Passenger Trains > New Charger in Kansas City

Hi all,
On April 25-26, the new Amtrak/Siemens Charger locomotive operated a test train from Kansas City-St. Louis and back. Both of these shots were taken on Tuesday, April 25th.

Photo 1: Well, I got hosed with my shot at Rock Creek Jct., but I was able to beat it back to downtown KC and shoot it a bit, so that's good. After turning itself on the wye at BN Jct., the 4611 pulls back north/east into Union Station, positioned for Wednesday's trip east.

Photo 2: Had dinner at Grinders on 18th St. with a non-train friend, and came back to KCUS for some night shots. Fortunately, I was able to get some shots off just before the rain started.

Thanks for looking,
- Jeff Carlson

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Thanks for the top down view of the unit, that's interesting.

The color scheme is attractive, I think it suits the locomotive more than the Brightline livery.

When is it heading back east?

Posted from Android

Marty Harrison
Knob Noster, MO

Thanks a lot. I rather like this scheme as well, but the Brightline units have that nose cone on the front that certainly improves the appearance of the things quite a bit.

- Jeff

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> Thanks for the top down view of the unit, that's
> interesting.
>
> The color scheme is attractive, I think it suits
> the locomotive more than the Brightline livery.

I want to say that it was supposed to leave KC around 6am today, but I could be wrong. If that's the case, it should be pretty close to StL by now (noonish).

- Jeff Carlson

livesteamer Wrote:
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> When is it heading back east?
>
> Posted from Android

Meh on the paint scheme, for me anyway.  That "fading pixels" effect behind the cab reminds me of the first paint scheme on Amtrak's Genesis units, which I neve liked much either.  My guess is that with a little exhaust soot on it, it's gonna look even worse.

So when did Amtrak purchase Siemen Chargers?

Well, I'm not sure if this is an honest question or just a jab at the semantics of the locomotives' ownership, but this is where Wikipedia is your friend. Direct from their page on the locomotive, "The Illinois Department of Transportation, in conjunction with its counterparts in California, Michigan, Missouri and Washington, purchased 32 locomotives for corridor service operated by Amtrak in March 2014."

- Jeff Carlson

kd0086 Wrote:
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> So when did Amtrak purchase Siemen Chargers?

Posted from iPhone

No it was a honest question. I thought I missed something. I knew about the states but I did not know that Amtrak lettering would be put on them for those states except possibly California.

Hey Jeff,

Saw something on the Food Network about Grinder's a couple nights ago. What's your opinion? I always like to give recommendations to our guests when the LArail cars are visiting.

Thanks in advance,

-John

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> Thanks for the top down view of the unit, that's
> interesting.
>
> The color scheme is attractive, I think it suits
> the locomotive more than the Brightline livery.

Is that not the demonstrator paint scheme as first
seen when it made its public appearance?

Assume these? - just how many were painted this way?
will all be repainted. There's a photo of one posted
on RP.net in an Amtrak California paint scheme but as
one would expect these days - it does not match the
current consists. Also on RP.net is a photo of the
Cascades liveried units, much nicer and as one might
expect. Search "Charger" if you decide to take a look.

/Mitch

I like the blue light special shot Jeff!
They are parking that thing way further East now!

This is the Midwest paint scheme. The "Siemens" branding will be removed, and the Midwest States artwork will replace the Siemens name. By this point and time, both California and the Midwest States should have have their new PRIIA Bi-Levels in the matching paint scheme. It will be a "dog breakfast" until the Bi-Levels are delivered.

KM-OUT


Mgoldman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thanks for the top down view of the unit,
> that's
> > interesting.
> >
> > The color scheme is attractive, I think it
> suits
> > the locomotive more than the Brightline livery.
>
> Is that not the demonstrator paint scheme as first
>
> seen when it made its public appearance?
>
> Assume these? - just how many were painted this
> way?
> will all be repainted. There's a photo of one
> posted
> on RP.net in an Amtrak California paint scheme but
> as
> one would expect these days - it does not match
> the
> current consists. Also on RP.net is a photo of
> the
> Cascades liveried units, much nicer and as one
> might
> expect. Search "Charger" if you decide to take a
> look.
>
> /Mitch

will Amtrak be responsible for maintenance and servicing of this power, or will the states contract it out?

KM-ML4000 Wrote:
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> By this point and time, both California and the Midwest States should have have their new PRIIA Bi-Levels
> in the matching paint scheme.

Aren't the bilevels you reference the ones that failed the compression test and are still in development? It appears you accidentally typed "should have have" instead of "should have had."

Thanks a lot!

If I were to wager a guess as to its location, it was probably to allow for the actual River Runner to fit behind it on the same track when it arrived later. As you surely know, they have to keep the other track open there for the Chief.

- Jeff

mp51w Wrote:
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> I like the blue light special shot Jeff!
> They are parking that thing way further East now!

Oh, I absolutely love the place. There are two of them right next to each other. Regular ol' Grinders is probably the one you saw with Pizza, Phillies and more, while Grinders West is far more "legit" with non-bar food options. At Grinders, their Phillies are great, and I make a point of ordering some tots whenever I'm there too. They've also got a great beer selection there, and an outdoor concert venue out back.

- Jeff Carlson


jcaestecker Wrote:
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> Hey Jeff,
>
> Saw something on the Food Network about Grinder's
> a couple nights ago. What's your opinion? I
> always like to give recommendations to our guests
> when the LArail cars are visiting.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> -John

Here are a few more shots of the Siemens Charger #4611 in Kansas City.

- Jeff Carlson

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And finally, while it's super sad that the Western Auto sign isn't lit up anymore at night, it's interesting to note that the radiator (?) section of the Siemens Charger lights up like this at night. Hmm... interesting!

- Jeff Carlson

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Was this a one time round trip test run? Or will they be running it for awhile? I am scheduled to take the Missouri River Runner next week for a Garth Brooks concert in KC, hoping to see this unit.