AEM-7 status

[DutchRailnut]

Which board approved what for planning?

https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2019/11 ... ric-trains

[Tadman]

Interesting and good to hear!

Now the question of using the AEM7 for this pilot service is questionable. From what I understand those are absolutely shot and beat up. On the other hand, Montreal is retiring barely-used ALPDP45 fleet and 25 year old but gently used MR90 fleet. Either would probably be far better suited and the MR90 fleet is ready to move in a matter of months.

[8th Notch]

The million dollar question is, who were they sold to? The T was interested in obtaining a few ACS64s from Amtrak to test out so I highly doubt they would have just went and purchased the AEM7’s from Amtrak. I believe AM stated that Alstom still produces parts so someone may restore some life back into them.

[NeedhamLine]

One possibility is that they could be leased for a pilot (or semi-permanent) express commuter rail service from RI to Boston. That has been discussed between the states for some time, and this article mentions that Massachusetts was negotiating a lease with Amtrak for electric locomotives at the time: https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2019/08 ... mit-boston

Unclear what rolling stock would be used; perhaps the MBB coaches that are currently being refurbished? Implementing an electrified express train from RI would be a political win for RI politicians and would be a relatively easy-to-achieve milestone toward the T's goal of electrifying commuter rail (even if it would only be a subset of service on the Providence line).

The Montreal MR-90s would be a great choice for the "starter" Fairmount/Lynn electrification IF they meet FRA requirements and can economically have ACSES installed, until purpose-built equipment could be obtained.

[east point]

Our thinking is that MBTA might electrify the Providence <> BOS line to free up the chronic shortage of operative diesels ?

[ApproachMedium]

Nothing is as shot and beat up as peoples opinions on locomotives they never operated or worked on.

Amtrak currently has 15 ACS 64s OUT OF SERVICE. thats not including the 2 wrecks and the 2 damaged units that have yet to be fixed. They are leasing a few to MARC as we all know right now. They do NOT have any units to spare. HHP-8s are forbidden to be subleased thru amtraks lease agreement with BBDX/PMCC etc(gutted POS anyway). If somebody is smart here, they are going to take the best of the AEM-7s. do whats needed to get them scooting by again and then maybe work on the later of the bunch as time allows. Even though the body is aged on these locos the AC traction drive is still very viable. The same IGBT power electronics modules and control is being installed (with updated software of course) in the new Acela trainsets. Its a good system and its very reliable and serviceable. I spent many hours knee deep in the doo doo on these engines as well as the DCs and HHP-8s and they were by far the easiest for me to figure out and get going again, pending no major disasters.

[daybeers]

Resorting some AEM-7s would be better than trying to get more ACS-64s in service?

[rcthompson04]

Resorting some AEM-7s would be better than trying to get more ACS-64s in service?

SEPTA is really the only user with extra electric power sitting around. Moving 4 ACS-64 over to run Keystones would seem to help Amtrak. Maybe a few of the worn out AEM-7s as well.

[mtuandrew]

What if Siemens just built a ten-unit lease fleet of ACS-64s?

[8th Notch]

What if Siemens just built a ten-unit lease fleet of ACS-64s?

and do what with them in the long run? Amtrak has no use for them in the long run and selling them elsewhere is not a guaranteed thing.

[mtuandrew]

and do what with them in the long run? Amtrak has no use for them in the long run and selling them elsewhere is not a guaranteed thing.

Plenty of places that Siemens could send them - Amtrak is one, but so is SEPTA. There are about a dozen other lines in the US and Canada that do or will run under wire too, from NJT and MARC (which operates the Siemens Charger) to CalTrans and MBTA if/when those systems come online, to the possibility of Metrolinx getting the GO Transit lines wired.

If nothing else, the units could go overseas with some modification, they’re not that different from a usual TRAXX unit.

[8th Notch]

Amtrak doesn’t need them in the long term, one of the reasons for the shortage now is that the 5yr overhaul is being done on the current fleet. None of those other railroads are in the market for electrics and it probably isn’t worth it for Siemens to gamble on leased locos having a buyer in the end.

[David Benton]

Maybe its time to try a supply and maintain contract.

[gokeefe]

It would be interesting to see if Alstom would bite on that "opportunity".

[rcthompson04]

Amtrak doesn’t need them in the long term, one of the reasons for the shortage now is that the 5yr overhaul is being done on the current fleet. None of those other railroads are in the market for electrics and it probably isn’t worth it for Siemens to gamble on leased locos having a buyer in the end.

Yea I am not sure there is a market for such a thing. A better play would be for Amtrak to lease 3-5 of the SEPTA units until this maintenance cycle is over. SEPTA has a glut of them right now until the CRRC cars come online.