Moving this question over from the answers in my thread on switchers in consists…
do Amtrak locos often stray into freight service? … again… what happens about their gear ratios? examples please??
Do Metra or other local passenger locos wander?
TIA[:)]
Amtrak F40’s have been leased for freight service. UP is the most significant I can think of leased some back in the 1996 service crisis. I also think that either CSX or NS also leased a few at one time. Can’t remember which.
On UP, they ran in alot of dedicated lanes and often they were the only type of units on the train but they did get mixed with standard freight units at times.
CSX
I don’t think Amtrack shares power with anyone, I don’t think they have the surplus locos available? I once watched locos come into Chicago on one train, get refueled and sent right back out on another train- and the second train has to wait for them! Some of their trains split, start as one long one then get to a certain point and the train divides and goes separate directions. The locos get a quick service and back on the road.
I have seen pictures of Amtrack getting a helping hand from the local roads when something breaks. I’ve got some pictures of a BN unit leading the way ahead of 2 FP40’s, I think it was more a matter of getting the line cleared for freight than anything else!
That’s interesting. Were these still Amtrack units, or were they owned by a leasing company by then? I read on Trainorders that there was a company rebuilding them for multipurpose work, but can’t remember the name.
David, I don’t know if this qualifies as freight service, but I live and work next to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and have seen almost every type of Amtrak loco on work trains such as ballast and cement tie trains. Both diesel and electric, but always late in thier lives.
Yah, they were still owned by Amtrak then. It was well the P42’s were still new with more being delivered. Amtrak had a power surplus then.
Amtrak F40’s were leased by NS a couple of years ago and one could see them tripple headed out of Cincinnati.
Ohio Central has at least two, I think four, F 40’s and I’m not sure if they’ve been regeared or not. I think at least one has.
Dale