VIA posts RFQ for 42 long distance locomotives

This is where it would really make sense to lease power from CN or CP and have a HEP baggage car. There are two long distance trains and five regional trains. None of them are known for speed. They certainly don't need a monocoque design. Alaska has done really well this way.

Tadman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2024 12:41 pm This is where it would really make sense to lease power from CN or CP and have a HEP baggage car. There are two long distance trains and five regional trains. None of them are known for speed. They certainly don't need a monocoque design. Alaska has done really well this way.

I kinda agree, if there is a HEP car, than standard power can be used from host railroad.

scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2024 1:37 pm

Tadman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2024 12:41 pm This is where it would really make sense to lease power from CN or CP and have a HEP baggage car. There are two long distance trains and five regional trains. None of them are known for speed. They certainly don't need a monocoque design. Alaska has done really well this way.

I kinda agree, if there is a HEP car, than standard power can be used from host railroad.

The other passenger railroads doing so are still using their own paid and trained engineers, as in this case of Alaska RR in the photo above.
Will CN allow VIA trained and paid engineers operate and run their locomotives? Will VIA allow CN trained and paid crews run their passenger trains? Common sense suggests not.

Note also that Alaska railroad is not using "standard power", but is using specially equipped SD70s that carry HEP generators in the locomotive.

RandallW wrote:Note also that Alaska railroad is not using "standard power", but is using specially equipped SD70s that carry HEP generators in the locomotive.

Fact check: there's not a dedicated HEP generator on the ARR locomotives or the Metra SD70MACHs.

They're standard SD70s with the ability to switch one of the inverters from feeding the center axle traction motors over to provide HEP.

You're partially correct that's not a standard option, but the locomotives are equally qualified to haul freight in the standard configuration.

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Thank you for the correction. Critically though, the point stands that AAR has a fleet of specially equipped SD70MACs for use with passenger trains along with a fleet of SD70MACs that are freight only.

To be fair, that makes VIA assignments a drain on CP or CPKC power, which might not be agreeable.

My guess as to what they'll get? Likely something similar to the ALC-42. Nobody really has the option to manufacture bulk orders of passenger locomotives new except Siemens, GETS/Wabtec's proposal for a P42 replacement in the form of a stretched HSP46 got nowhere and I'm not sure if the MP36 could as easily be used for LD service. Plus economy of scale with the Corridor trainsets helps, commonality with Amtrak would help, and most teething troubles have been dealt with

ConstanceR46 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 09, 2024 3:05 pm To be fair, that makes VIA assignments a drain on CP or CPKC power, which might not be agreeable.

My guess as to what they'll get? Likely something similar to the ALC-42. Nobody really has the option to manufacture bulk orders of passenger locomotives new except Siemens, GETS/Wabtec's proposal for a P42 replacement in the form of a stretched HSP46 got nowhere and I'm not sure if the MP36 could as easily be used for LD service. Plus economy of scale with the Corridor trainsets helps, commonality with Amtrak would help, and most teething troubles have been dealt with

How about commonality to their own Siemens built SC-42 locomotives?
Just add larger fuel tanks to the already existing locomotive.

electricron wrote: ↑Sat Nov 09, 2024 3:37 pm

ConstanceR46 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 09, 2024 3:05 pm To be fair, that makes VIA assignments a drain on CP or CPKC power, which might not be agreeable.

My guess as to what they'll get? Likely something similar to the ALC-42. Nobody really has the option to manufacture bulk orders of passenger locomotives new except Siemens, GETS/Wabtec's proposal for a P42 replacement in the form of a stretched HSP46 got nowhere and I'm not sure if the MP36 could as easily be used for LD service. Plus economy of scale with the Corridor trainsets helps, commonality with Amtrak would help, and most teething troubles have been dealt with

How about commonality to their own Siemens built SC-42 locomotives?
Just add larger fuel tanks to the already existing locomotive.

From the stats, the ALC-42 (Amtrak long distance) and SCV-42 (Via corridor) are the same locomotive, including fuel capacity and rated horsepower, except for the nose pieces.