This past weekend I was waiting on the northbound 'Carolinian' for a quick sightseeing day trip to the capital, Raleigh. As the train approached I noticed the engine had the # 2 on the front and sides, which led me to thinking where was the engine with the # 1? Later that day as the 'Piedmont' made its daily stop at the station in Salisbury with it's paint scheme and emblazened name 'City of Asheville' (her sister engine is named 'City of Salisbury') and NORTH CAROLINA boldly written on her sides and enourmous white star and the state abbreviation NC on the front, I made a note to write into this forum to see if anyone knew what TYPE of engine this was, as it is not the same type of engines I have seen on cross country trips on most other Amtrak trains. P.S. are there other Amtrak routes that have specialized paint schemes and engines with specific 'names'?
[This message has been edited by dmwnc1959 (edited 11-25-2003).]
Posted by MPALMER (Member # 125) on :
DMW,
Amtrak has other "custom" paint schemes where the local states have kicked in local tax/bond money to help pay for the trains. In California there are several trains running on corridor routes with an "Amtrak California" color scheme, which has a lot of dark blue. In Washington state (and Oregon?) the talgo trains have a different color scheme also.
MP
Posted by irishchieftain (Member # 1473) on :
Seems like this thread should have been titled "Amtrak Paint Schemes" since there is really no discussion about the engines themselves.
Different schemes are also applied to rolling stock, BTW.
Posted by RDG484 (Member # 2907) on :
I beleive the North Carolina locomotives are F-59's.
Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :
irishchieftain; In the text of the intial post I did ask two questions pertaining to Amrak engines. These simple questions may not have dealt with the technicalities or inner mechanics of the engines themselves but where still questions about Amtrak engines.
1) Amtrak engine #2 was sighted at my station so I was curious as to where engine #1 was? I was hoping someone may have also let me know how engines are numbered (sequentially? do they retire old numbers?) and to where specific numbered engines maybe assigned or do they run all over. To me it seemed unigue to see the second engine numbered in that specific class
2) What type of engine is at the lead of the 'Piedmont' as I have not seen this engine on any other Amtrak train.
Thanks to those who posted replies that were more informative.
Figured I'd show people the difference between an F59PH and an F59PHI (i.e. to dissuade the use of "F59"). The upper loco is the F59PH...(and Amtrak has none of them)
[This message has been edited by irishchieftain (edited 11-25-2003).]
Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :
Regarding the Piedmont:
The NCDOT also owns a GP40H-2 (or "Geep'), built in 1966 for the L&N Railroad. It's called "City of Raleigh," and was regularly used on the Piedmont until the newer engines were purchased.
The NCDOT owns a classic E3 as well, built in 1939 for the Atlantic Coast Line. It's strictly a museum piece.
[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 11-25-2003).]
Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :
irishchieftain; THANKS for clarifying the differences between the F59 series. As an obvious novice it is important that I learn the different types of engines. I have the fortune of living next to the North Carolina Transportation Museum with it's enourmous roundhouse and huge collections of vintage engines and passenger cars, and as much as I love going there, I still don't know what I am looking at. It's just really cool looking! With my love of trains in it's infantcy (at the age of 45), one of these days I'll catch up with you in your knowlegde of trains. In the meantime, Thanks for being gentle.
Posted by espeefoamer (Member # 2815) on :
The engine you saw,#2,is a G.E.unit called P42.Amtrak has over 200 of them.I have seen #1.the highest number I have seen was #207.The designation means,P.passenger,42,4200horsepower.
------------------ Trust Jesus,Ride Amtrak.
[This message has been edited by espeefoamer (edited 11-26-2003).]
