EMD F59PH

The EMD F59PH is a four-axle 3,000 hp (2 MW) B-B diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division from 1988 to 1994. A variant, the F59PHI, was produced from 1994 to 2001. The F59PH was originally built for GO Transit commuter operation in the Toronto region. Metrolink in Southern California also purchased a fleet for its 1992 launch. The streamlined F59PHI was designed for Amtrak California intercity service. A total of 72 F59PH and 83 F59PHI locomotives were built.

EMD F59PH and F59PHI
Two F59PH locomotives owned by GO Transit at Oakville station in 2008
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderElectro-Motive Division (EMD)
Build date1988 to 1994 (F59PH)
1994 to 2001 (F59PHI)
Total produced72 (F59PH); 83 (F59PHI)[1]
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo'Bo'
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
LengthF59PH: 58 ft 2 in (17.73 m)
F59PHI: 58 ft 7 in (17.86 m)[2]
Prime moverEMD 12-710G3A (F59PH)[3]
EMD 12-710G3C-EC (F59PHI)[4]
Cylinders12
Performance figures
Maximum speed110 mph (177 km/h) (F59PHI)[4]
Power outputF59PH: 3,000 hp (2.24 MW)
F59PHI: 3,200 hp (2.4 MW)
Career
LocaleCanada, United States

F59PH

Between May 1988 and May 1994, 72 F59PH locomotives were built for two commuter transit railroads: GO Transit of Toronto and Metrolink of Los Angeles.[1] Based on the GP59, the locomotives had a turbocharged EMD 12-710G3A, a 12-cylinder, two-stroke Diesel engine (prime mover).[5] Head end power was supplied by a separate diesel generator.[6]

GO Transit began retiring its F59PH locomotives in 2008 in favor of newer MPI MPXpress locomotives.[5] Most were purchased by other operators including Exo (10 locomotives),[7] Metra (3),[8][9] NCDOT (11) for use on the Piedmont,[10][11] and Trinity Railway Express (7).[12] Five of the NCDOT units were rebuilt into cab control units without prime movers.[13]

Seven Metrolink units were rebuilt as F59PHR. The non-rebuilt Metrolink locomotives were retired by 2020.[14] Five of those were purchased by NCDOT in 2018.[15]

Original owners
Owner Number Year built Unit numbers Refs
GO Transit 49 1988–1994 520–568 [1]
Metrolink 23 1992–1993 851–873 [14]

F59PHI
A Caltrans-owned F59PHI locomotive on an Amtrak Capitol Corridor train in 2010

The F59PHI is a variant with a fully enclosed streamlined carbody. The first nine units were purchased by Caltrans for use on Amtrak California services and entered service in 1994.[16] Like the F59PH, the F59PHI is equipped with a secondary electrical generator – rated between 500 and 750 kW (670 and 1,010 hp) – for HEP.[17] A total of 83 locomotives were built, most for commuter rail and Amtrak corridor services on the West Coast.[18]

Two F59PHI locomotives were built in 1995 for Philip Morris Companies to haul the Marlboro Unlimited, a custom built luxury train to carry winners of a Philip Morris sweepstakes around the country. After Philip Morris cancelled the train, the units were stored before being sold to Metrolink in 1998.[19][20]

Some units are still in service with the original owners, while others have been retired. The 21 ex-Amtrak units were sold to Metra in 2018.[21]

Original owners
Owner Number Year built Unit numbers Refs
Amtrak (for Pacific Surfliner and Cascades) 21 1998 450–470 [21][4][22]
Caltrans (for San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor) 9 1994 2001–2009 [22][23]
6 2001 2010–2015
Exo 11 2000–2001 1320–1330 [18]
Metrolink 10 1995 874–883 [14][19][20]
4 2001 884–887
NCDOT (for Piedmont) 2 1998 1755, 1797 [18][24]
North County Transit District (Coaster) 2 2001 3001–3002 [25][26]
Sound Transit (Sounder Commuter Rail) 11 1998–2001 901–911 [27]
Trinity Railway Express 2 2001 569–570 [12]
West Coast Express 5 1995 901–905 [28][29]

Notes
  1. McDonnell 2015, p. 208
  2. Marre, Louis A.; Withers, Paul K. (2000). The Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide. Halifax, Pennsylvania: Withers Publishing. pp. 112–114. ISBN 1-881411-25-7. LCCN 99069543.
  3. "Canadian Trackside Guide". Canadian Trackside Guide. Bytown Railway Society. 2019. p. 1-99. ISSN 0829-3023.
  4. Amtrak Cascades Fleet Management Plan (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. November 2017. pp. 29, 95.
  5. Solomon 2011, p. 159
  6. Weaver, Christopher S.; McGregor, Douglas B. (March 1995). Controlling Locomotive Emissions in California: Technology, Cost-Effectiveness, and Regulatory Strategy (PDF). California Air Resources Board. p. 27.
  7. Vantuono, William C. (January 31, 2022). "Siemens Mobility Chargers for Montreal". Railway Age.
  8. "Metra to buy three used locomotives" (Press release). Metra. November 9, 2018. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
  9. Danneman, Tom (November 9, 2015). "Metra's first F59PH is now in service". Trains Newswire.
  10. Warner, David; Sutton, Harry (March 1, 2022). "Amtrak Motive Power Roster: North Carolina DOT Equipment". On Track On Line. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022.
  11. "NCDOT adds two refurbished locomotives to passenger fleet". Trains Newswire. August 4, 2017.
  12. "TRE Facts". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022.
  13. "Attachment 3E: Statement of Work (February 2014)". Brownfields Property Application: Charlotte Locomotive & Railcar Maintenance Facility. North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 9, 2014. p. 2.
  14. "Part 2: Existing Fleet and Facilities". Metrolink Rail Fleet Management Report FY2020 – FY2040 (PDF). Southern California Regional Rail Authority. 2020. pp. 32–35.
  15. "Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – December 14, 2018". Southern California Regional Rail Authority. January 4, 2019. p. 4.
  16. "F59PHI debuts in California". Railway Age. December 1, 1994. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  17. Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A field guide to trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 94. ISBN 0-395-70112-0.
  18. Solomon, Brian (2013). Classic Locomotives: Steam and Diesel Power in 700 Photographs. Voyageur Press. pp. 510, 527–529. ISBN 9780760345283 – via Google Books.
  19. "The Motive Power and Equipment Scene" (PDF). Branchline. Vol. 35, no. 2. February 1996. p. 26. ISSN 0824-233X.
  20. Metrolink Fleet Management Plan FY2015–FY2025. Southern California Regional Rail Authority. October 2015. pp. 42–45.
  21. "Metra F59PHIs get ready for service". Trains. November 5, 2018.
  22. "Appendix A: Asset Inventory". Amtrak Five Year Equipment Asset Line Plan: Base (FY 2019) + Five Year Strategic Plan (FY 2020–2024) (PDF). Amtrak. 2018. pp. 56–57, 104.
  23. "Chapter II: Capital Program". California State Rail Plan 2005–06 to 2015–16 (PDF). California Department of Transportation. December 2005. p. 18.
  24. Frey, H. Christopher; Graver, Brandon M. (August 13, 2012). "Chapter 2: Rail Yard Testing". Measurement and Evaluation of Fuels and Technologies for Passenger Rail Service in North Carolina (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. p. 28.
  25. "Staff Report" (PDF). North County Transportation District. February 21, 2019.
  26. Luczak, Marybeth (February 12, 2021). "NCTD introduces new cleaner locomotives and refurbished coaches". International Railway Journal.
  27. "Motion No. M2016-123 Sounder Locomotive Overhaul Contract Amendment" (PDF). Sound Transit. December 15, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2017.
  28. van Hattem, Matt (June 30, 2006). "West Coast Express". Trains Magazine.
  29. "The Long-Awaited "West Coast Express"" (PDF). Branchline. Vol. 35, no. 2. February 1996. p. 10. ISSN 0824-233X.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to EMD F59PH locomotives and EMD F59PHI locomotives.
  • McDonnell, Greg (2015). Locomotives: The Modern Diesel and Electric Reference (2nd ed.). Richmond Hill, Ontario: Boston Mills Press. ISBN 978-1-77085-609-7.
  • Solomon, Brian (2011). Modern Diesel Power. Minneapolis, MN: Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-76-033943-5.
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