Passenger Trains > Metra F59PHI 88 Hits the Road

So a mere 48 hours after 5" of snow was dumped on the Chicago area, the noontime temperature downtown was 68 and the snow is but a memory. Good time for a walk over to the Clinton Street crossing to see what was up on Metra. I was rewarded with recently placed in service Metra #88 resplendent in fresh paint leading Milwaukee West train 2217. 

This should be ex-Amtrak Cascades Service #465.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/19 11:28 by kevink.

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I like that paint scheme.

Nice shot.  Good to see them in service!

 Great photo! Indeed two days ago it was snowing like crazy! Gotta love Chicago---it's the place to be!

They look sharp.  Nice sunny day for a change.


Bob

They are also rebuilding some F40's. What are they going to get rid of ?

Boy, that cleaned up real nice! Total repaint or did they just touch up the Amtrak paint and stick a Metra decal on?

F40PHR231 Wrote:
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> Total repaint. The #465 was previously in Cascade
> green and maroon. Plus, the traditional Surfliner
> scheme had black bands across the windshields.

The irony is that 465 was delivered as a Surfliner unit.  It was the only F59PHI "converted" to Cascades service some time in the early 2000's.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> They are also rebuilding some F40's. What are they
> going to get rid of ?

Get rid of? Metra is so power short it's not funny!

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> They are also rebuilding some F40's. What are they
> going to get rid of ?

From what I understand, there will be no retirements until the rebuilt SD70MACH's are online. I suspect that the earlier F40PH's will be retired first. 

You said it!

DevalDragon Wrote:
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> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They are also rebuilding some F40's. What are
> they
> > going to get rid of ?
>
> Get rid of? Metra is so power short it's not
> funny!

Posted from iPhone

Erik Leeper
Phoenix, AZ

Is this unit leased? If not, why the Amtrak inspired paint?

CPR_4000 Wrote:
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> Is this unit leased? If not, why the Amtrak
> inspired paint?

Metra purchased the former Cascade and Surfliner F59PHI’s after Amtrak’s lease with Progress Rail expired. Metra adapted the Surfliner scheme to get the first few engines in service quickly.
More info: https://metrarail.com/about-metra/newsroom/the-signal/f59phis-arrive-sweet-home-chicago

And if you go to a certain video site and search for "Painting F59PHI Locomotives" you will find a timelapse video posted on Metra's channel showing the repainting of #91

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/19 06:17 by kevink.

CPR_4000 Wrote:
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> Is this unit leased? If not, why the Amtrak
> inspired paint?

My understanding is this is for the 5 units to go into service only. Metra is that short of power they wanted to get them into service ASAP. Then the remaining 16 will receive a full repaint into a Metra scheme. When those are done, the first 5 will then be also repainted into the full Metra scheme.

Wish it was back in California as the Chargers sre so UGLY