Alstom PL42AC
| Alstom PL42AC | |||||||||||||
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 NJT PL42AC #4030 idling at Port Jervis, New York | |||||||||||||
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The PL42AC is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by Alstom for New Jersey Transit using an EMD 16-710G3C-T2 prime mover. The units began production at Alstom's Hornell, New York, plant in 2004 and were still being produced as of early 2006. The units were delivered to New Jersey Transit by Norfolk Southern Railway, who carried them dead-in-tow in a freight consist.[1] PL42AC units have a power rating of 4200 hp (3.1 MW), although HP used for tractive effort is less due to HEP being drawn off the prime mover.[2]
Problems
The on-board computers, designed to control the internal functions of the engine, have two distinct, yet random and sporadic, problems. The on-board computers randomly shut down, rendering the engine inoperable. Crews can reboot/restart the engine, but this is rather hit-or-miss. Also, the engine at times will not take power , although the door safety interlocks are engaged. This prevents them from being run on the Newark Division, as Amtrak will not allow them on their territory until all the bugs are fixed, for fear of causing a huge bottleneck if one were to break down on the Northeast Corridor. They are confined to the Hoboken Division only.
Attempts to repair the bugs are still ongoing by Alstom. The number of faults, although declining, are still present.
4027 is currently shopped due to a rough couple at its rear coupler, crumpling portions of the unibody frame. There is talk of it being scrapped due to internal damage not yet seen.
References
- ^ Pisani, Robert (2005-12-10). "NJ Transit PL42AC". RailPictures.net. Retrieved 2006-09-16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "New Jersey Transit rail operations". Retrieved 2006-09-16.
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