Dual Mode Freight Engines.

Lets say NY&A is ready to replace its current fleet of engines. Since they operate on many LIRR ROWs with 3rd rail, they decide to look at dual mode equipemnt.
1st. Would LIRR allow them to use the 3rd rail?
2nd. Since GE is the only company (that I know of) with successful DM equipment, could GE make a freight engine based upon the equipment found in Amtraks/MNRR Geninies?
3rd. If yes to those questions, might NY&A get rights to pass freight (those cars that could fit) through NYP during off peak hours (low cost version of Cross Harbor Tunnel, maybe get some funding from NY/NJ PA)?

Thanks.

Simple answers:

1) No
2) No
3) No

Jay

They would work especially well in sidings. I think they're pulling your leg.

1) Probably not. Freight motors pull more juice and give the electric systems a workout (Milwaukee Road, NYC & PRR have documented this)
2) Sure, throw enough money at anything and you'll get it built. Real question is , who's going to throw money at this for a bunch of orphan locomotives?
3) Grades are too great in the tunnels for the tonnage involved with freight trains. All you need to do is pull the drawbar on one freight car and you loose that tunnel tube until you can fish out the rest of the freight train. I'm sure the commuters would be very understanding. PRR tried this during WWII. Did not work. Lucky the Circus train gets to go through.

As for new engines, based on current stuff they run , If new engines are prchased they will probably come from Larry's truck and engine.
No way NY&A could afford $5 million dual modes.

They cant even afford to pay their employees well. NYA cant even afford to buy a pack of bubble gum!

They cant even afford to pay their employees well. NYA cant even afford to buy a pack of bubble gum!

But other railroads in the area do. Word on the street is there will be a mass exodus coming shortly. I wonder if they have a plan for engines that run themselves.

i heard a radio ad for jobs with CSX when I was upstate this weekend...never heard an RR advertising jobs on the radio like that before...

Are the NYAR employees under contract for a while where they won't be getting signifigant raises anytime soon?

jtunnel wrote:2) Sure, throw enough money at anything and you'll get it built. Real question is , who's going to throw money at this for a bunch of orphan locomotives?
3) Grades are too great in the tunnels for the tonnage involved with freight trains. All you need to do is pull the drawbar on one freight car and you loose that tunnel tube until you can fish out the rest of the freight train. I'm sure the commuters would be very understanding. PRR tried this during WWII. Did not work. Lucky the Circus train gets to go through.

Who would pay for such engines depended on the answer to #3. If freight could be passed thourgh NYP, then I thought maybe NY/NJ PA might buy the engines (4 or 6) then lease/lend them to NY&A as part of a study for the cross harbor frieght tunnel (if access available, would anyone use it). If the study proves a faillure (which most here seem to feel) but the the engines prove reliable, then maybe LIRR and/or MNRR might be interested in these engines plus more, especially LIRR to replace their aging switchers. But since it seems freight passing through NYP will not work.

Would it be that difficult to create a freight body engine using proven P32AC-DM system? As compared to GP38s, the P32AC-DM diesel engine has 60% more power, so it is a matter of proper traction engines, making everything fit under freight body (hooded?) and whether to include HEP equipment. In my ignorance, am I missing something?

jtunnel wrote:1) Probably not. Freight motors pull more juice and give the electric systems a workout (Milwaukee Road, NYC & PRR have documented this)

So it could be done, just be strain the 3rd rail supply system - cause overloads or something else? Did this apply to cat equiped engines, such as GG1s, as well?


Thanks.

It's an interesting concept, and freight electrics have been on LI before (DD1) and GG1 for PRR lines.
hrfcarl nailed in on the head by saying freight car body,
The reason the Funits fell out of popularity on freight (specially road switches) is because of the very poor visibility from the engine, so not standard re geared DM Gennie would suffice. If anything for concept purpose only,
*Begin Fiction*
A freight DM on NYAR trains would have to some what resemble the GP38 design. with a long hood and not cowling like the P42/DE/DM . Engine would have to have 4 3rd rail shoes per tuck spread out at each end of the truck to provide the greatest amount of contact surface.
*End Fiction*
Over all I would rather buy used form Larry's Tuck and Electric. It make the most sense if the need for new or additional power arises.

The whole Idea of a DM freight engine is not too far fetched but probably not practical.

I believe these units are in the NYAR budget right next to the line item for the bridge leading into Brooklyn... Keep dreaming. Even if the railroad could afford such a locomotive, can you imagine how many more parts and complex assemblies they shop would have to deal with?

can you imagine how many more parts and complex assemblies they shop would have to deal with?

Past practice indicates a simple solution to that issue. Park the dead engine on Track 10. When Track 10 is full, use Track 11. Then take parts off the dead engine as necessary.

Jay

Metro-North should just sell it's FL9's/F10's to NYA. NYA pays for fixing up the 3rd-rail shoes, problem solved.

Better make sure they don't inherit the DM30s when the LIRR replaces them. Freight would grind to a hault!