Passenger Trains > An Amtrak ACS-64 Under Wire

OK, so it's on the left coast and this is as close as California will get to high speed rail. But it is a high-speed motor under 12.5kv wire in my state.

The first Siemens ACS-64 to move under its own was plying the new test track in Sacramento today. No high speed running here, as the track is only ~1/4 mile long. There are cosmetic pieces missing as you can tell from the artist's sketch, but none of that is needed for testing right now. Sorry the image is so grainy, but this was a zoom shot from outside the facility on the road on the other side of the tracks.

I can't say anything else, but it is neat to see Amtrak's new NEC power at its earliest stages.

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I like how it looks! Look forward to seeing them on the road!

No need to go to Europe to see European styled trains!

But, where does one go to see American styled trains?

/Mitch

Mgoldman Wrote:
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> No need to go to Europe to see European styled
> trains!
>
> But, where does one go to see American styled
> trains?
>
> /Mitch

Haha agreed, its kinda freakish looking but better looking than its hideous Talgo Cousin!

Mgoldman Wrote:
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> No need to go to Europe to see European styled
> trains!
>
> But, where does one go to see American styled
> trains?
>
> /Mitch

Mitch... Head to Canada. One look at a VIA "Canadian" consist and you'll feel right at home.

Posted from iPhone

I didn't know they were making them here. Cool picture--thanks. I think it looks much nicer in-person (or in-photo) than it does in the original artist's diagram. (Can't say as much for the Talgo NPCU).

Looks bigger than I expected. Hope it doesn't have issues like the E-60 in which Amtrak couldn't run it over 80 because the big lumbering engine's trucks would wobble over 90MPH.

Hope they paint it to look more aerodynamic.

Mgoldman Wrote:
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> No need to go to Europe to see European styled
> trains!
>
> But, where does one go to see American styled
> trains?
>
> /Mitch

Australia!

When I was looking at it, I kept thinking it looks like it was smiling at me like a cherub little guy.

Inthehole Wrote:
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> When I was looking at it, I kept thinking it looks
> like it was smiling at me like a cherub little
> guy.

Haha! I got the same first impression when I saw your photo. Good job getting the grab shot for everyone else.

What benefits do they have over the AEM-7's and HHP-8's?

They will probably work reliably. They're also not 30 years old.

I think the Rohr Turboliners were built in southern California as I recall, so not the first high speed trains to come out of that state...

amtrakbill Wrote:
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> Looks bigger than I expected. Hope it doesn't
> have issues like the E-60 in which Amtrak couldn't
> run it over 80 because the big lumbering engine's
> trucks would wobble over 90MPH.
>

The problem with the E-60 was the freight trucks that it rode on (three-axle trucks of other designs were successfully used by the Germans and the French on 125mph locomotives in 1970s, 80s, and beginning of 90s.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/13 14:08 by chs7-321.

I love it. Trainorders now has its own Jim Dunne!

TL

These ACS-64's look a LOT like NJT's ALP46's. They need to make sure they put a nice Amtrak logo on the front!!!

Inthehole Wrote:
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> When I was looking at it, I kept thinking it looks
> like it was smiling at me like a cherub little
> guy.

Looks like Chucky

As one who has seen both for a while, there are some similarities between the looks and I could see that point of view, but there is a different front curvature. This picture does not capture that difference very well. There are more differences between the two than there were between the AEM-7 and the ALP-44. I personally like the ACS-64 looks more than the ALP-64's. There is a "lets get this done" look to these motors and they will look good doing 125 with a train.

The artist's sketch shows there will be a large "Amtrak" three-sheets-to-the-wind-logo on the sides.

jp1822 Wrote:
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> These ACS-64's look a LOT like NJT's ALP46's. They
> need to make sure they put a nice Amtrak logo on
> the front!!!