Re: (erielack) commuter train engines

[ELRRco_@_aol.com]

K A and Group,
 
The CNJ GP40P units were purchased by the B&O, who controlled the CNJ  
through the Reading, and as a close affiliate of the C&O, the B&O was  the one in 
that chain who had enough money for the State of NJ to come after to  invest in 
the service. The GP40Ps replaced CNJ's Trainmasters, which EMD  supposedly 
wanted to replace with SDP40s riding on trade-in TM trucks. Now, I'm  not sure 
how true that was, but it would have made for an interesting  locomotive, but 
supposedly B&O nixed it because with the TM trucks, they  could not blend in 
with the regular B&O fleet.
 
I don't believe the GP40Ps were ever owned by Conrail and were passed  
directly to NJDOT/NJ Transit, but I will say the same source that contributed  the 
direct ownership of these units by Chessie/B&O suggested that CR used  several 
EL E8s in Boston commuter service--which I have not yet  substantiated.
 
The U34CH units were purchased by NJDOT for use on the EL lines and there  is 
a lot out there saying EL's preference in utilizing large units that could  
double in freight service contributed to their acquisition. I don't know if  
NJDOT and/or EL considered any other type of locomotives but it is an  
interesting and unique choice of power--Amtrak's SDP40F and Metra F40Cs  excluded.
 
Phil
ELRRco_@_AOL.com
 
 
In a message dated 3/23/2006 11:12:18 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
WellerK_@_aol.com writes:

If the  state was subsidizing the purchase of commuter engines for EL and 
CNJ, 
why  didn't the state buy the same type of engines for both railroads, 
instead  
of U34CH's for EL and GP40P's for CNJ?  Were there operating reasons  of some 
sort?  Perhaps it was because the state wasn't yet actually  operating the 
trains, just subsidizing the operations?

K A  Weller


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