Canadian Railroads > New Siemens SC-44 Chargers start Amtrak service to Vancouver, BC

New Siemens SC-44 Charger locomotives have started revenue service for Amtrak Cascades into Vancouver, B.C.
Washington State Department of Transportation purchased eight Charger locomotives to be operated by Amtrak in the Pacific Northwest.

Siemens began producing their new Tier IV compliant SC-44 Charger locomotives in a California plant in 2016.
They have a 4400 hp Cummins engine, Head End Power, and a maximum speed of 125 MPH.
Dynamic Brake energy can be used to power HEP.

1. Northbound along the Fraser River at Delta, B.C.

2. Descending the Grandview Cut in Vancouver, B.C., almost at its destination.

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3. Top view of the locomotive.

4. Towards the rear, part of the carbody is open across the locomotive. Except for mesh.

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Links to Siemens information

http://w3.usa.siemens.com/mobility/us/en/interurban-mobility/rail-solutions/high-speed-and-intercity-trains/documents/multi-state_charger%20de%20locomotive_datasheet_lr.pdf

https://www.siemens.com/press/pool/de/events/2017/mobility/2017-05-uitp/factsheet-siemens-charger-loc-e.pdf

The open section in the rear is the engine cooling tower. The locomotive is divided into 5 compartments:
Cab
Machine room 1
Clean air room
Engine room
Cooling tower
Machine room 2

Know where the dynamic brakes are?

KM-ML4000 Wrote:
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> The open section in the rear is the engine cooling
> tower. The locomotive is divided into 5
> compartments:
> Cab
> Machine room 1
> Clean air room
> Engine room
> Cooling tower
> Machine room 2

Looks like a rather expensive way to run a three car train.

JBWX

Then we wonder why WADOT can’t live within a budget..

YukonYeti Wrote:
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> Then we wonder why WADOT can’t live within a
> budget..

First of all, WSDOT. Second of all, the recent improvements came in on time and on budget. Third of all, only one unit at a time is under power, the trailing unit is just there so they don’t have to wye the train.

Posted from iPhone

The Talgo set is in for repairs.

Erik_Griswold Wrote:
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> The Talgo set is in for repairs.

Specifically, the "Mt. Adams" Talgo set normally assigned to the Seattle-Vancouver service has been reassigned to services running from Seattle south, while the "Mt. Jefferson" set undergoes repairs at the Talgo facility in Milwaukee.

The DB grid is in Machine room 2. Looking at the roof photos, the DB grids are located under the rear most screen vent on the engineers side of the locomotive.
zorz Wrote:
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> Know where the dynamic brakes are?
>
> KM-ML4000 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The open section in the rear is the engine
> cooling
> > tower. The locomotive is divided into 5
> > compartments:
> > Cab
> > Machine room 1
> > Clean air room
> > Engine room
> > Cooling tower
> > Machine room 2



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/17 08:39 by KM-ML4000.

Where is the Cabbage for this set?

Do they not run a Cabbage Unit when they are using Superliners on this Run?

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

Amtrak is getting run time on the new locomotives and getting crews qualified on the Chargers, so no cabbage cars for the next week or so.

GP25 Wrote:
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> Where is the Cabbage for this set?
>
> Do they not run a Cabbage Unit when they are using
> Superliners on this Run?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/17 13:51 by KM-ML4000.

It's interesting to see how the various owners paint the equipment.

Brightline is bright, but the Illinois model has a very classic look to it.

Posted from Android

How do they handle customs?

All done in Pacific Central Station in Vancouver. Canada's CBSA for arrivals..... and departing passengers Pre-Clear with US CBP prior to boarding.

Posted from Android

ghCBNS Wrote:
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> All done in Pacific Central Station in Vancouver.
> Canada's CBSA for arrivals..... and departing
> passengers Pre-Clear with US CBP prior to
> boarding.

Not entirely. On the southbounds, there is still a U.S. customs check on board carried out between the U.S. border town of Blaine, Wash., and the first passenger stop at Bellingham. This requires the train to stop at Blaine to pick up the customs agents.

As a result, the Vancouver-Seattle timing of the southbound trains is 4 hr., 25 min.,, compared with 4 hours even for the northbounds.