'll run at all on Saturday?

peter

That, we'll have to wait to find out. Obviously, it'll depend on how 600 performs this Friday.

 

[Fan Railer]

The Amtrak blog website has a post today on the training for the ACS-64s: Whats It Like: Amtrak Cities Sprinter Engineer Training. Has 2 short video clips.

With the addition of the 70 new Amtrak Cities Sprinter (ACS-64) locomotives, comes new equipment to learn. Thats why the 450 Amtrak engineers on the Northeast Corridor have been participating in multi-day locomotive training. Heres your glimpse into how they are preparing for the arrival of the new equipment.

Each training is facilitated by an Amtrak road foreman who instructs eight engineers. During the comprehensive training sessions, participants receive classroom and operational training as well as software-based and simulation training. At the culmination of the training, the engineers are observed by their supervisor for a qualification to operate the locomotive.

Jonathan Hines, Amtrak System General Road Foreman, is responsible for training the engineers and has received great feedback from them, Response from participants has been very very positive, he said. They have been excited to see what the equipment can do and are quite impressed with what they are getting.

By the end of February, all Northeast Corridor engineers will have completed the training and will be qualified to operate the new Amtrak Cities Sprinter.

If they are that close to having all the NEC engineers qualified, entry into revenue service can't be far off.

Seems like they are planning to make the big announcement on the 171 run tomorrow: http://blog.amtrak.com/2014/02/watch-sit-inside-amtraks-new-locomotives/

In preparation for tomorrow's big news, we're showing you just how awesome our new locomotives are ... from the driver's seat! They'll be powering the trains on our Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., and Boston soon.

This is a perspective that customers rarely get, but we've been sharing the exclusive footage on our Instagram account all week. For more insider info, follow us @Amtrak.

The new Cities Sprinter locomotives were designed for improved safety and reliability. They also allow for more efficient and cost-effective maintenance, which means they can return to service as quickly as possible, getting you to exactly where you need to be. On time.

 

[SarahZ]

Seems like they are planning to make the big announcement on the 171 run tomorrow: http://blog.amtrak.com/2014/02/watch-sit-inside-amtraks-new-locomotives/

I love videos taken from the engineer's seat. That was fun.

 

[jis]

Some more on this:

The official unveiling of the ACS64 will be tomorrow at 30th St. in Philadelphia with speeches by Joe Biden, DOT’s Anthony Foxx, Joe Boardman and the president of Siemens USA, Mr. Speigal.

Also reported elsewhere that the first commercial run will be by engine #600 on train #171 from Boston to Washington DC on Friday.

 

[Ryan]

Awwwww, yeah!!! Through Odenton close enough to the end of the workday that I can hopefully knock off a little early and grab it, but early enough that it'll still be light out. Southbound to boot, which gives a slightly better shot (it'll be running towards whatever sun is out.

SCORE!!!

 

[NE933]

Great news, y'all!! Glad to hear it.

 

[engr08]

Someone reported of an extra ACS64 in Philly today. We all know by reading this thread that the 605 now resided in Philly but do anyone know what other motor is there now?

 

[Guest]

ACS64 #605 is in the pit lines with all the other Amtrak locos. ACS64 #600 (maybe) is in the yard attached to the 3 amfleets ready for tomorrow. The third ACS64 was attached to 2 amfleets and beach grove and the set was shunted into 30th Street Station.

 

[afigg]

Some more on this:

The official unveiling of the ACS64 will be tomorrow at 30th St. in Philadelphia with speeches by Joe Biden, DOT’s Anthony Foxx, Joe Boardman and the president of Siemens USA, Mr. Speigal.

Also reported elsewhere that the first commercial run will be by engine #600 on train #171 from Boston to Washington DC on Friday.

The Vice President and the Secretary of Transportation? That will make the media event a pretty big time dog and pony show. Wonder if Biden and the Secretary will travel to PHL on an Acela or get a ride with Boardman in the Beech Grove office car? Although for the VP, the Secret Service might object and require him to fly if they think that Biden's traveling by train has been leaked in advance.

Now that first ACS-64s is finally about to enter service, I would expect that the delivery of new engines from Sacramento will resume shortly.

 

[engr08]

Some more on this:

The official unveiling of the ACS64 will be tomorrow at 30th St. in Philadelphia with speeches by Joe Biden, DOT’s Anthony Foxx, Joe Boardman and the president of Siemens USA, Mr. Speigal.

Also reported elsewhere that the first commercial run will be by engine #600 on train #171 from Boston to Washington DC on Friday.

The Vice President and the Secretary of Transportation? That will make the media event a pretty big time dog and pony show. Wonder if Biden and the Secretary will travel to PHL on an Acela or get a ride with Boardman in the Beech Grove office car? Although for the VP, the Secret Service might object and require him to fly if they think that Biden's traveling by train has been leaked in advance.

Now that first ACS-64s is finally about to enter service, I would expect that the delivery of new engines from Sacramento will resume shortly.

The original report was the 600-609 was to be delivered to the NEC for trial runs but when they found certain issues with the first 6 motors production was stopped. Now that these issues has been fixed and the first ACS is entering service I believe they should start ramping up production soon. I wouldn't be surprise if the 607-08 would show up this month.

 

[ronkstevens]

anyone know the time of the events in Philly tomorrow?

 

[Acela150]

anyone know the time of the events in Philly tomorrow?

Just a guess that it will be in the morning. To avoid a PM rush run through NYP and Metro-North.

 

[NE933]

Now, let's push for these dignitaries to amp up their puckers and really do whatever's necessary to blare out how badly the rest of the rail system needs similar nfusion of new engines, railcars, better and more track, even if they have to have their lips make contact with someone's buttocks, to get their attention.

 

[ACL]

Just got my ticket to ride 171 from BWI to WAS. First revenue service of an ACS-64 into Washington. Hoooray!!!!

 

[jis]

I just got one for a ride on 171 on Friday the 7th of Feb, from MET to PHL. So if anyone else plans to be on please let us know.

 

[jis]

According to reports on Trainorders:

1. 600 will operate on 171 on Friday

2. On Saturday and Sunday 600 will be on 152 and 159

3. During the week it will be on 184 and 129 (WAS - NYP and back)

4. 601 will be accepted on Feb 20 and will be assigned to 184/93 or 129. What does 600 do during the week then, don't know)

5. Starting March 1, until order completion Siemens will release 3 new locomotives per month.

 

[WoodyinNYC]

According to reports on Trainorders:

1. 600 will operate on 171 on Friday

2. On Saturday and Sunday 600 will be on 152 and 159

3. During the week it will be on 184 and 129 (WAS - NYP and back)

4. 601 will be accepted on Feb 20 and will be assigned to 184/93 or 129. What does 600 do during the week then, don't know)

5. Starting March 1, until order completion Siemens will release 3 new locomotives per month.

I like these reports!

Starting March 1 we'll see 3 per month, means 27 by

the end of the year plus those in the test phase, so

almost half of the fleet will be ACS-64s by the start

of 2015.

Correct me if I'm missing something, but won't this be

the first big delivery of new equipment since the Acelas?

 

[cpamtfan]

Trying to decide if I want to go see this first or, and if so at the Hunterspoint Avenue LIRR or just while it's in NYP...

 

[afigg]

Now, let's push for these dignitaries to amp up their puckers and really do whatever's necessary to blare out how badly the rest of the rail system needs similar nfusion of new engines, railcars, better and more track, even if they have to have their lips make contact with someone's buttocks, to get their attention.

VP Biden and Secretary Foxx are expected to use the roll-out to advocate for infrastructure investments. The Obama administration has been pushing hard the past 3 years for spending more on infrastructure of all kinds, but of course, has been blocked by the House, especially on anything to do with HSR. AP article previewing todays new conference: Vice President Joe Biden visiting Philadelphia to unveil new Amtrak engine.

PHILADELPHIA — Vice President Joe Biden is heading to Philadelphia to unveil Amtrak's newest engine.

He'll use the event at 30th Street Station to stress the need for infrastructure investment.

Thursday's news conference will feature a look at Amtrak's new Cities Sprinter electric locomotive. The U.S.-built engine will power trains along the Northeast Corridor from Boston to Washington and on Keystone Service from Harrisburg to Philadelphia and New York City.

Biden frequently commuted on Amtrak to Washington from his home state of Delaware during his long tenure in the Senate.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is also slated to attend the event

We will see if the roll-out will get coverage beyond short articles buried inside the Washington Post and other news outlets outside of Philly. It will get more coverage in Philly just because the Vice President is there.

 

[bgiaquin]

According to reports on Trainorders:

1. 600 will operate on 171 on Friday

2. On Saturday and Sunday 600 will be on 152 and 159

3. During the week it will be on 184 and 129 (WAS - NYP and back)

4. 601 will be accepted on Feb 20 and will be assigned to 184/93 or 129. What does 600 do during the week then, don't know)

5. Starting March 1, until order completion Siemens will release 3 new locomotives per month.

I like these reports!

Starting March 1 we'll see 3 per month, means 27 by

the end of the year plus those in the test phase, so

almost half of the fleet will be ACS-64s by the start

of 2015.

Correct me if I'm missing something, but won't this be

the first big delivery of new equipment since the Acelas?

No, the acelas were delivered in 2000, but the second order of new P42s were delivered in 2001.

 

[bgiaquin]

So if 601 goes in on the 20th, hopefully 602 will be in service by early March. LET THE MASS RETIREMENT OF THE AEM-7s BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BrianPR3]

So if 601 goes in on the 20th, hopefully 602 will be in service by early March. LET THE MASS RETIREMENT OF THE AEM-7s BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

the hippos first (HHP 8'S)!