ALP-44
Encyclopedia
The ABB ALP-44 is an electric locomotive
which was built by Asea Brown Boveri
(Sweden
) between 1990 and 1996 and are in operation on the New Jersey Transit
and SEPTA railway lines.
's electric lines, with fifteen units, designated ALP-44O's(numbered 4400 through 4414), delivered in 1990. A second order for five more units, designated ALP-44E's (numbered 4415 through 4419), was delivered in 1995, and the final order was for 12 ALP-44M units (numbered 4420 through 4431) and was delivered in 1996.
As of December 18, 2010, locomotives 4400-4404, 4408, 4410-4420, 4422-4423, 4426-4427, and 4419-4431 have been retired. Units 4405-4407, 4409, 4421, 4424-4425, and 4428 are still in service. All units have been retired with the delivery of the remaining ALP-46A locomotives, except 4405 and 4409, which are assigned to ACES. As of June 15, 2011, units 4402,4403,4408,and 4410 have been leased by Amtrak for work train service through the Hudson river tunnels.
SEPTA received a single ALP-44M unit, #2308, from ABB, which was part of a damage settlement for a lawsuit stemming from the late delivery of N5 cars for the Norristown High Speed Line
. ABB gave SEPTA an ALP-44M, instead of the EMD AEM-7
, which make up the rest of SEPTA's electric locomotives, because EMD had discontinued the production of the AEM-7.
electric locomotive in use by Amtrak
, MARC
, and SEPTA. The ALP-44 is powered by overhead lines
through one of the locomotive's two pantographs
and can produce up to 7000 hp (5.2 MW) with a top speeds of up to 125 mph (201 km/h). In commercial use however, both New Jersey Transit and SEPTA ALP-44s are cleared for speeds up to 100 mph (161 km/h).
's to enable the replacement to take place.
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
which was built by Asea Brown Boveri
Asea Brown Boveri
ABB is a Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, and best known for its robotics. ABB operates mainly in the power and automation technology areas. It ranked 143rd in Forbes Ranking ....
(Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
) between 1990 and 1996 and are in operation on the New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit rail operations
New Jersey Transit Rail Operations is the rail division of New Jersey Transit. It provides regional rail service in New Jersey, with most service centered around transportation to and from New York City, Hoboken, and Newark...
and SEPTA railway lines.
New Jersey Transit
The ALP-44 was originally ordered for New Jersey TransitNew Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
's electric lines, with fifteen units, designated ALP-44O's(numbered 4400 through 4414), delivered in 1990. A second order for five more units, designated ALP-44E's (numbered 4415 through 4419), was delivered in 1995, and the final order was for 12 ALP-44M units (numbered 4420 through 4431) and was delivered in 1996.
As of December 18, 2010, locomotives 4400-4404, 4408, 4410-4420, 4422-4423, 4426-4427, and 4419-4431 have been retired. Units 4405-4407, 4409, 4421, 4424-4425, and 4428 are still in service. All units have been retired with the delivery of the remaining ALP-46A locomotives, except 4405 and 4409, which are assigned to ACES. As of June 15, 2011, units 4402,4403,4408,and 4410 have been leased by Amtrak for work train service through the Hudson river tunnels.
SEPTA
Norristown High Speed Line
The Norristown High Speed Line is an interurban line system operated between Upper Darby and Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA by SEPTA...
. ABB gave SEPTA an ALP-44M, instead of the EMD AEM-7
EMD AEM-7
The AEM-7 is a B-B electric locomotive that is used in the United States on the Northeast Corridor between Washington DC and Boston and the Keystone Corridor between Philadelphia and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania. They were built by Electro-Motive Division from 1978 to 1988...
, which make up the rest of SEPTA's electric locomotives, because EMD had discontinued the production of the AEM-7.
Specifications
The ALP-44 based on the Rc6 model and designed specifically for New Jersey Transit as a variant of the EMD AEM-7EMD AEM-7
The AEM-7 is a B-B electric locomotive that is used in the United States on the Northeast Corridor between Washington DC and Boston and the Keystone Corridor between Philadelphia and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania. They were built by Electro-Motive Division from 1978 to 1988...
electric locomotive in use by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, MARC
MARC Train
MARC , known prior to 1984 as Maryland Rail Commuter Service, is a regional rail system comprising three lines in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. MARC is administered by the Maryland Transit Administration , a Maryland Department of Transportation agency, and is operated under contract...
, and SEPTA. The ALP-44 is powered by overhead lines
Overhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
through one of the locomotive's two pantographs
Pantograph (rail)
A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
and can produce up to 7000 hp (5.2 MW) with a top speeds of up to 125 mph (201 km/h). In commercial use however, both New Jersey Transit and SEPTA ALP-44s are cleared for speeds up to 100 mph (161 km/h).
ALP-44M
The ALP-44M is a variant of the original ALP-44 design. It includes a microprocessor control for functions such as braking and the EPIC brake controller.Overhaul
NJT's ALP-44's were to be overhauled for a cost of $2 million during a two year period by Philadelphia-based Interfleet Technology. A car builder had not yet been selected to carry out the overhaul. However, as of June 2009, NJT has decided that it would be more efficient (economically and physically) to replace the ALP-44's rather than overhaul them, and has exercised an option of 9 additional ALP-46AALP-46
The ALP-46 is an electric locomotive built in Germany by Bombardier between 2001 and 2002 for use in the United States. It is derived from the German Class 101. New Jersey Transit is the only railroad to operate this model locomotive...
's to enable the replacement to take place.
External links
- New Jersey Transit
- SEPTA
- New Jersey Transit rail operationsNew Jersey Transit rail operationsNew Jersey Transit Rail Operations is the rail division of New Jersey Transit. It provides regional rail service in New Jersey, with most service centered around transportation to and from New York City, Hoboken, and Newark...
- Unofficial NJT locomotive roster