The ACS-64

[Agent]

The expected look of the upcoming Amtrak Cities Sprinter-64 has been unveiled. The first ACS-64 is expected to be delivered at the beginning of 2013.

To me, it looks like a smoothed-out toaster (AEM-7). I don't think of that as a bad thing.

 

[the_traveler]

Even if it looks somewhat like a toaster, I like it!

The thing I find humorous about the article is how they combine French and English when naming the NEC! "Nord-East" (Nord is French for north!

)

 

[AutoTrDvr]

Even if it looks somewhat like a toaster, I like it!

The thing I find humorous about the article is how they combine French and English when naming the NEC! "Nord-East" (Nord is French for north!

)

Oddly enough, the NJ Transit equivalent of the AEM-7s (the ALP-44) are called "Swedish Meatballs" due to the manufacturer, ABB Traction.

Sadly, all the Swedish Meatballs are eaten now (all NJT ALP-44s are retired) in favor of Bombardier ALP-46s...

 

[Notelvis]

I really like the red accent striping in this rendering. Wouldn't mind seeing that idea applied to locomotives systemwide.

 

[amtrakwolverine]

Kinda does look like a smoothed out toaster.

 

[Texan Eagle]

Yes, it is Toaster Reloaded or Return of the Toaster or Toaster Strikes Back or ... ok I will stop

BTW what is the rated horsepower of these locomotives?

Also, if they are going to be the future fleet why did Amtrak order locos with 125 mph speed limit? Shouldn't they have been ordered capable of doing at least 150 mph for the future?

 

[RampWidget]

I like the design, too, especially the "furrow" around what I assume are the ditch lights on the nose.

The mention in the write-up of the "micro-fridge" caught my eye, too. Wonder if that means just the existing small refrigerators common in road locomotives today, or the actual "MicroFridge" combination microwave oven & refrigerator sometimes seen in motels? I did recall seeing a CP SD40-2 several years ago equipped with an actual hot plate in an alcove in the rear cab wall behind the engineer.

I'd much rather have the existing larger refrigerator b/c you have room for a bag or two of ice plus several cold water bottles and your sandwiches. Then again, I bet a crew on a GG-1 would have killed for a simple portable Igloo cooler!

 

[Tracktwentynine]

BTW what is the rated horsepower of these locomotives?

The rated horsepower will be 8,600 hp (6,400 kW).

 

[AlanB]

Also, if they are going to be the future fleet why did Amtrak order locos with 125 mph speed limit? Shouldn't they have been ordered capable of doing at least 150 mph for the future?

Because these locos will haul the Regional's and the LD's that run on the corridor. No need to spend extra dollars making them Tier II crash compliant to haul cars that will never be Tier II compliant and therefore will never be able to go faster than 125 MPH.

Any new high speed cars will come with their own loco's that are Tier II or even Tier III compliant, or will be self-propelled cars.

 

[MattW]

I don't really like the design myself. I was hoping for a more rounded design. It looks like a toaster and an HHP-8 both hit Superman at 5,000,000mph and this is what results. In my mind, it's either too flat, or too rounded, going more the other way or the other would be fine, but to me it just looks weird. But the real truth in a locomotive is how well it performs. I can live with (and will have to anyways! ) a locomotive regardless of the looks as long as it does its job well.

 

[Donctor]

I can live with (and will have to anyways! ) a locomotive regardless of the looks as long as it does its job well.

Exactly.

I actually dig the look (or the rendering, at least).

Even if I thought it to be the worst thing I'd ever seen, there wouldn't be much point in knocking it. It's a locomotive. As long as it does what it's supposed do to—be a locomotive—and as long as its appearance doesn't mortally offend prospective riders, it's all good.

 

[Texan Eagle]

I can live with (and will have to anyways! ) a locomotive regardless of the looks as long as it does its job well.

Exactly.

I actually dig the look (or the rendering, at least).

Even if I thought it to be the worst thing I'd ever seen, there wouldn't be much point in knocking it. It's a locomotive. As long as it does what it's supposed do to—be a locomotive—and as long as its appearance doesn't mortally offend prospective riders, it's all good.

At least it looks much better than this new NJTransit contraption that looks as ugly as locos can possibly be-

 

[jis]

Leaving aside the looks for a moment, one thing I have to say about the ALP45s is that they are about the quietest diesel engines I have come across anywhere so far. And even in in e mode they are actually quieter than the ALP46A with which it shares most of its electricals downstream of the DC link.

It would be nice if the ACS's are as quiet, which they most likely will be given their Eurosprinter heritage. But ultimately, even more important will be what their MDBF turns out to be, assuming that of course they otherwise perform upto the specs.

I am also curious to see what Amtrak will eventually order for the 125mph capable pure diesel. Will it be something like the ALP45 minus the electric half - i.e. more like genset with multiple smaller higher speed prime movers to keep the weight light? Or will it be a more traditional diesel prime mover?

Also I wonder if Amtrak will consider getting dual mode engines at some point for run through service south of Washington DC. So far they have not said anything formally, but informally they have said they won't. But things can change of course.

 

[Trogdor]

Note also the numbering: 600 series.

 

[jis]

Note also the numbering: 600 series.

Ah! They are actually going into the 6xx series then? That means either the HHP-8s will have to get bumped up beyond 675 or they will have to replaced one for one starting at the 651st unit, or well the HHP-8s can stay where they are and the ACSs can have a gap from 650 to 664.

 

[the_traveler]

1343447884[/url]' post='383183']I like the design, too, especially the "furrow" around what I assume are the ditch lights on the nose.

The mention in the write-up of the "micro-fridge" caught my eye, too. Wonder if that means just the existing small refrigerators common in road locomotives today, or the actual "MicroFridge" combination microwave oven & refrigerator sometimes seen in motels? I did recall seeing a CP SD40-2 several years ago equipped with an actual hot plate in an alcove in the rear cab wall behind the engineer.

I'd much rather have the existing larger refrigerator b/c you have room for a bag or two of ice plus several cold water bottles and your sandwiches. Then again, I bet a crew on a GG-1 would have killed for a simple portable Igloo cooler!

I don't really like the idea of the "Micro-Fridge" in the back of the cab! With only one (1) engineer in the cab from BOS to (I forget) NHV or NYP and one engineer in the cab the rest of the way to WAS, who's going to go to the back of the cab? And who's going to watch the tracks during that time?

 

[jis]

1343447884[/url]' post='383183']I like the design, too, especially the "furrow" around what I assume are the ditch lights on the nose.

The mention in the write-up of the "micro-fridge" caught my eye, too. Wonder if that means just the existing small refrigerators common in road locomotives today, or the actual "MicroFridge" combination microwave oven & refrigerator sometimes seen in motels? I did recall seeing a CP SD40-2 several years ago equipped with an actual hot plate in an alcove in the rear cab wall behind the engineer.

I'd much rather have the existing larger refrigerator b/c you have room for a bag or two of ice plus several cold water bottles and your sandwiches. Then again, I bet a crew on a GG-1 would have killed for a simple portable Igloo cooler!

I don't really like the idea of the "Micro-Fridge" in the back of the cab! With only one (1) engineer in the cab from BOS to (I forget) NHV or NYP and one engineer in the cab the rest of the way to WAS, who's going to go to the back of the cab? And who's going to watch the tracks during that time?

BOS - NYP is the crew segment for Acelas.

The train does stop a few times on the way, so the engineer will have an opportunity to skip back and pull out a Coke or a sandwich or whatever.

The non-stop Boston to New York Super Express is still at least 20 years away I am told

 

[Texan Eagle]

I like the design, too, especially the "furrow" around what I assume are the ditch lights on the nose.

The mention in the write-up of the "micro-fridge" caught my eye, too. Wonder if that means just the existing small refrigerators common in road locomotives today, or the actual "MicroFridge" combination microwave oven & refrigerator sometimes seen in motels? I did recall seeing a CP SD40-2 several years ago equipped with an actual hot plate in an alcove in the rear cab wall behind the engineer.

I'd much rather have the existing larger refrigerator b/c you have room for a bag or two of ice plus several cold water bottles and your sandwiches. Then again, I bet a crew on a GG-1 would have killed for a simple portable Igloo cooler!

I don't really like the idea of the "Micro-Fridge" in the back of the cab! With only one (1) engineer in the cab from BOS to (I forget) NHV or NYP and one engineer in the cab the rest of the way to WAS, who's going to go to the back of the cab? And who's going to watch the tracks during that time?

BOS - NYP is the crew segment for Acelas.

The train does stop a few times on the way, so the engineer will have an opportunity to skip back and pull out a Coke or a sandwich or whatever.

The micro-fridge should come with some kind of a lock that allows opening its door only when the train is stopped... else someday an engineer might attempt the "stunt" of leaving the driving cab at 125 mph to go grab that inviting ice-cold bottle of Coke sitting in the fridge

 

[AmtrakBlue]

If there's Coke in the fridge you have a lot more to worry about than an engineer leaving his post to grab one. You'll need to worry about passengers climbing over/around the engine to get to the stash of Cokes!

 

[jis]

The micro-fridge should come with some kind of a lock that allows opening its door only when the train is stopped... else someday an engineer might attempt the "stunt" of leaving the driving cab at 125 mph to go grab that inviting ice-cold bottle of Coke sitting in the fridge

Frankly, I would not worry about it. There are so many checks to make sure that the engineer is doing his/her work under NEC CTC Cab Signal and ACSES that if s/he actually tries to pull such a stunt the worst thing that will happen is a penalty brake application before anything really bad can take place. Afterall they have to keep responding to the alerter every so often. Who is going to take care of that if they are away at the fridge?

If there's Coke in the fridge you have a lot more to worry about than an engineer leaving his post to grab one. You'll need to worry about passengers climbing over/around the engine to get to the stash of Cokes!

Heh! This would be today's Coke in a can with no Coke in it, if you get what I mean So not to worry

 

[the_traveler]

1343491702[/url]' post='383238']The non-stop Boston to New York Super Express is still at least 20 years away I am told

I thought it was non-stop BOS-KIN and then non-stop KIN-NYP?

 

[jis]

1343491702[/url]' post='383238']The non-stop Boston to New York Super Express is still at least 20 years away I am told

I thought it was non-stop BOS-KIN and then non-stop KIN-NYP?

As soon as they get the full high level platform at KIN :lol:

 

[the_traveler]

I'll put the order in right now directly to Joe Boardman so that service can start next May!

(I don't want them to rush and do a sloppy job!

)

 

[Shawn Ryu]

Kinda does look like a smoothed out toaster.

Theres only so much ways to design a Electric engine with cab on both sides of the vehicle.

 

[Acela150]

What's in between a toaster and bananas? hboy: Can't think of one at the moment...