Weekly Photo Fun - May 9th-15th

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Shiny new Amtrak 606.... one of the new ACS-64 Electrics. This used to be an E60MA number.



This (Angry face!) will soon be the new face of the Northeast Corridor-



ACS64 cab



Right next to it was this E8, in its original PRR number. This unit was at one time Amtrak 498, and then most recognizably, Conrail 4020, one of the Office Car Special E8s. Now it is back to PRR, though with HEP and dynamic brakes.



Goofing off in the Theater car!



ALP46 #4648



ALP46 cab



ALP45DP #4511, a Duel powered locomotive similar in Idea to the FL9, but with overhead catenary pick up instead of third rail. It also appears to have two small diesel engines in it, similar to the "Genset" locomotives out there. This thing is pretty big and its black upper body just disappears in most pictures.



ALP45DP cab-



Inside the cab of an NJ Transit Bi-level push-pull cab car.





An Acela Express Trainset was also open for tours.



Dissappointingly, the Atlantic City Line trains north from Cherry Hill to 30th Street were cancelled, so we had to take the free bus they offered (except we already had tickets for the train...). I neglected to take pictures in the morning, but it was a typical mix of GP40PH-2Bs, such as #4210. I did grab a video of #4210, but I will post it all later.

On the way out though, I was able to snap a poor shot of Amtrak 931 (i might be able to get good screenshots from a film of it I took). This locomotive and the ones like it will be amongst the first to go when the rest of the ACS64s start appearing en masse. #931 is an AEM7 "DC", unrebuilt and increasingly unreliable.

#931 was delivered to Amtrak in 1981, 33 years ago, the same year the AEM7s pushed the GG1s out of service.





At the Cherry Hill NJT station, the trains were lined up fro the trip south, including this 21 year old P40DC, #4802, ex Amtrak 810. Four P40DCs were purchased in 2007 for the "Atlantic City Express" (ACEs) train, a train that was almost direct from New York to Atlantic city with specially rebuilt (and expensive) Comet Bi-level cars. The most interesting part of this train was that it used an ALP44 electric on one end, and the P40DC on the other, so that it didn't have to change power between electric and diesel on the NEC. The train has been discontinued. I don't know what became of the special parlor and bar cars.



A second train, headed by P40DC #4801, ex Amtrak #808, waits just next to the rail bridge over Route 70, to the south of the station. I assume it is empty and waiting.



Comet V cab cars seem to be on the head ends of all single level push-pull trains these days. a collection of older NJ Transit coaches make up the rest of the consist. In the background, the "Cherry Hill Race Track" used to stand. In the PRR days, there were many special trains here and even a special horse car unloading track.

I took a film at this location as the train departed, I'll have to see if I can embed it.



After the train department, a pair of work equipment became visible.



The signal shows Medium Clear.