Passenger Trains > Amtrak to purchase 175 Siemens SC44 Charger Locomotives

CORRECTION: I have been told the number of SC44 locomotives stated in the press release was incorrect, the actual number is closer to 175 locomotives.

Amtrak buys 75 Siemens SC44s. Interestingly, they state in the press release, that they will be used on long distance trains including the Southwest Chief
https://media.amtrak.com/2018/12/amtrak-to-improve-national-network-with-new-locomotives/



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/22/18 06:57 by KM-ML4000.

WOW, what a major upset to all those naysayers crying "theskyisfailling theskyisfalling andersoniskillingthelongdistancetrains".



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/18 10:10 by jst3751.

The Guardian has an article about Siemens quietly buying and closing various US factories, and off shoring the work.

No indication these are locomotive suppliers.

Posted from Android

They can run all the long distance trains they want. But without  proper amenities, many will not ride. 

anderson109 - I agree.

Big deal--new locomotives pulling worn out 40 year old cars, with millions of miles on them.- this is what riders experience.

And customers don't care what locomotive is up front -- for all they know or care--it could be a steam engine. - no ridership value.

Yes, new locos will improve the occasional engine failure--but Amtrak considers locomotive failures  an insignificant cause of delays (freight train interference, slow orders & signal failures are the biggies).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/18 11:05 by ronald321.

This should put an end, once and for all, to the speculation that the new Amtrak leadership is going to dump the LD trains.  They must have read the Congressional tea leaves, as ALL the LD trains are specifically mentioned as being the recipients of the new locomotives, delivery of which will continue through 2024.

Art House

Does anyone ever have a positive view? 75 state of the art locomotives dedicated to long distance service and all these negative comments, simply amazing.

People will continue to travel regardless of the food service which will continue to improve. What is bad with this decision? Higher reliability, reduced train delays, lower fuel burn, lower mechanical costs, reduced emissions, etc.

Posted from iPhone

For once, this is good news. 
Now think about a Superliner I replacement; be it Superliner-III or Siemans car. I could be convinced either way. 

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Guardian has an article about Siemens quietly
> buying and closing various US factories, and off
> shoring the work.
>
> No indication these are locomotive suppliers.
>
> Posted from Android

One of the plants shuttered was in my hometown: Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Siemens essentially mined out the designs and intellectual property when it purchased the gas turbine division of Rolls-Royce, and it shut down most of the rest. The Mount Vernon plant built large gas turbines for the energy sector. Rolls-Royce, in turn, had purchased the unit from Cooper Industries.

Cooper and Rolls-Royce had a long-term partnership where Rolls provided the jet engine and Cooper-Bessemer supplied the gas turbine for the "Coberra" line of compressors. My Dad worked there for 40 years. Coberra gas turbine compressors are still at work on the Alaska Pipeline, etc.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

75 new Chargers mean about as much for the future of LD trains as 25 new Viewliner dining cars. 

Much more expensive, and they can't use them as axle count cars. 

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For once, this is good news. 
> Now think about a Superliner I replacement; be it
> Superliner-III or Siemans car. I could be
> convinced either way. 


What I’ve been told is that there is a coming order for a new Viaggio USA Bilevel LD car with the new weight/crash reqs being changed. The design has probably already been sent to Amtrak and so far there’s a lot of enthusiasm.

The new design is supposed to be a complete replacement for the Superliner series, capable of 100MPH but *not* designed for push-pull service.

This is why they aren’t being used for the Capital corridor service which is more time pressing.

Posted from iPhone

Great news!
Can't wait for the new power.

Posted from Android

zorz Wrote:
>
> What I’ve been told is that there is a coming
> order for a new Viaggio USA Bilevel LD car with
> the new weight/crash reqs being changed. The
> design has probably already been sent to Amtrak
> and so far there’s a lot of enthusiasm.
>
Is it something like this :
https://i.imgur.com/POm4jNZ.jpg

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> zorz Wrote:
> >
> > What I’ve been told is that there is a coming
> > order for a new Viaggio USA Bilevel LD car with
> > the new weight/crash reqs being changed. The
> > design has probably already been sent to Amtrak
> > and so far there’s a lot of enthusiasm.
> >
> Is it something like this :
> https://i.imgur.com/POm4jNZ.jpg

Yes - I believe it is the twin but it may also use some frame/design components from the Comfort line (Railjet) which was also used for the US single levels.

Unfortunately that’s all I’ve heard - wish I had more details

Posted from iPhone

New or not as long as some Coach yards (mainly Chicago) doesn't do a proper maintenance they'll the same issues, plus any specific on how many passenger cars they're gonna order or just enough to replace the Superliner Fleet and not have enough for peak service, longer trains and extra sets to help out if an inbound is very late? Or even expand the LD Network?
Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/18 14:11 by ProAmtrak.

Understand  the Surfliner Engineers are having difficulty with slippage on grades.

Any wish to respond. ?

mundo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Understand  the Surfliner Engineers are having
> difficulty with slippage on grades.
>
> Any wish to respond. ?

No data here, but I bet it is a software issue that they’ll be fixing :)

Posted from iPhone

mundo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Understand  the Surfliner Engineers are having
> difficulty with slippage on grades.

Can gear ratios and/or larger fuel tanks to add weight fix that ?

75 aint much compared to the nearly 200 Genesis they have runnning, and Auto-Train really?  That surprises me since Auto-Train requires freight-style acceleration & decelaration, ok I guess they (Chargers) can be geared for such operations.