Extremely Rare Amtrak Downeaster NPCU Double-Header + More Rare Amtrak Consists - Late 2023
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- čas přidán 11. 04. 2024
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About this video: Late 2023 brought some interesting looking trains to the Amtrak Downeaster’s route and beyond. First with clips filmed in Woburn, Haverhill, and Lawrence, Massachusetts, a very unusual NPCU “double-header” on an Amtrak Downeaster set starts out this video. On Amtrak, NPCUs, also known as Non-Powered Control Units or “Cabbages,” can be seen throughout the system. They are former Amtrak F40PH locomotives that have had their engines removed, with that engine compartment space being converted to baggage space as indicated by the access doors on both sides. These units have 5-digit numbers (all starting with 90xxx) and are very rarely seen running together due to the lack of reasoning for two powerless locomotives to be on one train, since they essentially work the same as “cab cars” on commuter railroads. The rest of this video features Amtrak train 688 with extra equipment on the rear in Medford, MA and Exeter, NH, as well as a chase of an Amtrak Downeaster “Portland Extra” equipment move over the Grand Junction running track in Cambridge, MA. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
AMTK 90213 was originally F40PH 213 when built by EMD in April 1976. Rebuilt in December 2001 for the inauguration of Downeaster service on December 17, 2001. 90224 was originally built as F40PH 224 in April 1976. Converted to NPCU 90224 in late 2001.
Great video. Faszinating trains. Joe
Give u sub.
Thank you ! Much appreciated
0:27, If one NCPU wasn’t rare enough, a NPCU double-header, now that’s extremely rare. Also, what does NPCU stand for?
An NPCU is a “Non-Powered Control Unit”
What’s the purpose of the Non-Powered Control Units? Sorry if I’m asking a stupid question.
It’s no problem at all. NPCUs work the same as cab cars - they have controls to operate the train via a different locomotive without having an actual engine themselves. They are former Amtrak F40PH locomotives that have had their engines removed. The space where their engines used to be can now be used for baggage storage
The EMD F40PH is what saved Amtrak after the failure of their EMD SDP40F diesel-electric passenger locomotives. It was the mainstay or backbone of Amtrak’s short-haul passenger routes and the railroad’s diesel fleet from the late 1970s until the mid 1990s. The last locomotive made its final assignment on the Maple Leaf on June 1, 2002. This awesome reliability also made other U.S. commuter railroads as well as VIA Rail join the F40 club and purchased units of their own either brand-new builds or remanufactured from older locomotives throughout the 1980s and 1990s in several different variants. The F40PH also saved U.S. passenger rail in the United States and Canada. #LongLiveTheF40s.
Was that an equipment move at 11:25? If so, what was the purpose?
Portland extra equipment move on the back of southbound 688. After arriving at north station the equipment on the rear would get moved through Cambridge and over to the south side, where that crew would come back north with different equipment later on. It’s how new equipment comes to the Downeaster and old equipment leaves
Any idea what the purpose of the NPCU doubleheader was?
I would imagine the trailing NPCU had some sort of failure and could not lead. Normally they add a P42 in front of it if that’s the case, but I honestly have no idea what was going on here lol
Ya, usually a p42 would be added in front of the trailing f40 to give it assistance when it experiences a mechanical failure or another sort of failure. Weird. Also, love the christmas wreath on the front of the locomotive at 10:34. Nice treat to get ready for the holiday season.
@@rail_spike_productionsI’m sure there was a P42 shortage and they had a spare NPCU to just throw on there.