GE Genesis
Genesis (officially trademarked GENESIS) is a series of locomotives produced by GE Transportation Systems, a subsidiary of General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania. The engines are largely used for providing motive power for passenger trains in North America. The largest customer for this line of locomotives is Amtrak in the United States, which operates more than 200 of them on its routes. VIA Rail in Canada is also a major customer.
Models
Three major models have been produced, starting in 1992 with the P40DC and continuing into 2005 via the P42DC.
The P32AC-DM, P40 and P42DC have an installed HEP (head-end power) capacity of 800 kilowatts, drawn from a HEP alternator mounted on the prime mover (main engine). File:DSC00317.JPG
P40DC and P42DC
The P40DC (first known as the AMD-103 (official GE designation Dash 8-40BP)) was the first model, operating in a diesel-electric configuration and using direct current to power the electric motors, developing 4000 horsepower (3000 kW). The P40 has a top speed of 103 mph. The P40 was later succeeded in 1997 by the P42DC, which produces 4200 horsepower (3100 kW) and has a higher top speed of 110 mph.
The P40 and P42DC allowed Amtrak heavy long-distance trains to operate with fewer locomotives.
Additional deliveries of the P42DC allowed Amtrak to first store, then offer for sale, the majority of the P40DC fleet.
The GE P42DC locomotive displaced VIA Rail's Bombardier LRC locomotives from service in 2000. VIA Rail's P42DC fleet is primarily used on the Quebec-Windsor rail corridor. Corridor train consists are typically short and light (3 to 6 cars), which allows the powerful locomotives to quickly bring the train to full speed. The Montreal-Toronto runs are notable for some track sections that allow the P42 to quickly bring the train to sustained speeds up to 110 mph. Longer corridor trains (8 to 10 cars) may have a second P42 at the trailing end to maintain train performance. The 110 mph trains operating on the Quebec-Windsor corridor feature LRC aluminum tilting cars, the predecessor to the tilting stainless-steel Amtrak Acela Express.
P32AC-DM
A "dual-mode" P32AC-DM locomotive was developed that could either run its electric motors on power from the onboard diesel engine or from a third rail carrying 750 volts of direct current and seamlessly transition between the two modes while underway. The P32AC-DM is unique not only because of third-rail capability, but also because it is equipped with AC (alternating current) traction motors. The P32AC-DM (rated at 3200 horsepower or 2390 kW) is confined to hauling trains entering New York City, where diesel emissions in tunnels approaching Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal are not permitted. Hence it is used on Amtrak's Empire Service, running in electric mode when necessary. The P32AC-DM is mainly used by Metro-North Railroad and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (Metro North Equipment Pool) where they make use of their electric mode in the Park Avenue Tunnel.
Head-End Power (HEP)reduces the overall tractive horsepower up to 1072 hp (leaving no less than 2128 hp left for traction) to supply up to 800 kW of electrical power to the cars. The traction equipment can allow variable engine speed while Head-End Power is operational and can use dynamic braking for Head-End Power, features not available on the P40 and P42.
All P32AC-DM locomotives are geared for 110 mph. These speeds are typically attained with shorter Amtrak trains (5 to 7 cars) on track sections between Albany and Rhinecliff-Kingston.
Two of Amtrak's P32AC-DM units are assigned to the Adirondack, an Empire service train operating between Montreal and New York City. Montreal is the overnight home to either one of the two Amtrak P32 dual-mode units.
Genesis roster
Amtrak
- P42DC 1-207 (1996-2001)
- P40DC 800-843 (some stored and/or leased) 1992-1993)
- P32AC-DM (dual-mode) 700-717 (1995/1998)
