Canadian Railroads > AMT ALP-45DPs in service...

This morning, I saw that the AMT has placed some ALP-45DPs into service on the Blainville line. Train 174 had one at each end of its 9-car set of Bombardier bi-levels.

This is a non-electrified line.

Ray

Is that CP or CN ?

The first revenue run was Wednesday Nov 28 on AMT train 191 from Montreal to St-Jerome. The train made its return this morning and is shown here preparing to lay over until the evening rush hour.

For immediate future the units will be used on CP lines to St-Jerome and Vaudreuil. CN refuses to operate the units on their lines for fear of derailments.

KG

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Is that a ten car multilevel train? That's longer than I've seen on NJ Transit behind the ALP45DM units so far.

AMT has a unit on both ends. Does NJT use two units?

KG



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/12 14:39 by kgmontreal.

kgmontreal Wrote:
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> AMT has a unit on both ends. Does NJT use two
> units?
>
> KG

one end only.

the ALP46 units usually pull 8/9 [multilevel] cars on the NEC / North Jersey Coast / Morristown Line. The PL42AC diesel units usually pull six MLs on the Bergen / Main Lines



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/12 06:26 by Lackawanna484.

kgmontreal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AMT has a unit on both ends. Does NJT use two
> units?
>

On my quick trip to Montreal last week, I noticed that one of the St-Hilaire line trains used an F40 on each end and 9 cars, but the one on the west end didn't appear to be running. Does anybody know what's up with that? The car next to the unpowered F40 appeared to be a cab car.

Somewhat ironically, both these F40s are ex-NJT units. With all the trouble NJT had in the aftermath of Sandy, they might be looking for some of their diesels back. Or maybe AMT could make a quick buck on their ALP-45DPs. It looks like they paid an extra $8M or so for each unit to have electric capability that they can't use.

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cn6218 Wrote:
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> Somewhat ironically, both these F40s are ex-NJT
> units.

I think the one in the first picture is one of AMT's three ex-Amtrak units (one of which was originally built for GOTransit).

Dave

NJT never runs a MLV consist with an EMD, saying they can only provide HEP for 5 of them.
How does AMT do it ? Is it with 2 units, each short-looping at half-train ?

The first picture is AMT 274, which, according to the TSG, is originally Amtrak, but was also owned by NJT before going to Montreal.

I think the 4117 is a NJT original, and has the separate CAT HEP generator. It's possible that only the HEP was running, and powering half the train, with 274 supplying HEP to the other half.

GTD



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/12 15:22 by cn6218.

NJT ran two ALP46's on a 10 car multi-level set due to power issues. Then the ALP46A's sort of alleviated that problem.

So why couldn't NJT do the same as AMT is doing with running two ALP45DP's in order to get the longer consist of train cars? Before Superstorm Sandy these dual modes were largely sitting around collecting dust and not on lines they were really meant for - one seat ride in/out of NYC. Yes, that was supposed to be via a new tunnel as well, but that's not happening. I would say there is still a need to get North Jersey Coast Line NJT trains to/from NYP and Bay Head that involves electric and diesel territory.

Now NJT has really expensive dual mode locomotives that are either limited in use or damaged from the storm.

Two units on 10 cars is a temporary measure. When the units have proven themselves only one unit will be used per train.

KG

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NJT ran two ALP46's on a 10 car multi-level set
> due to power issues. Then the ALP46A's sort of
> alleviated that problem.
>
> So why couldn't NJT do the same as AMT is doing
> with running two ALP45DP's in order to get the
> longer consist of train cars? Before Superstorm
> Sandy these dual modes were largely sitting around
> collecting dust and not on lines they were really
> meant for - one seat ride in/out of NYC. Yes, that
> was supposed to be via a new tunnel as well, but
> that's not happening. I would say there is still a
> need to get North Jersey Coast Line NJT trains
> to/from NYP and Bay Head that involves electric
> and diesel territory.
>
> Now NJT has really expensive dual mode locomotives
> that are either limited in use or damaged from the
> storm.

I don't believe Amtrak has signed off on the 4500s. That keeps them off the NEC, NJCL, Midtown Direct, Atlantic City, even the Raritan Valley.

I've seen them regularly on the Boonton Line, Main Line, etc.

4534 was at the Morristown & Erie shops last week, along with two MetroNorth units.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > NJT ran two ALP46's on a 10 car multi-level set
> > due to power issues. Then the ALP46A's sort of
> > alleviated that problem.
> >
> > So why couldn't NJT do the same as AMT is doing
> > with running two ALP45DP's in order to get the
> > longer consist of train cars? Before Superstorm
> > Sandy these dual modes were largely sitting
> around
> > collecting dust and not on lines they were
> really
> > meant for - one seat ride in/out of NYC. Yes,
> that
> > was supposed to be via a new tunnel as well,
> but
> > that's not happening. I would say there is still
> a
> > need to get North Jersey Coast Line NJT trains
> > to/from NYP and Bay Head that involves electric
> > and diesel territory.
> >
> > Now NJT has really expensive dual mode
> locomotives
> > that are either limited in use or damaged from
> the
> > storm.
>
> I don't believe Amtrak has signed off on the
> 4500s. That keeps them off the NEC, NJCL, Midtown
> Direct, Atlantic City, even the Raritan Valley.
>
> I've seen them regularly on the Boonton Line, Main
> Line, etc.
>
> 4534 was at the Morristown & Erie shops last week,
> along with two MetroNorth units.

Well that is true - Amtrak has NOT signed off on the dual modes and I am sure they have their reasoning for reservations on them. Their weight into NYP could be an issue, and this is something I fault NJT for as they should have worked more closely with NJT.

Still it is interesting that AMT is able to run 10 car trainsets with their dual modes and NJT says it has limitations with their dual modes when all is supposed to be the same equipment.....so that part I don't get.