AMT GM-EMD F59PH Locomotives
In 1985 GO Transit of Ontario, Canada was looking for a new locomotive to increase its fleet, improve reliability and replace the oldest locomotives, which then were approaching 20 years of age.
They approached EMD who proposed a solution: modifying their GP59 design by adding a HEP engine and generator, a full-cowl body, a modified "Safety cab", and a higher-speed (but not "high speed) gearing, and thus the F59PH was born.
The F59 was produced from 1988 to 1994, with GO Transit taking the majority of the 72 built.
The breakdown of the name is as follows: Full cowl, 59-series, Passenger, Head-end power-equipped.
While similar in appearance at first glance to the F40, it is quite a different animal. While it has the same amount of horsepower (3000hp), it comes from an entirely different powerplant (12V-710G3(A)) and an entirely different mode of operation. Because of the separate HEP system, the engine is allowed to rev up and down in response to changes in the throttle setting by the engineer. It also features a front walkway (for easy access to the cab), large equipment doors on the carbody to allow for easy access to the machinery, and a lower gearing to help with the acceleration of the 10-car trains that GO so often runs.
A couple of years afterwards, the Southern Califonia Regional Rail Authority was starting up its Metrolink commuter rail service in the Los Angeles area, and needed some motive power. They approached EMD, and placed an order for 17 units, which was later upped to 23.
They approached EMD who proposed a solution: modifying their GP59 design by adding a HEP engine and generator, a full-cowl body, a modified "Safety cab", and a higher-speed (but not "high speed) gearing, and thus the F59PH was born.
The F59 was produced from 1988 to 1994, with GO Transit taking the majority of the 72 built.
The breakdown of the name is as follows: Full cowl, 59-series, Passenger, Head-end power-equipped.
While similar in appearance at first glance to the F40, it is quite a different animal. While it has the same amount of horsepower (3000hp), it comes from an entirely different powerplant (12V-710G3(A)) and an entirely different mode of operation. Because of the separate HEP system, the engine is allowed to rev up and down in response to changes in the throttle setting by the engineer. It also features a front walkway (for easy access to the cab), large equipment doors on the carbody to allow for easy access to the machinery, and a lower gearing to help with the acceleration of the 10-car trains that GO so often runs.
A couple of years afterwards, the Southern Califonia Regional Rail Authority was starting up its Metrolink commuter rail service in the Los Angeles area, and needed some motive power. They approached EMD, and placed an order for 17 units, which was later upped to 23.
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