Passenger Trains > Updates on the Metrolink F40 800?

Hello, I know that the CARB is forcing Metrolink to scrap the F40PH 800 by drilling the hole to disable the engine permantely as part of the contract to buy the EMD F125' and The Los Angeles Union Station Preservation Society is trying to save the F40PH. I'm wondering if theres any updates on the society regarding the F40PH 800?  The last update about it that i've seen was in October and it's now January 2020. Are they still trying to fight to save it and get more meetings with the Metrolink to save the unit? or it's time to let it go, there's nothing you can do? 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/20 10:43 by amtrakfan04.

Calling TO member RRBaron...

He never did bother to answer back in September or October of last year.

When I rode by Taylor Yard not even a month ago (Dec 2019) it seemed to contradict what a lot of foamers say. At LEAST 8 F59s were still in service, 5 PHI's and 3 PH's, plus the leaser PHs so really 10 F59s and I believe the 800 is still at Keller Yard in operational condition. It was NOT at Taylor Yard as of the end of Dec 2019 (Dec 24th).

The 800 is an old Amtrak F40, which had a constant high speed prime mover for the 480 volt 60 cycle head end power (because it has no auxilary engine for head end power).
I would assume that its emissions are much higher than the F59s which can idle their prime mover when not generating tractive effort.
 

According to the latest photos taken 2 weekends ago (1/5/2020 exact photo date) on rrpicturearchives.net, the locomotive still exists with their trucks

Posted from iPhone

Locomotive is still intact in Keller yard, but does have a hole in the block. Metrolink actually posted a photo of a hole cut into the block.

Posted from Android

andrewamtrak Wrote:
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> Locomotive is still intact in Keller yard, but
> does have a hole in the block. Metrolink actually
> posted a photo of a hole cut into the block.

For what it's worth, EMD two-stroke cycle engines do not have a "block", but a fabricated crankcase & oil pan. There really isn't much of a problem with making weld repairs on/in EMD crankcases. Thus, without seeing the photo of the "whole cut into the block", I would still bet that it is easily repaired. 

Since there’s still time and it’s still existing, Should I start a petition to the Change.org and contact the Los Angeles Union Station Preservation Society page to have the link to their page? Although the engine is drilled in, we can still try to save the locomotive and worry about the engine if we get the locomotive out of their hands.

Posted from iPhone

amtrakfan04 Wrote:
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> Since there’s still time and it’s still
> existing, Should I start a petition to the
> Change.org and contact the Los Angeles Union
> Station Preservation Society page to have the link
> to their page? Although the engine is drilled in,
> we can still try to save the locomotive and worry
> about the engine if we get the locomotive out of
> their hands.
>
> Posted from iPhone

The lack of any response from RRBaron on this suggests there is no ongoing desire or effort by the Los Angeles Union Station Preservation Society to save this unit. 

Ok, I am going to start a change.org petition and does anybody by chance have any pictures of it during its Amtrak service leading the respective Southern California trains (SWC, CS, SL, and the discontinued DW & SD). I can’t find any of it leading the SoCal trains. According to RRPicturearchives, There are pics of it leading the California Zephyr & Empire Builder.

Posted from iPhone

SCspotter Wrote:
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> When I rode by Taylor Yard not even a month ago
> (Dec 2019) it seemed to contradict what a lot of
> foamers say. At LEAST 8 F59s were still in
> service, 5 PHI's and 3 PH's, plus the leaser PHs
> so really 10 F59s and I believe the 800 is still
> at Keller Yard in operational condition. It was
> NOT at Taylor Yard as of the end of Dec 2019 (Dec
> 24th).

The F59PHIs are mostly still in service (two are retired).
The F59PHs are all gone
The F59PHRs (rebuilt F59PHs) are all still in sevice.
The leased F59PHs (LTEX) are all still in service.
The F40PH is gone.

Fate of the F40 and F59s in Keller Yard is indeed that they have been disabled per agreement and are awaiting disposition. 

What people are reporting as F59PHs still running are the group that was rebuilt and have a unique hump near the rear to indicate the rebuild).

> The lack of any response from RRBaron on this
> suggests there is no ongoing desire or effort by
> the Los Angeles Union Station Preservation Society
> to save this unit. 

Actually, LAUSHS has been very busy over the holidays. As an FRA Section 106 resource, we have been studying the impact on LAUS by Metro's proposed "Esplanade" project linking LAUS with the Old Pueblo district with better pedestrian and bike access, the details of which we are legally bound not to discuss publicly. I have asked around concerning #800, and one source said that our presentation to the Metrolink Board has caused it to "table" the matter so they can revisit their scrapping policy. That's a move in the right direction we feel--if indeed it happened. The best thing for TO's to do is to write letters to: Metrolink Board of Directors, 900 Wilshire Blvd., Suite #1500, Los Angeles, CA 90017 asking them to save historic engine #800. If you do please send  LAUSHS a copy via US Mail at: LAUSHS, PO Box 411682, Los Angeles, CA 90041, or via Email at: laushs@earthlink.net. Thanks for the interest!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/20 23:30 by RRBaron.

amtrakfan04 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since there’s still time and it’s still
> existing, Should I start a petition to the
> Change.org and contact the Los Angeles Union
> Station Preservation Society page to have the link
> to their page? Although the engine is drilled in,
> we can still try to save the locomotive and worry
> about the engine if we get the locomotive out of
> their hands.
Yes of course! Everything helps.

> The lack of any response from RRBaron on this
> suggests there is no ongoing desire or effort by
> the Los Angeles Union Station Preservation Society
> to save this unit. 

I beg to differ, see our reply above.  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/20 12:57 by RRBaron.

I have started a Change.org petition to save the F40PH 800 (ex-Amtrak 396)

Link to the petition:

https://www.change.org/p/collette-langston-save-f40ph-800

Posted from iPhone



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/20 15:11 by amtrakfan04.

RRBaron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > The lack of any response from RRBaron on this
> > suggests there is no ongoing desire or effort
> by
> > the Los Angeles Union Station Preservation
> Society
> > to save this unit. 
>
> I beg to differ, see our reply above.  

Um, so should I respond to this post, or the one above that you say I should read, which happens to be a quoted responce to my exact same post as you are quoting here?

I will respond to the other one...

---

That link is a dead end.

RRBaron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > The lack of any response from RRBaron on this
> > suggests there is no ongoing desire or effort
> by
> > the Los Angeles Union Station Preservation
> Society
> > to save this unit. 
>
> Actually, LAUSHS has been very busy over the
> holidays.

No one said anything about whether or not LAUSHS has been busy with whatever. That is not the topic of discussion here, is it?

> As an FRA Section 106 resource, we have
> been studying the impact on LAUS by Metro's
> proposed "Esplanade" project linking LAUS with the
> Old Pueblo district with better pedestrian and
> bike access, the details of which we are legally
> bound not to discuss publicly.

OK, and what exactly does that have to do with the topic of discussion here?

> I have asked around
> concerning #800, and one source said that our
> presentation to the Metrolink Board has caused it
> to "table" the matter so they can revisit their
> scrapping policy.

FINALLY, you say something about the 800. See, your problem is, you posted about it back in September 9, then again on September 29 and on that date you said there was a meeting that night and that information about that meeting would be posted later. Then you clammed up and failed to post any follow up information, even after several requests for follow up information. 

So, back to my statement: "suggests there is no ongoing desire or effort by the Los Angeles Union Station Preservation Society to save this unit" please respond then as to how LAUSHS has an ongoing desire to "save" 800 or what efforts LAUSHS is making to "save"? 

By the way, exactly who is LAUSHS?

mundo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That link is a dead end.

I am so sorry about the link being a dead end.

I edited it in the original post and it clicks to the petition now! Fixed it!

https://www.change.org/p/collette-langston-save-f40ph-800

 

> > > The lack of any response from RRBaron on this
> > > suggests there is no ongoing desire or effort
> > by
> > > the Los Angeles Union Station Preservation
> > Society
> > > to save this unit. 
> >
> > Actually, LAUSHS has been very busy over the
> > holidays.
>
> No one said anything about whether or not LAUSHS
> has been busy with whatever. That is not the topic
> of discussion here, is it?
>

>
> FINALLY, you say something about the 800. See,
> your problem is, you posted about it back in
> September 9, then again on September 29 and on
> that date you said there was a meeting that night
> and that information about that meeting would be
> posted later. Then you clammed up and failed to
> post any follow up information, even after several
> requests for follow up information. 
>
> So, back to my statement: "suggests there is no
> ongoing desire or effort by the Los Angeles
> Union Station Preservation Society to save this
> unit" please respond then as to how LAUSHS has an
> ongoing desire to "save" 800 or what efforts
> LAUSHS is making to "save"? >
> By the way, exactly who is LAUSHS?

Excuse me, but you seem more concerned about LAUSHS' perceived shortcomings than you are about what you can do to help save #800. As to who is LAUSHS please check our website: www.launionstationpreservation.org Our earlier response was an update on #800.