P-42 Fires

[The Davy Crockett]

With the spate of P-42 fires of late, it got me wondering:

Does anybody know how many P-42s have had fires in the last year? Last 2 years?

When they do burn, what happens to them? I realize that some may be "totalled," but aren't they sometimes rebuilt? If they are rebuilt, who does it? Amtrak? GE? A third party?

Finally, (and this might be wishful thinking) does anyone know if Amtrak is looking into the fires and working towards a solution? I know I've read (here?) that a lack of PM might be a cause, due to residue build up in the stack and money is always scarce, but it seems to be an ongoing problem.

Thanks for any insights anyone can provide... -_-

TDC

 

[amtrakwolverine]

then can be rebuilt question is it cheaper to rebuild or replace. Some freight locomotives have burnt right down to the frame and have been rebuilt.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

While doing a Google search for "P-42 fires," I came across a blurb from Regency Fireplace Products: "With its spectacular fire, the P42 delivers enough heat for large living areas. The P42 allows you to create a strong statement in your home adding either ..."

 

Hmmm... I wonder if Regency is a subsidiary of GE?

 

[had8ley]

The Wolverine is correct; many freight locomotives have looked like melted Lego sets and have gone to the shop and been re-built.My major concern is GE's past performance record for engine fires. When GE first got into the Class 1 locomotive business we could count on a stack fire (oil accumulation) if the engine sat idling for a day or two.(Especially U-23's and U-30's) So far, the Genesis has amazed me knowing GE's past track(no pun intended)record but it looks like deja vu is again popping up mes amis.I think time will give a better analysis of how good or bad the fire situation is going to be. The more miles an engine has the more prone it seems to be to engine fires. I'm going out on a limb but if it gets any worse the Class 1's are going to demand two units on every train; especially on the UP.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Thanks for all the fedback! :hi:

I did understand that they could be rebuilt, but was wondering just how bad things need to be before it was decided it wasn't worth it.

Am I correct that if Amtrak were to do the repairs/rebuild, it would be at Beech Grove? They have the facilities to do it, correct? But is that what actually happens in these situations?

 

[had8ley]

Maybe Dutch or Alan can answer this one. Amtrak acquired some monster GE engines that I think were designated PHU-30's but I'm not sure. They would stick one trailing on the Sunset and added a machinist who rode to Houston and return just like the regular T&E crew. There was hardly ever any engine fires as they never ran long enough to catch on fire. Anybody know if any of these monsters have survived?

 

[Green Maned Lion]

P30CH, also known as the Pooch, Jay?

 

[amtrakwolverine]

had8lay if you are referring to the pooch locomotives then non of those exist. They were all scrapped in 92 as they suffered from mechanical problems. None were preserved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P30CH

 

[had8ley]

had8lay if you are referring to the pooch locomotives then non of those exist. They were all scrapped in 92 as they suffered from mechanical problems. None were preserved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P30CH

Ya know I love locomotives but that one is better off in the scrap yard. Thanks for the info~ every bit of it about troubles is true and then some....

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Now that yet another P-42 has praticed self-immolation :help: (The one in HQ's "backyard" at the Ivy City yard of DC) I thought I'd try to get some more feedback on this set of questions... hboy: With an appreciative :hi: to those who answered previously.

 

[steamer]

I too am curious why so many fires, 5 or 6 in the last 6 months or so. There must be some engineer here that knows what the true story is. Is it just a matter of soot buildup and stack fires getting out of hand? I know that there are many hundreds of thousands of miles covered, and many hours of service for the locomotives, but are there one or several common causes? Do the P-42's have built in fire extinguishers and/or detection?

 

[amtrakwolverine]

I too am curious why so many fires, 5 or 6 in the last 6 months or so. There must be some engineer here that knows what the true story is. Is it just a matter of soot buildup and stack fires getting out of hand? I know that there are many hundreds of thousands of miles covered, and many hours of service for the locomotives, but are there one or several common causes? Do the P-42's have built in fire extinguishers and/or detection?

It's rumored at the moment in another thread that it's being caused by defective parts and that amtrak knows which locomotives got those parts but nothings being done yet.Or so the rumor says.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I too am curious why so many fires, 5 or 6 in the last 6 months or so. There must be some engineer here that knows what the true story is. Is it just a matter of soot buildup and stack fires getting out of hand? I know that there are many hundreds of thousands of miles covered, and many hours of service for the locomotives, but are there one or several common causes? Do the P-42's have built in fire extinguishers and/or detection?

It's rumored at the moment in another thread that it's being caused by defective parts and that amtrak knows which locomotives got those parts but nothings being done yet.Or so the rumor says.

Thanks AW!! It looks like some of the answers may be found in that other thread. :hi: