NJT/First dual mode locomotive enters revenue service Options

[KevinKorell]

Railway Age, 5/30/12:

New Jersey Transit’'s newest locomotive made its first revenue service run May 30. The ALP-45DP (dual-power), described by NJT as a “hybrid” locomotive in that it operates under AC-catenary electric or diesel-electric power, is the first of its type in North America.

Story here.

I believe that previously, this particular train ran under diesel power even under the wires between Montclair State University and Hoboken. But can these trains also go over the Midtown Direct connection into New York (on the NEC), or would that require an even more complicated engine?

[jis]

You can see a video at: http://youtu.be/dMsJB9oMMnA

Fairly quiet in D mode and quite good acceleration with half a dozen or so Comet-Vs as expected.

I believe that previously, this particular train ran under diesel power even under the wires between Montclair State University and Hoboken. But can these trains also go over the Midtown Direct connection into New York (on the NEC), or would that require an even more complicated engine?

These will be able to operate into Penn Station after they figure out a few issues with a few older viaducts on the High Line, which have difficulty carrying a 284,000lb locomotive at speed. All of them are scheduled to be upgraded for 286K anyway within the next year or two.

[jis]

Here's a video of one arriving at Newark Broad Street in E-mode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH2fpYmgACY

I rode this train to Lake Hopatcong to experience the performance both in E and D modes. It was quite impressive and it is eerily quiet, even in D-mode.

BTW, you can find details about this engine in the reasonably good Wikipedia article.

[KevinKorell]

STV provided design, inspection and test engineering support services for this initiative, which also extends north of the border to Canada where the same vehicles are being procured for Agence Métropolitaine de Transport in Montreal. The locomotives are being manufactured by Bombardier in Kassel, Germany. View the full article