Amtrak Chargers Now Running on Illinois Trains

[C855B]

This may be old news since I don't see the other two Illinois lines, but apparently starting yesterday Amtrak is running the new Siemens Chargers on the Chicago-Carbondale trains. I heard a "definitely Amtrak, but different" horn on #391 coming into the station, glanced at the railcam screen, and there it was. Surprise! On checking the railcam snaps from this morning, #390 had one as well, which was the trainset from last night's #393:





Nice to have new power, as the P42s assigned to us were getting long in the tooth. But new power doesn't solve the CN problem - #391 was still an hour-and-a-half late.

[davefoxx]

Apparently form still follows function.   

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The X Men have arrived.

[C855B]

Robyn had the same reaction, "What's with the big X?" We're going to check one out on the 5:08 train, same trainset as the 12:16 1:26.

[davefoxx]

Robyn had the same reaction, "What's with the big X?" We're going to check one out on the 5:08 train, same trainset as the 12:16 1:26.

That's where they keep the HEPA filter.   

DFF

[MK]

That's where they keep the HEPA filter.   

DFF

LOL!!!!  And it'll cost $100,000 to change out by the dealer. 

[C855B]

Got up close and personal tonight. These things are so quiet Robyn asked if they were electric (she's never seen electric mainline power, so no laughing, please). No, dear, they're diesels.

Apparently the big X is a feature they are literally highlighting - it's a gallery for the radiator, and is brightly illuminated.

[peteski]

Got up close and personal tonight. These things are so quiet Robyn asked if they were electric (she's never seen electric mainline power, so no laughing, please). No, dear, they're diesels.

Apparently the big X is a feature they are literally highlighting - it's a gallery for the radiator, and is brightly illuminated.

So  Siemens makes diesel-electrics too?  Or maybe . . . these are nuclear-powered locos? That would explain the silent operation. 

[sirenwerks]

I've been meaning to do some railfanning (first time in 30 years, probably) up in Washington to catch the new Chargers on the Talgo-ed Cascades. I really like the design of this loco, they look much more like classic F units than the humpback F59 giants they'll replace, and the safety-cabbed F40s.

[eric220]

@sirenwerks I have to disagree with you on the looks. That is one fugly locomotive. Allegedly they based it off the City Sprinter, which has a much nicer cab.  Why they went to that function over form mishmash mess is beyond me.  As with any opinion, especially on aesthetics, YMMV.

[CNR5529]

That is one fugly locomotive.

But with a bit of a nose job, the Charger looks pretty slick. This is the locomotive that is going into service in Florida on the Brightline (FEC). It is essentially the same as the DOT/Amtrak Chargers, except for the nose cone and a few other minor details:

[eric220]

@CNR5529 That does look much more finished and sleek. I’m also not a fan of the Siemens/Amtrak paint, but then again I think Amtrak’s hit:miss ratio with paint schemes is pretty low overall.

[Missaberoad]

Just looks like it has a foreskin... 

[sirenwerks]

Looks like Carl Malden.

[peteski]

That is an ugly beast and its livery makes it look like it has a stuck-out black tongue and it is drooling yellow spit.