General Electric Transportation Systems 'Genesis' series

GE - Genesis
General Electric Transportation Systems - Genesis
Years of manufacture	1993-2001
Length	69 feet
Width	10 feet
Height	14 feet 4 inches
Power/Fuel	Diesel/Dual Mode w/third rail

The General Electric Transportation Systems 'Genesis' series are a series of 4-axle lightweight diesel-electric/dual-mode locomotives specifically designed for passenger service at the behest of Amtrak . It was the first new passenger locomotive in North America designed from the rail up since the LRC in the late 1970s.

These locomotives were designed with both long-distance and high speed corridor service in mind. They were different from other passenger locomotives due to the use of a 'monocoque' shell, which makes the unit lighter and therefore allows them to go faster.

History

In the late 1980s, Amtrak began to look for a new passenger locomotive design - one that could run from coast to coast, using a diesel engine or a third rail in the tunnels of New York, capable of hauling long trains over the long-distance routes and sprinting at high speed over the corridors of California and the North East - and lighter and more fuel efficient than the existing fleet of F40PH's. They received bids from EMD and GE - and to the surprise of many railfans (but not the industry) GE won the contract for 74 units, with 10 of them being dual-mode units equipped with third-rail shoes.

Work began immediately, and GE partnered with Krupp, on many fronts in the design. In 1990, however, it was realized that the schedule would slip. An "out" was engineered - GE would supply 20 fewer units of the new design, and would immediately build 20 locomotives based on their existing 4-axle freight locomotives. The 20 B32-8WH's were delivered in 1991, and remain on the roster today.

GE and Krupp continued to press ahead, and early in 1993 they finally unveiled the first 'GENESIS' variant, the 4000HP, 103MPH P40DC - classed the AMD-103 (Amtrak Monocoque Diesel-103MPH) by Amtrak.

The work wasn't done yet though - the dual-mode locomotives were still being engineered, and were unveiled in 1995 as the 3200HP, 110MPH P32AC-DM, classed AMD-110 (Amtrak Monocoque Diesel-110MPH) by Amtrak.

The final piece of the puzzle came later in 1995, when GE finally received the order they were looking for - Amtrak requested 120 units of an improved design. These were the 4200hp P42DCs, capable of 110MPH.

Several more orders, of 2 units and 84 units and 8 more dual-mode units, as well as orders 32 dual-mode units by New York commuter operator Metro-North and finally for 21 diesel units to VIA Rail Canada rounded out production of the design before it was discontinued in 2001.

Variants

• P40DC
• P42DC
• P32AC-DM

Specifications

• Main engine: GE 7FDL-16, 4000-4200HP
  • P32AC-DM: GE 7FDL-12, 3200HP
• Alternator: GMG195
  • P32AC-DM: GMG195A1
• Traction Motors: 4x GE GE752AH DC
  • P32AC-DM: GE GEB15 AC
• Head-End Power: 800kW, driven by main engine. Engine speed-locked to 900RPM in HEP mode.
  • P32AC-DM: 800kW Static Invertor, driven by main engine. Engine speed-restricted to 620-1047RPM (notch 3 to 8) in HEP mode.
• Trucks: Krupp-Siemens bolsterless high-speed
• Fuel Capacity: 2200 US Gallons
• Top speed: 110MPH (177km/h)
  • Original P40DC: 103MPH (166km/h)
  • VIA P42DC: 100mph (160km/h)

Operators

Canada

• VIA Rail Canada - 21 P42DCs, 900-920

United States

• Amtrak - 14 P40DCs, 18 P32AC-DMs, 199 P42DCs
• Connecticut Department of Transportation - 6 P40DCs bought from Amtrak
• Metro-North - 32 P32AC-DMs
• New Jersey Transit - 4 P40DCs, bought from Amtrak