Sprinter ACS-64 Electric Loco: Siemens.

Any chance amtrak will admit a 125 mph geared ALP-46a is the way to go and place an order?

not unless the ALP46a will be made by other than Bombardier

DutchRailnut wrote:not unless the ALP46a will be made by other than Bombardier

To be fair, the ALP46 (which the '46A is based off of) was not originally a Bombardier loco, unlike the HHP8. ABB/Adtranz was the original builder of the ALP46 (original ones) and Bombardier bought the company in 2001, after the very first ALP46s were built. I believe the first few '46s have Adtranz on their builders plates, im not sure about the later ones, ill have to check.

where as the HHP8, was purely a Bombardier product (although I think Alstom was involved as well, IIRC) from its beginning.

Its not like Bombardier had the HHP8 and ALP46 side by side in their catalog way back when......

Adtranz class 101:

http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/1 ... 111180.jpg

BuddSilverliner269 wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvM--3a64S4

Is that really how the loco's frequency converters sound? I think I can hear the beginning of "Do-Re-Mi" from the Sound Of Music...

Some Siemens engineers are having a good laugh over their beer right now, it sure does sound like the scales. Check it here, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-W401x0 ... re=related
And notice the 11-car train has cars that look similar to C&O, D&H, RI, and MoPac.

As to the age of AEM's, you don't see the Class I's operating their premier trains with 1970's locomotives, why would we trust our passenger trains with such antiques? Take a look at the JB Hunt train on NS and UP, or a fast BNSF transcon intermodal. No SD40's there. Take a look at power river coal trains. No C30's there, heck there's few C40's moving those trains. Why do we continue to insist the AEM7 should last longer? They've been used hard for thirty years and there's no yard service or locals to downgrade them to, so it's time to turn them into razor blades.

Mr. Dunville, the video of the train you submitted is from Hungary, and I certainly agree the consist has "something for everyone".

And finally, gotta love how when the locomotive accelerates its motors (or fans) sound like a musical scale.

mrsam wrote:

BuddSilverliner269 wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvM--3a64S4

Is that really how the loco's frequency converters sound? I think I can hear the beginning of "Do-Re-Mi" from the Sound Of Music...

I have no clue, but it does sound interesting. As I have mentioned before, this locomotive is SUPPOSE to be off the shelf and just upgraded to american specs much like the ALP46 was.

Oh well, guess Austrian and Hungarian locomotives sound the same; after all lest we forget, they once were a unified sovereignty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungary

well both where Taurus locomotives made by Siemens, same series just different paint the Taurus is first and Second version of Euro sprinter series
The ACS 64 would be fifth series.
here a ES64F4 locomotive running on DC (two pantographs up for starting) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86hA8uGYrPQ

Here is Traxx made by Bombardier : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=finjpc-NE0k

The Amtrak locomotive is based on Euro sprinter ES 64, the American Model is Called American City sprinter ACS 64 (8600 hp)
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServe ... f&blobhead

I think the ACS 64 locos will do just fine after a few bugs they may have are removed.

mrsam wrote:

BuddSilverliner269 wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvM--3a64S4

Is that really how the loco's frequency converters sound? I think I can hear the beginning of "Do-Re-Mi" from the Sound Of Music...

I thought the frequency changes were actually tuned to sound like mozart , or was it Bethoven . or maybe it was only on one locomotive , which was painted especially to mark the anniversary of the composer .

David Benton wrote:

mrsam wrote:

BuddSilverliner269 wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvM--3a64S4

Is that really how the loco's frequency converters sound? I think I can hear the beginning of "Do-Re-Mi" from the Sound Of Music...

I thought the frequency changes were actually tuned to sound like mozart , or was it Bethoven . or maybe it was only on one locomotive , which was painted especially to mark the anniversary of the composer .

I wish they'd tune one to sound like Falco!

Tadman wrote:Some Siemens engineers are having a good laugh over their beer right now, it sure does sound like the scales. Check it here, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-W401x0 ... re=related
And notice the 11-car train has cars that look similar to C&O, D&H, RI, and MoPac.

Gilbert B Norman wrote:Mr. Dunville, the vdieo of the train you submitted is from Hungary, and I certainly agree the consist has "something for everyone".

About what you might expect from 3 different countries. The train may be from Hungary; but at least some of the cars are from Austria and Romania.

EN Dacia (not to be confused with the Austrian Railjet) ready to depart Vienna's Westbahnhof for Bucharest

DutchRailnut wrote:well both where Taurus locomotives made by Siemens, same series just different paint the Taurus is first and Second version of Euro sprinter series
The ACS 64 would be fifth series.
here a ES64F4 locomotive running on DC (two pantographs up for starting) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86hA8uGYrPQ

Here is Traxx made by Bombardier : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=finjpc-NE0k

The Amtrak locomotive is based on Euro sprinter ES 64, the American Model is Called American City sprinter ACS 64 (8600 hp)
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServe ... f&blobhead

Dutch: Interesting European videos here-I have questions about the ES64F4: First-before the pantographs were raised what was the power source? Is this a dual-mode motor
or is there third rail in that station? Why did they have to raise both pans and what is that DC voltage-and what country and station is this of?

The Traxx locomotive is interesting also and I must mention this-my screen name was NOT based on this locomotive series but actually is a variation of my nickname and Amtrak
spelled slightly different...and I will mention that the TRAXX name series is literally a coincidence...

As for the HHP8 series to be replaced by Amtrak's new locomotive order-I understand that the "Armadillos" have their problems-last Tuesday morning 3/15 I noticed a SB Amtrak
LD train coming into PHL from the Chestnut Hill West-bound SEPTA Silverliner 5 train I was riding-there were two HHP8s-one engine towing a dead mate with pans down...
I also saw the video elsewhere of two HHP8s handling the Ringling Brothers Circus Train...and the LIRR using five MP15s to handle it afterwards...

It always surprised me that the HHP8 order was for only 15 units...my question also is will Amtrak have any use for these units when the replacement series become available?
I can see the HHP8s used in fast NEC freight service replacing diesels on those trains that use this electrified route...noting their use again on the Circus train as an example.
Is MARC looking also to replace the 6 units that they use also? If so can MARC "piggyback order" new units along with Amtrak's order?

MACTRAXX