Metra Plans to Upgrade Motive Power Fleet in 2014 and Beyond


METRA IS PLANNING TO MAKE SEVERAL UPGRADESto its lo- comotive fleet over the next couple of years. Somewhat surprisingly, the two remaining EMD F40C’s (Nos. 611 and 614) will be repowered with Tier III compliant engines and new electrical systems and EMD SW1500 switchers Nos. 6 and 7 will be rebuilt as gensets. The SW1500s primarily are used as switchers at the Western Avenue Yard on the Milwaukee District. In addition, ten of Metra’s 30 EMD F40PHM-2s (above) built in the early ’90s are scheduled for mid-life overhauls, and 27 MPI rela- tively new MP36-3S locomotives (right) will have their static inverter head-end power systems, which are driven off the main engine crank- shaft, removed and replaced with separate HEP engine/generator sets. This change will save fuel and reduce emissions, as well as devoting the main engine’s entire power output to moving the train. Metra’s fleet of MP36s are the only ones built with static inverter HEP. New power will be coming, too. 25 advanced design Tier III diesel lo- comotives (model and builder not specified) will be ordered to replace the agency’s oldest locomotives (F40PH-2 No. 100-127) built in 1977), which would otherwise require a major life extension overhaul, includ- ing repowering and upgrading to Tier III standards. —W.L.


stone Corridor between Philadelphia and Harrisburg and the Pennsylvanian between Pittsburgh and New York. The new money will come from increased motor vehicle fees and traffic fines, along with a revamped motor fuel tax. Earlier in the month, SEPTA had released a “doomsday report” that said without increased funding, most regional rail lines would be shut down by 2023, the Norris- town High Speed Line would have to be “truncated,” and all trolley routes would be converted to buses. Thanks to the new law, that is not likely to happen.


St. Lawrence & Atlantic


PORTLAND COMMUTERS OR BIKES? St. Lawrence & Atlantic announced in No- vember 2013 that it intends to suspend freight service over 30 miles of state-owned


26 JANUARY 2014 • RAILFAN.COM


former Grand Trunk Railway main line be- tween Auburn and Portland, Maine. The rail- road says that it costs more to maintain the track and crossing signals than it brings in serving the B&M Baked Beans plant in East Deering. Many residents support converting the right of way to a recreational trail, but the line was acquired by the state in order to pre- serve the rail corridor,so the tracks will stay. On the other hand, the Maine Rail Transit


Coalition wants to initiate commuter rail service between Portland and Auburn to pro- vide an alternative to auto travel on congested U.S. Route 1 and I-95. This would require re- habilitation of the trestle and swing bridge across the Back Cove, which separates the for- mer GT depot on India Street in Portland from the remainder of the route. The line would use Stadler diesel multiple unit cars like those used on the Capital MetroRail sys-


tem in Austin, Texas. The coalition says the project would cost about $138 million, which would include $20 million from private in- vestors and $30 million from the state, with the balance coming from the federal govern- ment. However, a 2011 feasibility study by the Maine Department of Transportation says the line would not attract enough riders to be considered for federal funding.


MAINE TO MONTREAL PASSENGER? Two proposals are on the table which would establish passenger rail service between Mon- tréal, Québec; Portland, Maine; and Boston, Mass. Golden Eagle Railway Corp. would pro- vide a triweekly day train between Montréal and Portland, while Montréaler Francois Re- bella proposes a leisurely overnight train from Montréal to Portland and Boston that would leave each terminal in the evening and arrive


TWO PHOTOS: STEVE BARRY


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