Favorite Amtrak Locomotive

[Acela150]

I'm curious to see what everybody thinks of Amtrak's former and current locomotive stock is their favorite.

Thanks,

Stephen

 

[GG-1]

I'm curious to see what everybody thinks of Amtrak's former and current locomotive stock is their favorite.
Thanks,

Stephen

Aloha Stephen

Now how could you have left the GG-1 off the List. Amtrak has yet to have an engine that has equaled the Service record of the GG-1 and when Amtrak received them they were about 40 years old. These old girls delivered approximately 3 hour service NYP to WAS over 50 years, about 10 for Amtrak. What other motor has equaled that. Or is likely to survive that long.

 

[the_traveler]

My favorite locomotive is the one pulling my train! :lol:

 

[PetalumaLoco]

 

[Green Maned Lion]

You're really missing a lot of engines.

First of all, its SDP40F not SD40F. SD, Passenger, 40-series engine, cowled body.

You are missing:

F/E-series in general- Amtrak did run them for a while.

EMD FL-9: Amtrak ran these bulldogs into the early 90s.

GE P30CH: How can you forget the pooch?

GE E44: Amtrak ran 'em. They're electrics that look sorta like a high-nose GP. Sorta, kinda, not really.

EMD GP40H: Why do you forget this one? I like this one.

Turboliner powercars: These qualify more as engines then the Acela ones do, since they use tightlock couplers.

GE 8-32BWH: AKA P32BWH, P32-8. These do extensive passenger hauling, even now.

EMD F40PHAC.

AdTranz/Daimler-Benz/Bombardier ALP-46. Amtrak ran these on the clockers final years.

 

[Dutchrailnut]

Turboliner powercars: These qualify more as engines then the Acela ones do, since they use tightlock couplers.

The Turboliners do not have tightlock couplers, they have a freight coupler under the shroud, not even the last supersteel rebuilds.

 

[amtkstn]

My favorite is the FP40H. They were first built in 1976 the year I was born and also I rode my first Amtrak trip behind them. They also worked for Amtrak for 25 years keeping them going.

 

[MattW]

My three favorites are the P-42, AEM-7, and the not-on-poll GE 8-32BWH. Frankly, it's about the looks. Other than the MP-36 used in Commuter service, I don't think there are better looking locomotives currently running!

 

[Acela150]

I apologize for leaving all of those locomotives out of the poll. But I was just thinking of locomotives off the top of my head so those are great options!

 

[Bob Dylan]

I'm curious to see what everybody thinks of Amtrak's former and current locomotive stock is their favorite.
Thanks,

Stephen

Aloha Stephen

Now how could you have left the GG-1 off the List. Amtrak has yet to have an engine that has equaled the Service record of the GG-1 and when Amtrak received them they were about 40 years old. These old girls delivered approximately 3 hour service NYP to WAS over 50 years, about 10 for Amtrak. What other motor has equaled that. Or is likely to survive that long.

For that matter Eric the same applies to we human beings also! :lol:

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

No POOCH?!! :lol:

 

[VT Hokie]

The Acela locomotives are easily the best looking in Amtrak's fleet, imo. The Turboliner power cars would be second.

 

[the Other Mike]

You're really missing a lot of engines.
F/E-series in general- Amtrak did run them for a while.

My vote

 

[jis]

I would have voted for ALP-46 if it happened to be there in the list.

 

[Greg]

I think the EMD-E8 is the best looking!

 

[amtrakwolverine]

I would have voted for ALP-46 if it happened to be there in the list.

amtrak doesn't use those locomotives.

 

[jis]

I would have voted for ALP-46 if it happened to be there in the list.

amtrak doesn't use those locomotives.

But Amtrak has used ALP-46s on the Clockers for several months before they were taken over by NJT.

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

Nobody has voted for the E60's yet... Hmm-- I wonder why :lol:

 

[railiner]

My favorite is the FP40H. They were first built in 1976 the year I was born and also I rode my first Amtrak trip behind them. They also worked for Amtrak for 25 years keeping them going.

I totally agree. While they did not have the nice streamliner style of the old E-units, they served Amtrak very well over most of its history and ran just about everywhere on Amtrak except New York City. They, along with the Amfleet cars, were the backbone and the bread and butter of Amtrak.

 

[Long Train Runnin']

I would have voted for ALP-46 if it happened to be there in the list.

amtrak doesn't use those locomotives.

But Amtrak has used ALP-46s on the Clockers for several months before they were taken over by NJT.

I have to agree the ALP-46 is a very nice looking locomotive!

 

[Acela150]

But the ALP-46 was never owned by Amtrak. They may have used them but didn't own the locomotive. I am talking about locomotives owned by Amtrak.

 

[jis]

But the ALP-46 was never owned by Amtrak. They may have used them but didn't own the locomotive. I am talking about locomotives owned by Amtrak.

Thanks for the clarification. It was not clear from "Amtrak's former and current locomotive stock" that ownership was implied.

Also would this imply that locomotives that are actually owned by some bank and are leased from them by Amtrak are not to be considered too? Just kidding :lol:

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Also would this imply that locomotives that are actually owned by some bank and are leased from them by Amtrak are not to be considered too? Just kidding :lol:

I was under the impression that Amtrak didn't get caught up in that idiocy. I admit I have never heard anything to that effect. I just have never heard anyone raking Amtrak over the coals for it, and thus made my assumption.

Whoever came up with the idea should be taken out and shot. The bankers that perpetuated should be caned in public. Anyone who managed to line their personal pocket from it in the agencies that did it should be keelhauled to death. Seriously. Darwinism and all that.

 

[AlanB]

Also would this imply that locomotives that are actually owned by some bank and are leased from them by Amtrak are not to be considered too? Just kidding :lol:

I was under the impression that Amtrak didn't get caught up in that idiocy. I admit I have never heard anything to that effect. I just have never heard anyone raking Amtrak over the coals for it, and thus made my assumption.

You've got to be kidding me.

Warrington loved the leaseback idea and sold off 2/3rds of Amtrak's equipment and then leased it back.

From the 2007 financial statement:

At September 30, 2007 the gross amount of assets recorded under capital leases was $3,395,997,000 (36% for locomotives and 64% for passenger cars).

 

[jis]

Doing leasebacks gets the depreciation off Amtrak's books to some other party that can take advantage of them in their tax computation and perhaps kick back some of the advantage in terms of lower leasing charges. Since Amtrak does not pay any taxes, having no net profits, it cannot directly take advantage of that. At least that is how all this was explained to me. I am sure there is a CPA or two on this board that can explain this better.

There is IMHO a fairness issue here. Since the purchases are made with tax advantaged bonds or outright taxpayer funding, it is not clear to me that such assets should be allowed to be used to provide additional tax advantages to essentially uninvolved parties.