Charging through an Arlington Afternoon

Charging through an Arlington Afternoon

I took my first photos Saturday of Amtrak's "new face" on long-distance operations (outside of high-speed electric territory). It's the new ALC-42 "Charger" diesel-electric locomotive. It produces 4,200 horsepower from its diesel prime mover and AC traction motors. No. 336 is one of 125 such locomotives being built for Amtrak by Siemens Mobility in U.S.

And, no, it wasn't the victim of a vandal's paint bombing - just the effects of long-lens telecompression of its shiny flanks reflecting the sunset. The big X-shaped part is for drawing lots of air into the carbody to keep the Cummins prime mover running cool and clean.

The Chargers will, by and by, be replacing Amtrak's familiar backbone diesel fleet of P42 Genesis locomotives. (*)

The Charger was on the point of a northbound train, captured late Saturday just outside of Washington in Arlington, Virginia. After crossing the Potomac on the Long Bridge and passing through L'Enfant Plaza in southwest DC, it will tunnel under Capitol Hill and arrive on the Lower Level of Union Station, there to be replaced by another Siemens machine, the (all-electric) ACS-64 Sprinter,(**) for the continuation of its trip, under catenary, to New York.

©2024 Steve Ember
(*)