Bombardier–Alstom HHP-8

Amtrak assumed control of almost all private sector intercity passenger rail service in the United States on May 1, 1971. The centerpiece of Amtrak's system was the Northeast Corridor, a {{convert|457|mi|km|adj=on}} line between Washington, D.C., and Boston, Massachusetts, via New York City. The line was electrified from Washington through New York to New Haven, Connecticut; diesel locomotives handled trains over the remaining {{convert|157|mi|km}} between New Haven and Boston. In the 1990s Amtrak rebuilt and electrified the route as part of the project which established high-speed Acela Express service between Washington and Boston. The extension of electrification between New Haven and Boston meant that Amtrak would need additional electric locomotives to pull conventional trains east of New Haven. Neither of Amtrak's existing designs, the EMD AEM-7 and GE E60, were still in production, and the latter was slated for retirement. Amtrak chose to have Bombardier and Alstom, makers of the Acela Express, produce a visually-similar derivative for conventional service.{{Cite web |date=February 25, 2016 |title=Building the Infrastructure for Acela Express |url=https://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/building-the-infrastructure-for-acela-express |website=History Blog}}

The HHP-8 measures {{convert|67|ft|1|in|m}} long by {{convert|10|ft|4|in|m}} wide and stands {{convert|14|ft|2|in|m}} tall (from the rail to the locomotive roof, excluding the pantographs). This was {{convert|16|ft|m}} longer than the AEM-7, though still shorter than the E60. The locomotive weighs {{convert|220000|lb|kg}}. The carbody is stainless steel; the locomotive has a 6 MJ crash energy absorbance structure.

Reflecting the varied electrification schemes on the Northeast Corridor the locomotives were designed to operate at three different voltages: 25 kV 60 Hz AC (used between Boston and New Haven), 12.5 kV 60 Hz AC (used between New Haven and New York), and 12 kV 25 Hz AC (used between New York and Washington). The electrical traction system is directly derived from the system used on Alstom's BB 36000 Astride locomotives;{{Citation |last1=Allenbach |first1=Jean-Marc |title=Traction électrique |date=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6hvjX-AtI-4C |volume=1 |pages=328 |publisher=Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes |language=fr |isbn=978-2-88074-674-2 |quote=La partie électrique de locomotives américaines (25 Hz/60 Hz) – 15 HHP-8 (AME 125) pour l'Amtrak et 6 pour le Maryland – est aussi directement dérivée |last2=Chapas |first2=Pierre |last3=Comtel |first3=Michel |last4=Kaller |first4=Roger}} this includes four {{convert|1.5|MW}} three phase asynchronous traction motors powered by GTO based inverters, with one inverter per motor; the electric system also allows regenerative and rheostatic braking. The locomotives were designed for up to {{convert|135|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} operation but are actually limited in service to Federal Railroad Administration Tier 1 standards, operating up to {{convert|125|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Citation |title=Caltrain Electrification Project |date=August 2000 |url=http://sonic.net/~mly/Caltrain-Electrification/2000-08-Rolling-Stock-Draft/4.pdf |work=sonic.net |at=Section 4: ELECTRIC ROLLING STOCK EQUIPMENT POWER, 4.3.1.4 High Horsepower Amtrak/MARC Locomotive}}

{{multiple image

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| header = The Acela and the HHP-8

| image1 = Hhp8 661.jpg

| alt1 = Silver and blue electric locomotive with cabs at both ends

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| alt2 = Silver and blue electric locomotive with a single cab

| caption2 = The visual similarity between the HHP-8 (top) and Acela Express power cars (bottom) was a deliberate design choice.

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Amtrak ordered 15 HHP-8s in 1996 at the same time as its Acela Express trainsets. The 15 locomotives were completed between 1999 and 2001.{{Cite web |last=Iverson |first=Lucas |date=August 5, 2024 |title=Five memorable Amtrak locomotives |url=https://www.trains.com/ctr/railroads/locomotives/five-memorable-amtrak-locomotives/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Trains |language=en-US}} The HHP-8s have external styling that is similar to the Acela power cars, but are designed to operate as independent locomotives, hauling conventional passenger rolling stock. The units supplemented the EMD AEM-7s and allowed Amtrak to commence retirement of the GE E60.{{Cudahy-Hudson|pages=89–90}}{{Amtrak By the Numbers|page=68}} Amtrak did not purchase the locomotives outright but leased them from Philip Morris Capital.{{Cite news |last=Vantuono |first=William C. |date=November 11, 2019 |title=HHP-8 "Cannibalization" Generates Lawsuit |work=Railway Age |url=https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/hhp-8-cannibalization-generates-lawsuit/}}

The locomotive's original type designation was HHL-8, for "High Horsepower Locomotive, 8,000 (nominal) horsepower".{{Cite magazine |date=September 1999 |title=From GG1 to E60 to AEM7 to HHL-8 |magazine=Trains}} This was subsequently changed to HHP-8.

In conjunction with the Amtrak order, MARC also acquired six HHP-8s, which MARC uses on their Penn Line service along the Northeast Corridor between Perryville and Washington, DC.

Amtrak operated its HHP-8s on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, DC;{{Cite book |last=Loomis |first=Jim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U9u4Yrn0F54C |title=All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide |date=November 24, 2011 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-56976-849-5 |pages=140 |language=en}} racking up approximately 1,000,000 miles each in service (based on 2009 figure).{{Cite web |date=February 2010 |title=Amtrak Fleet Strategy : Building a Sustainable Fleet for the Future of America's Intercity and High-Speed Passenger Railroad |url=http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/Presentations/Amtrak_FleetStrategyPlan.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419212754/http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/Presentations/Amtrak_FleetStrategyPlan.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2016 |website=www.highspeed-rail.org |pages=17, 21, 24, 37, 42 }}

In 2002, Amtrak's fleet of 15 units was temporarily withdrawn along with the Acela Express trains due to cracks in components of the trucks.{{Cite web |last=Wald |first=Matthew L. |date=August 16, 2002 |title=Amtrak sideline more locomotives because of defect |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/16/us/amtrak-sidelines-more-locomotives-because-of-defect.html |website=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Don |date=August 16, 2002 |title=High-Speed Trains Shut Down Again |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/08/16/high-speed-trains-shut-down-again/9a6849f4-4c19-4e2a-85e6-230326aa3fec/ |access-date=March 10, 2018}}

Amtrak's HHP-8s suffered from low reliability. As a result, after only one decade in service, their replacement was considered, concurrent with the replacement of the older AEM-7 locomotive fleet, since a large order for a standardized fleet would have price economies, and the resultant fleet would have lower overall maintenance costs. A replacement fleet of 70 locomotives starting delivery in 2012 was planned, with HHP-8s kept as a reserve in the short term.

In October 2010, Amtrak ordered 70 Siemens ACS-64 locomotives to replace both the HHP-8 and the older AEM-7 locomotives, with deliveries beginning in early 2013.{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2010 |title=Siemens AG bags $466-mn order from US railroad company Amtrak |url=http://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_s/Siemens/20101029_amtrak_oneView.html |access-date=November 4, 2013 |publisher=domain-b.com}} Amtrak retired its last HHP-8 on February 9, 2015.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/gov.uscourts.nysd.526143 |title=Philip Morris Capital Corporation v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation |others=Free Law Project |pages=37}} All units are now stored; to avoid duplicate numbering with ACS-64 units 650–664, Amtrak renumbered its retired HHP-8s to 680–694.{{Cite web |title=Amtrak City Sprinter Class ACS64 Electric Locomotive For Amtrak's North East Corridor (NEC) High Speed Passenger Service |url=http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mobility/global/SiteCollectionDocuments/en/rail-solutions/locomotives/customspecific-solutions/amtrak-acs64-en.pdf |access-date=December 24, 2013 |website=Siemens AG Infrastructure & Cities Sector Rail Systems Division |archive-date=February 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213055319/http://www.mobility.siemens.com/mobility/global/SiteCollectionDocuments/en/rail-solutions/locomotives/customspecific-solutions/amtrak-acs64-en.pdf |url-status=dead }} Philip Morris sued Amtrak in 2019, alleging that Amtrak had cannibalized eight of the fifteen locomotives for parts, in violation of the terms of the lease.{{Cite news |last=Vantuono |first=William C. |date=November 11, 2019 |title=HHP-8 "Cannibalization" Generates Lawsuit |work=Railway Age |url=https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/hhp-8-cannibalization-generates-lawsuit/}} The two parties settled the lawsuit in 2021; the terms were not disclosed.{{Cite web |last=Phillis |first=Michael |date=June 29, 2021 |title=Settlement Ends $93M Suit Over Amtrak Train Lease |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1398809/settlement-ends-93m-suit-over-amtrak-train-lease |access-date=May 29, 2022 |website=Law360 |language=en}} {{subscription required}}

In an effort to extend the life of its existing fleet until the arrival of the Airo fleet, Amtrak began testing a converted HHP-8 locomotive as a cab car in 2023. These converted units are designated as HHP-8C.{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/news-photo-amtrak-hhp8-tests-as-cab-car/ |title=News photo: Amtrak HHP8 tests as cab car |newspaper=Trains News Wire |date=December 3, 2023 |access-date=December 4, 2023}}

The project initially aimed to convert two locomotives for expanded Ethan Allen Express service in 2022. While the first conversion (originally numbered 691, initially renumbered 90691 and later 9750) faced initial setbacks, it was ultimately successful. As of July 2024, Amtrak is considering expanding the program to include up to eight total conversions.{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=David |last2=Sutton |first2=Harry |date=June 1, 2024 |title=Amtrak Motive Power Roster |url=https://on-track-on-line.com/amtk-roster-engines.shtml |access-date=July 1, 2024 |website=On Track On Line}} In April 2025, Nos. 9750 and 9751 were unveiled in Amtrak's new Phase VII paint scheme.{{cite news |title=News photo: Amtrak “Hippos” near return as cab cars |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/news-photo-amtrak-hippos-near-return-as-cab-cars/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |work=Trains |publisher=Firecrown Media |date=April 14, 2025}}

While reports in 2016 indicated that MARC planned to retire their HHP-8 locomotives and replace them with Siemens Charger locomotives,{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2015 |title=MARC replacing electric locomotive fleet with high-speed diesels |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/commuterregional/marc-replacing-electric-locomotive-fleet-with-high-speed-diesels/ |newspaper=Railway Age}} MARC instead started a refurbishment program for its HHP-8s in 2017.{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2017 |title=MARC Riders Advisory Council Meeting Minutes: April 20, 2017 |url=https://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/MARCRAC_Minutes_2017-04-20.pdf |website=MTA Maryland}} Issues with equipment cooling that kept the HHP-8 locomotives from properly working were addressed.

{{As of|2017|9}}, the first HHP-8 reconditioned under this program had been delivered and was undergoing successful testing.{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2017 |title=MARC Riders Advisory Council Meeting Minutes: September 21, 2017 |url=https://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/MARCRAC_Minutes_2017-09-21.pdf |website=MTA Maryland}}

{{As of|2018|3}}, the first HHP-8 reconditioned was running for three weeks without major issue (a software issue was corrected in this time). A second HHP-8 was being reconditioned.{{Cite web |date=March 15, 2018 |title=March 15, 2018 Minutes |url=https://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/MARCRAC_Minutes_20178-03-15.pdf |website=MTA Maryland}}

{{As of|2018|6}}, the second HHP-8 had the most unreliable power control components replaced and was back in service. The remainder of the upgrade on this locomotive was to be done by the end of 2018. MARC planned to upgrade the remaining HHP-8 locomotives in their fleet.{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2018 |title=June 21, 2018 Minutes |url=https://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/MARCRAC_Minutes_2018-06_21.pdf |website=MTA Maryland}}{{Needs update|date=November 2024|reason=The sentence only goes up to June of 2018, and it has been 6 years since then.}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category inline|Bombardier/Alstom HHP-8 locomotives}}

{{Amtrak rolling stock}}

{{High-speed rail}}

{{Higher speed rail}}

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