EMD F59PH#F59PHI

{{Short description|North American diesel locomotive class}}

{{Infobox locomotive

| name=EMD F59PH and F59PHI

| powertype=Diesel-electric

| image=File:City of High Point with the Piedmont at Salisbury, August 2016 (cropped).jpg
File:Capitol Corridor train crossing Alameda Creek, April 2024.JPG

| caption=Top: F59PH operated by Amtrak on the Piedmont
Bottom: F59PHI operated by Amtrak on the Capitol Corridor

| builder=Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

| builddate = {{Unbulleted list

| F59PH: 1988–1994

| F59PHI: 1994–2001

}}

| totalproduction = {{Unbulleted list

| F59PH: 72

| F59PHI: 83

}}

| gauge={{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}

| aarwheels = B-B

| uicclass = Bo'Bo'

| length = {{Unbulleted list

| F59PH: {{convert|58|ft|2|in|m|2|abbr=on}}

| F59PHI: {{convert|58|ft|7|in|m|2|abbr=on}}{{cite book |last1=Marre |first1=Louis A. |last2=Withers |first2=Paul K. |year=2000 |title=The Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide |publisher=Withers Publishing |location=Halifax, Pennsylvania |isbn=1-881411-25-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781881411253/page/112 112–114] |lccn=99069543 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781881411253/page/112 }}

}}

| primemover = {{Unbulleted list

| F59PH: EMD 12-710G3A{{cite magazine |issn=0829-3023 |magazine=Canadian Trackside Guide |publisher=Bytown Railway Society |page=1-99 |title=Canadian Trackside Guide |year=2019}}

| F59PHI: EMD 12-710G3C-EC

}}

| enginetype =

| cylindercount = 12

| poweroutput = {{Unbulleted list

| F59PH: {{convert|3000|hp|MW|2|abbr=on|lk=in}}

| F59PHI: {{convert|3200|hp|MW|1|abbr=on}}

}}

| maxspeed = F59PHI: {{convert|110|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}

| locale = Canada, United States

}}

The EMD F59PH is a four-axle {{convert|3000|hp|MW|0|abbr=on}} 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.

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.{{Harvnb|McDonnell|2015|p=208}} Based on the GP59, the locomotives had a turbocharged EMD 12-710G3A, a 12-cylinder, two-stroke Diesel engine (prime mover).{{Harvnb|Solomon|2011|p=159}} Head end power was supplied by a separate diesel generator.{{cite book |

url=https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic/research/apr/past/a032-169&92-917a.pdf |title=Controlling Locomotive Emissions in California: Technology, Cost-Effectiveness, and Regulatory Strategy |date=March 1995 |publisher=California Air Resources Board |first1=Christopher S. |last1=Weaver |first2=Douglas B. |last2=McGregor |page=27}}

GO Transit began retiring its F59PH locomotives in 2008 in favor of newer MPI MPXpress locomotives. Most were purchased by other operators including Exo (10 locomotives),{{cite news |url=https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/locomotives/siemens-mobility-chargers-for-montreal/ |newspaper=Railway Age |title=Siemens Mobility Chargers for Montreal |date=January 31, 2022 |first=William C. |last=Vantuono}} Metra (3),{{Cite press release |publisher=Metra |url=https://metrarail.com/about-metra/newsroom/metra-buy-three-used-locomotives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125000412/https://metrarail.com/about-metra/newsroom/metra-buy-three-used-locomotives |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |date=November 9, 2018 |url-status=dead |title=Metra to buy three used locomotives}}{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/09-metra/ |title=Metra's first F59PH is now in service |newspaper=Trains Newswire |first=Tom |last=Danneman |date=November 9, 2015}} NCDOT (11) for use on the Piedmont,{{cite web |url=http://on-track-on-line.com/amtk-roster-engines.shtml#NCDOT |title=Amtrak Motive Power Roster: North Carolina DOT Equipment |date=March 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320030325/http://on-track-on-line.com/amtk-roster-engines.shtml |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |website=On Track On Line |first1=David |last1=Warner |first2=Harry |last2=Sutton}}{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/04-ncdot-adds-two-refurbished-locomotives-to-passenger-fleet/ |title=NCDOT adds two refurbished locomotives to passenger fleet |newspaper=Trains Newswire |date=August 4, 2017}} and Trinity Railway Express (7). Five of the NCDOT units were rebuilt into cab control units without prime movers.{{cite book |url=https://edocs.deq.nc.gov/WasteManagement/ElectronicFile.aspx?dbid=0&docid=256994& |chapter=Attachment 3E: Statement of Work (February 2014) |title=Brownfields Property Application: Charlotte Locomotive & Railcar Maintenance Facility |page=2 |date=September 9, 2014 |publisher=North Carolina Department of Transportation}}

Seven Metrolink units were rebuilt as F59PHR. The non-rebuilt Metrolink locomotives were retired by 2020.{{cite book |url=https://metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/about/agency/rail-fleet-management-plan/metrolink-rail-fleet-management-plan-update---full-report.pdf |year=2020 |title=Metrolink Rail Fleet Management Report FY2020 – FY2040 |publisher=Southern California Regional Rail Authority |chapter=Part 2: Existing Fleet and Facilities |pages=32–35}} Five of those were purchased by NCDOT in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://metrolink.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=metrolink_e779591bb378feaa1920d45825a58f59.pdf&view=1 |title=Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – December 14, 2018 |page=4 |date=January 4, 2019 |publisher=Southern California Regional Rail Authority}}

class="wikitable"

|+Original owners

Owner

!Number

!Year built

!Unit numbers

!Refs

GO Transit

|49

|1988–1994

|520–568

|

Metrolink

|23

|1992–1993

|851–873

|

F59PHI

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.{{cite magazine |title=F59PHI debuts in California|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15991684.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924142642/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15991684.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |magazine=Railway Age |date=December 1, 1994}} Like the F59PH, the F59PHI is equipped with a secondary electrical generator – rated between {{convert|500|and|750|kW|hp|abbr=on|lk=on}} – for HEP.{{cite book |last1=Foster |first1=Gerald L. |title=A field guide to trains of North America |date=1996 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |location=Boston |isbn=0-395-70112-0 |page=94}} A total of 83 locomotives were built, most for commuter rail and Amtrak corridor services on the West Coast.

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.{{cite magazine |url=https://bytownrailwaysociety.ca/phocadownload/branchline/1996/1996-02.pdf |title=The Motive Power and Equipment Scene |page=26 |magazine=Branchline |date=February 1996 |volume=35 |issue=2 |issn=0824-233X}}{{cite book |url=http://metrolink.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=metrolink_dc41b75f5d4a18d72606c87a6e9857cd.pdf&view=1 |title=Metrolink Fleet Management Plan FY2015–FY2025 |date=October 2015 |publisher=Southern California Regional Rail Authority |pages=42–45}}

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.

{{clear|left}}

class="wikitable"

|+Original owners

Owner

!Number

!Year built

!scope="col" width="80px"|Unit numbers

!Refs

Amtrak (for Pacific Surfliner and Cascades)

|21

|1998

|450–470

|{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/05-metra-f59phis-get-ready-for-service/ |title=Metra F59PHIs get ready for service |newspaper=Trains |date=November 5, 2018}}{{cite book |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-10/Rail-FleetManagementPlan-Nov2017.pdf |title=Amtrak Cascades Fleet Management Plan |date=November 2017 |pages=29, 95 |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation}}

rowspan="2" |Caltrans (for San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor)

|9

|1994

|2001–2009

|rowspan="2"|{{cite book |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/businessplanning/Amtrak-Equipment-Asset-Line-Plan-FY20-24.pdf |title=Amtrak Five Year Equipment Asset Line Plan: Base (FY 2019) + Five Year Strategic Plan (FY 2020–2024) |publisher=Amtrak |date=2018 |chapter=Appendix A: Asset Inventory |pages=56–57, 104}}{{cite book |url=http://libraryarchives.metro.net/dpgtl/CalDOT/california-state-rail-plans/2005-california-state-rail-plan-2005-2006-to-2015-2016.pdf |chapter=Chapter II: Capital Program |page=18 |title=California State Rail Plan 2005–06 to 2015–16 |date=December 2005 |publisher=California Department of Transportation}}

6

|2001

|2010–2015

Exo

|11

|2000–2001

|1320–1330

|

rowspan=2|Metrolink

|10

|1995

|874–883

|rowspan=2|

4

|2001

|884–887

NCDOT (for Piedmont)

|2

|1998

|1755, 1797

|{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uSWaAAAAQBAJ |pages=510, 527–529 |title=Classic Locomotives: Steam and Diesel Power in 700 Photographs |first=Brian |last=Solomon |publisher=Voyageur Press |isbn=9780760345283 |year=2013 |via=Google Books}}{{cite book |url=https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/research/RNAProjDocs/2010-12FinalReport.pdf |page=28 |title=Measurement and Evaluation of Fuels and Technologies for Passenger Rail Service in North Carolina |chapter=Chapter 2: Rail Yard Testing |first1=H. Christopher |last1=Frey |first2=Brandon M. |last2=Graver |date=August 13, 2012 |publisher=North Carolina Department of Transportation}}

North County Transit District (Coaster)

|2

|2001

|3001–3002

|{{cite web |url=https://lfportal.nctd.org/weblink/0/edoc/118515/011%20TOA%20to%20BT%20for%20COASTER%20Main%20Generator%20Replacement.pdf |title=Staff Report |date=February 21, 2019 |publisher=North County Transportation District}}{{cite news |url=https://www.railjournal.com/rolling-stock/nctd-introduces-new-cleaner-locomotives-and-refurbished-coaches/ |title=NCTD introduces new cleaner locomotives and refurbished coaches |newspaper=International Railway Journal |date=February 12, 2021 |first=Marybeth |last=Luczak}}

Sound Transit (Sounder Commuter Rail)

|11

|1998–2001

|901–911

|{{Cite web |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/Motion%20M2016-123.pdf|title=Motion No. M2016-123 Sounder Locomotive Overhaul Contract Amendment |date=December 15, 2016 |publisher=Sound Transit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226214302/http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/Motion%20M2016-123.pdf |archive-date=February 26, 2017 |url-status=dead}}

Trinity Railway Express

|2

|2001

|569–570

|{{cite web |url=https://www.dart.org/newsroom/trefacts.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120211700/https://www.dart.org/newsroom/trefacts.asp |archive-date=January 20, 2022 |title=TRE Facts |publisher=Dallas Area Rapid Transit}}

West Coast Express

|5

|1995

|901–905

|{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/west-coast-express/ |title=West Coast Express |publisher=Trains Magazine |first=Matt |last=van Hattem |date=June 30, 2006}}{{cite magazine |url=https://bytownrailwaysociety.ca/phocadownload/branchline/1996/1996-02.pdf |title=The Long-Awaited "West Coast Express" |page=10 |magazine=Branchline |date=February 1996 |volume=35 |issue=2 |issn=0824-233X}}

Notes

{{Reflist}}

References