This past year, I filmed 66, 156, 406, and 822 on various trains throughout Michigan. I also was granted a backstage tour inside the 822 and 406 with the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers. Here is some of the footage I filmed this past year of 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkTH9TLhkGg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo-lYwcs1Og&list=PL7832281E56852CE3&index=2&feature=plpp_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bJ6lkid6fk&feature=bf_next&list=PL7832281E56852CE3&lf=plpp_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k6sKefhtAs
And, here is some footage inside the great dome (not mine, MARP’s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZRMqUvULGk
Yes, it was the year of Phase III, [8D]!
I am curious about the Genesis locomotive at each end of the Michigan trains. The Hiawatha has a Genesis locomotive at one end and an F40PH NPCC (non-powered control cab or “cabbage car”) at the other end for push-pull operation. I see that the Wolverine in your clip has two Genesis locomotives. I thought that maybe they just stick a locomotive at each end but run only one Diesel, but I see Diesel smoke coming out of the leading and trailing locomotive units. 8000 HP on a 4 or 5-car corridor train? Do they really need that much? For push-pull they have to have a cab at each end, but do they need to power both locomotives?
That is an intresting question to ponder. One thing is for darn sure though… 8,000hp sure would pull er’ fast!
If I had to guess, they might be idiling one unit and just using one to push/pull with. They like to keep locomotives running as much as possible due to the fact that it takes fairly long for a locomotive to warm up. That’s my guess. [^o)]
-Justin