Passenger Trains > Metra's Rebuilt, Repainted (Rebuilt, Repainted?) F59PH's

A few weeks ago, Metra released some of it's F59PH's in sparkling fresh new paint. To make it more interesting, they ran many times on 2135, a 5:12pm Milwuakee North Line departure from Union Station that gets two units, elephant style, as power. It took me several efforts to get them in good sunlight; these first two photos are the successful attempt. Then next two posts will have some cloudier images. More recently, they've been running solo on various runs.

Does anyone know what happened with these? It seems like this is the second time they've been painted in just 4 years. Kevink has a post from 2017 where they are freshly rebuilt and repainted after their acquistion from AMT: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4274612

Note the white roof at that time. I've been communting past the Western Ave. shops for a year and my hazy recollection is that most/all of them (94-99) where idle at the shops in 2020. As you can see from the photos, 97, 98, and 99 are the ones out and about in the fresh paint with the new black roof. 94-96 seem to still be at Western Ave. with the silver roof, idle. Another note - lately I've seen fresh MP36PH-3S's with both black and white/silver roofs. On another note, Rapido has these coming out in HO Scale in a paint scheme that is now already history (in a minor way.)

Did they also go through a second rebuild? That black box over the one of the radiator fans seems like a new addition.

Overall, they look really sharp, and it's bizarre to see something look this good that has been retired from a bunch of other commuter railroads! Metra power has certainly gotten varied with veteran power for a commuter agency. On the Milwuakee North Line now a train could have an F40PH, F59PH, F59PHI, or MP36PH-3S. To me it is still hard to imagine that SD70MAC's will be part of that at some point.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/21 18:26 by inCHI.

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In this sequence, 97+ 99 are throtling out of Glenview, IL.

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In this sequence, 2135 is heading past CP Morgan. Then, another double-headed express shows what is more normal, a mix and match combo.

For anyone who hasn't been there recently, it has suddenly changed. The PRR CPL's have gone for a few years now I guess. But that high rise in the background is quite new and the first high rise between the Metra/MILW and Metra/UP tracks (the others are south of this vantage point.) ADM's mill that NS served, just behind this photo, has been totally demolished. The NS track is already full high weeds, and removed over some crossings that have been redone.

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Are these F59s ex Metrolink?


inCHI Wrote:
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> A few weeks ago, Metra released some of it's
> F59PH's in sparkling fresh new paint. To make it
> more interesting, they ran many times on 2135, a
> 5:12pm Milwuakee North Line departure from Union
> Station that gets two units, elephant style, as
> power. It took me several efforts to get them in
> good sunlight; these first two photos are the
> successful attempt. Then next two posts will have
> some cloudier images. More recently, they've been
> running solo on various runs.
>
> Does anyone know what happened with these? It
> seems like this is the second time they've been
> painted in just 4 years. Kevink has a post from
> 2017 where they are freshly rebuilt and repainted
> after their acquistion from AMT:
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
> 4274612
>
> Note the white roof at that time. I've been
> communting past the Western Ave. shops for a year
> and my hazy recollection is that most/all of them
> (94-99) where idle at the shops in 2020. As you
> can see from the photos, 97, 98, and 99 are the
> ones out and about in the fresh paint with the new
> black roof. 94-96 seem to still be at Western Ave.
> with the silver roof, idle. Another note - lately
> I've seen fresh MP36PH-3S's with both black and
> white/silver roofs. On another note, Rapido has
> these coming out in HO Scale in a paint scheme
> that is now already history (in a minor way.)
>
> Did they also go through a second rebuild? That
> black box over the one of the radiator fans seems
> like a new addition.
>
> Overall, they look really sharp, and it's bizarre
> to see something look this good that has been
> retired from a bunch of other commuter railroads!
> Metra power has certainly gotten varied with
> veteran power for a commuter agency. On the
> Milwuakee North Line now a train could have an
> F40PH, F59PH, F59PHI, or MP36PH-3S. To me it is
> still hard to imagine that SD70MAC's will be part
> of that at some point.

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

GP25 Wrote:
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> Are these F59s ex Metrolink?

No. Former GO Transit with a stop at AMT.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/21 19:13 by kevink.

inCHI Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anyone know what happened with these? It
> seems like this is the second time they've been
> painted in just 4 years.

There was an item in Metra’s 2020 budget book to convert 54 locomotives (F59PH, F59PHI and MP36) from DC to AC traction propulsion. I suspect the larger fan was part of the upgrade.

Posted from iPhone

Metra did an awesome job on the paint on those units!

kevink Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> inCHI Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Does anyone know what happened with these? It
> > seems like this is the second time they've been
> > painted in just 4 years.
>
> There was an item in Metra’s 2020 budget book to
> convert 54 locomotives (F59PH, F59PHI and MP36)
> from DC to AC traction propulsion. I suspect the
> larger fan was part of the upgrade.

No AC traction on these. The prime mover now meets Tier 2 and is equipped with EMDEC electronic fuel injection. Also, the ancient EMD 'Super Series' computer was replaced with an EM2000, and the HEP engine is now a Tier 3  Cat C15.
 

Several comments:

--METRA did a fantastic job painting those units.  Super snazzy and good looking.  And that "blue fade" paint work is not easy to do!!!!!!  METRA  did great here.

--I like how METRA doesn't buy into all the hype about new engines;  instead, they buy older engines and give them some TLC, and look at what you have---a fleet of great engines (unlike the new Chargers out west here, always breaking down...)

--Look at that old, huge signal bridge.  Other RR's would have torn it done, but here, it's still structurally sound, so it keeps on doing its job.  That's being cost efficient.

All in all, great stuff.  Applause for METRA!

Those engines are beast mode!

Is it paint or a wrap? 

GettingShort Wrote:
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> Is it paint or a wrap? 

Paint, of course.

alamode Wrote:
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> No AC traction on these. The prime mover now
> meets Tier 2 and is equipped with EMDEC electronic
> fuel injection. Also, the ancient EMD 'Super
> Series' computer was replaced with an EM2000, and
> the HEP engine is now a Tier 3  Cat C15.
>  
Thanks for the additional details.

Nice coverage, wow, had to look twice, had to take double look where that new building is, was nice vacant lot and then fenced in.  Wonder how long AT & T will stay there.

Have to get down there at night and see how things look, way differen, thats for sure.

Bob



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/21 13:02 by robj.

Those look great, I just hope we get to see the SD70MACH in that scheme, if it happens.

Let me see if I have this straight.  The F59PHIs from Amtrak California have been left blue and silver with just the Metra name applied.  The green and brown Cascades units Metra didn’t like the looks of and repainted them.  But not into Metra colors; they painted them blue and silver like the others.  Is that correct?

filmteknik Wrote:
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> Let me see if I have this straight.  The F59PHIs
> from Amtrak California have been left blue and
> silver with just the Metra name applied.  The
> green and brown Cascades units Metra didn’t like
> the looks of and repainted them.  But not into
> Metra colors; they painted them blue and silver
> like the others.  Is that correct?

Not correct. All 21 F59PHI’s received new paint.
Metra kept the Surfliner scheme to simplify the painting process while adding Metra branding. There are a few of the Cascade units that still have the brownish paint from the frame down. And of course, #90 sports the spiffy CNW colors.

Metra information on the F59PHI’s:

https://metra.com/newsroom/f59phis-arrive-sweet-home-chicago

Posted from iPhone

I would say they have been patched. There are plans to completely repaint them into a full Metra livery.

DevalDragon Wrote:
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> I would say they have been patched. There are
> plans to completely repaint them into a full Metra
> livery.

They were repainted. I have walked right next to most of them at some point. There are also photos of them in Metra’s paint shop getting repainted.

Posted from iPhone

Call it what you will. The linked article says they received an "Express" paint job which takes 5 days instead of a "Complete" paint job which takes 20 days.