Amtrak P42C cab car

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Joined
May 18, 2024
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Looks like Amtrak has decided to at least test the idea of making P42s into cab cars. 9700 rolled out of Beech Grove with a fresh coat of Phase VII and a new number (it's believed to have been 184 previously, the original Phase IV heritage unit). Not much has changed externally, but the fuel cap is missing and the lettering by the nose indicates that the official designation is P42C and that it will be assigned to the Rensselaer shops. Notably, there is no baggage door, likely because the P42 construction wouldn't allow it without causing structural issues. Should be exciting to see how it does in testing, and whether some of the stored wrecks will be resurrected into more cabs.

 
Looks like VIA Rail is going to retire all of their P42's with the Venture sets coming along, while the F40's get another rebuild to get them through 2035. Amtrak should buy some if they are for sale.
VIA is also expected to order 30+ locomotives for long distance services. Expect a variant of a well-known freight locomotive to receive preference over Siemens, given Amtrak's issues and employee input.
 
Looks like VIA Rail is going to retire all of their P42's with the Venture sets coming along, while the F40's get another rebuild to get them through 2035. Amtrak should buy some if they are for sale.
If so, by that time, that locomotive basic design would have covered 59 years of service…an amazing tribute to its original designer’s…
 
Do you see them in service now that they have moved onto a P42 to test ?
The conversion of P42s does not confirm the HHPC program a failure and instead is a rumor. Remember that the P42C project is based in Rensselaer while the HHPC project is based in Wilmington. Nothing states that one project cancels the other. Supposedly, 9750 is waiting for crews to be trained and 9751 is not far behind 9750. This is information from someone who went to a NRHS Railcamp to the Wilmington shops but I can't confirm anything since I did not go.
 
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