F40PH/40PH-2/40PHM

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F40PH

The Electromotive Divison F40PH is a 4 axle, 3,000 HP diesel electric locomotive first built by EMD in 1976, with varients of the model being produced until 1991. A standard F40PH rides on the same frame as a GP40-2 and uses the same 3,000 HP 16 cylinder 645 prime mover, and is essentially a cowled version of the GP40-2.

In the early 1970's, Amtrak ordered it's first new motive power from EMD, the SDP40F. While the units at first enjoyed great sucess, they became involved in a rash of serious derailments that were attributed to the locomotive's 6 axle trucks. The railroads blamed Amtrak's SDP40F's, and Amtrak blamed the railroad's track, but it was soon decided that a new, safer locomotive was needed. Amtrak told EMD they wanted a 4 axle passenger unit, and EMD came up with the F40PH. Using the sucessful GP40-2 freight locomotive, they added a cowl carbody and Head End Power (HEP) equipment. While the SDP40F's had been built with steam generators, by 1976 it was apparent steam heat was on it's way out and trains would be heated and powered by electricity supplied from the locomotive or a generator car. The new Amfleet coaches being built around the same time were HEP only, and older passenger equipment was starting to be converted from steam to HEP. Amtrak quickly put the F40PH to work on it's long distance passenger trains. Pleased by their performance, Amtrak began trading back some SDP40F's to EMD for credit on more F40PH's. Units built from components salvaged from the SDP40F's were reffered to as "F40PHR's". Eventually amassing a fleet of over 200 units, the F40PH became Amtrak's standard road locomotive for the next 3 decades, finally being replaced by the GE Genesis series locomotives in the late 1990's and early 2000's.

The F40PH is equipped with Head End Power, also known as HEP. With HEP, the locomotive supplys power and heat to the train. The F40PH (as built) is equipped with a secondary alternator that uses power generated by the prime mover to power the train. Because it must constantly power the train it's pulling, the locomotive's prime mover must constantly run at full power (900 RPM). The constant roar eminating from F40PH's have earned them the nickname "Screaming Thunder Boxes" from crews and railfans alike.

The F40PH would prove to be not just popular on Amtrak, but for several other passenger rail operators as well. Chicago's Rail Transit Authority (RTA, later METRA) ordered and still operates a large fleet of F40PH's, as does Florida's Tri-Rail, Massachutsets' MBTA, California's CalTrain, Ontario's GO Transit, and New Jersey's NJ Transit. Several former Amtrak F40PH's have been aqcuired by other railroads and passenger carriers over the years. CSX Transportation uses a fleet of 4 former Amtrak F40PH's for it's business train. Small commuter rail agencies and shortlines like the Music City Star, Iowa Northern Railway, San Luis & Rio Grande, Ski Train, and Ohio Central all operate ex Amtrak F40PH's.

A few F40PH's have been rebuilt for freight service, such as those aqcuired by the Canadian-American Railway. Part of the nose was chopped off to allow room for a front platform and steps, a necessity for freight service. They were also regeared to freight speed and the HEP alternator was disconnected.

F40PH-2

F40PHM

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