MARC equipment utilization...

electricron wrote:Which electric locomotives do you believe will be retired first? I'm thinking the 29 AEM7DC locos will be first to go, followed by the 20 AEM7AC locos, with the 15 HHP-8s last. But if the AEM7AC locos being considered best, maybe they will be the last to retire.
I'm also thinking the AEM7DC locos will be those refurbished into new "cabbage" cars. Who do you think might be interested buying "used" Amtrak electric locomotives?
Presently, MARC has 4 AEM7DC and 6 HHP-8 locos. Is it possible that MARC could buy 10 "used" AEM7AC locos to replace all their troubles? Or possibly just another 4 of the troubled HHP-8 locos?

If MARC wanted some electric locos, NJT has basicially pulled from service all of its ALP44s (up to like 17 years newer than AEM7s - newest from 1997) other than except for a few of them. Of course, some are better than others, but "laid up/retired good order" would be a good term for many of them.

NJT had 32 ALP-44s electric locomotives. They were bought in the following sequence and models: 15 Os delivered in 1990, 5 Es delivered in 1995, 12 Ms delivered in 1996.
It should be noted that SEPTA has 1 M in service since 1996, and has 7 AEM7s in service since 1987 too.

The ALP-44 was designed specifically for New Jersey Transit as a variant of the EMD AEM-7 electric locomotive in use by Amtrak, MARC, and SEPTA. The ALP-44 can produce up to 7000 hp (5.2 MW) with top speeds of up to 125 mph (201 km/h). In commercial use however, both New Jersey Transit and SEPTA ALP-44s are cleared for speeds up to 100 mph (161 km/h). I'm not sure why?
The ALP-44M is a variant of the original ALP-44 design. It includes a microprocessor control for functions such as braking and the EPIC brake controller.

Assuming SEPTA will also be in the market for new electric locomotives, one would assume they might quickly acquire 7 of the ALP-44M models, leaving just 5 Ms left for MARC, half of what MARC needs.
Of course, if SEPTA didn't acquire any, there's more than enough Ms to meet MARC needs. I'm assuming the Ms would be the preferred choice to buy used.

The 44s are only good for 100 because neither NJT or SEPTA has equipment that is good above 100.

SEPTA wants to get rid of their PPs and go to an all EMU fleet. It is highly unlikely that they would buy any 44s, unless they desperately needed them before they could get the Silverliner VI designed and built.

Amtrak expressed interest in six units at one point, but that deal never materialized.

MARC is the only operator that could possibly still want some, but I am not aware that they have expressed any interest in the past.
From what I've heard (from Transit employees such as JT), some of the 44Os and Es run much more smoothly than the Ms.

the '44s are limited to 100mph by timetable only. They are good for 125mph. In Pueblo, Colorado for Multilevel car testing, the 4410 (and ALP44O - the first order from 1990) was testing the ML and got up to 136mph and had more to go. They are limited to 100mph because as NS said, NJT has no equipment allowed more than 100mph, so there is no need for them to be allowed to go faster. Takes away temptation hahah

The age of the loco doesn't necessarily mean its in better shape than an older one. As a matter of fact, the handful of locos that are kept in service by NJT, some for ACES casino service, others for standby service, most of them are the older Os. Personally I like the older locos better, I think they run better, but thats besides the point. If there was any interest in them, im sure tehy would look over the whole fleet and pick the best ones.

However, I haven't heard of any rumblings of any interest from anyone about them, other than Amtrak but that seems to have fallen through.

Personally I think amtrak should and will retire the dc units first. I think the aem7ac units are the most logical units for Marc to purchase since nothing needs to be done to get them to run in that service. The ac units were rebuilt not to long ago and are the most reliable electric I have been on, and are already equipped with acses and the proper brake valve unlike the alp 44,have recently been rebuilt unlike the alp44 which has been admitted by many crews were in need of a rebuild. Sure all of that can be changed out but I don't see the alp 44 going anywhere other then the scrapyard. Sad to see since they are exactly the same as an aem7 under the hood. I have heard from a knowledgeable njt engineer that they are good for over 100.

BuddSilverliner269 wrote:Personally I think amtrak should and will retire the dc units first. I think the aem7ac units are the most logical units for Marc to purchase since nothing needs to be done to get them to run in that service. The ac units were rebuilt not to long ago and are the most reliable electric I have been on, and are already equipped with acses and the proper brake valve unlike the alp 44,have recently been rebuilt unlike the alp44 which has been admitted by many crews were in need of a rebuild. Sure all of that can be changed out but I don't see the alp 44 going anywhere other then the scrapyard. Sad to see since they are exactly the same as an aem7 under the hood. I have heard from a knowledgeable njt engineer that they are good for over 100.

They will retire the DC first. The incoming ACS64 fleet is supposed to replace every electric locomotive, DC then AC then HHP.