Passenger Trains > CalTrain F40PH-2C question

I'm updating the CalTrain roster on my web site and need to know the names for the 920, 921, 922. From what I remember, the MP36s are not named.

Since I no longer live in the Bay Area I cannot simply drive down to the tracks at rush hour and jot down the names.

Also, I noticed that there is a square now affixed to the nose of some units. It looks like it could be a placard holder. Anyone know what this add-on is?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi,
Can I suggest you look at the following link that gives the names of the F40PH-2C locos you are looking for;
http://www.all-transit.com/rosters/cal-r-1.htm
I visited the Caltrain Maintenance Facility last August/September and the "add on" you refer to is a kind of holder where a metal plate is inserted, this has a number and a bicycle pictogram displayed. I believe it is the position of the car with bicycle access within the consist in order for passengers to move towards that car and reduce any delays.
I hope this is of help.
Keith G, London, UK

Keith

Thanks for pointing me in that direction. I was able to get the names I needed. However, the rest of the loco roster is fraught with mistakes. My own site (which I will be updating soon) has the correct model designations of the CalTrain fleet.

http://www.rattenne.com/caltrans/CT_DetailedRoster.HTML

Hi, Ken,

I confirm that Keith is correct about the placard. It does indicate the positions of bike cars.

One MP36 does have a name: 925 is named in honor of Jackie Speier. You can see a photo confirming that here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jackie_Speier_Caltrain.jpg

The others have not been named. I understand that CalTrain has received suggestions to name the locos, but they do not seem interested in doing so.


Eugene

Eugene, thanks for the update:

"The others have not been named. I understand that CalTrain has received suggestions to name the locos, but they do not seem interested in doing so. "

The JPB is pre-occupied with financial woes...

Actually, the placard holder on the nose will show a "2" if there are two bike cars in the consist. It will be white or blank if only one bike car in the consist. Also, the bike cars are always in the same places. The cabcars are all bike cars, and if there is a 2nd, it will be the 2nd car from the loco.

Nice roster, but Caltrain's current reporting marks are actually JPBX, while Amtrak California uses CDTX.

There is also a list of the named locomotives, as well as some other fleet info on the Caltrain website: http://www.caltrain.com/about/statsandreports/commutefleets.html