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TheBombardier–Alstom HHP-8 (High Horse Power 8000) is a twin-cabelectric locomotive built for Amtrak and MARC by a consortium ofBombardier andAlstom. Its electrical system was based on Alstom'sBB 36000 locomotive.
Due to a limited number of locomotives produced and reliability issues leading to high maintenance costs, Amtrak retired all its HHP-8s after only 15 years of service. MARC initially planned to follow suit but ultimately chose to refurbish their HHP-8 fleet between 2017 and 2018.
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 theNortheast Corridor, a 457-mile (735 km) line betweenWashington, D.C., andBoston, Massachusetts, viaNew York City. The line was electrified from Washington through New York toNew Haven, Connecticut;diesel locomotives handled trains over the remaining 157 miles (253 km) between New Haven and Boston. In the 1990s Amtrak rebuilt and electrified the route as part of the project which established high-speedAcela 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, theEMD AEM-7 andGE E60, were still in production, and the latter was slated for retirement. Amtrak chose to have Bombardier and Alstom, makers of theAcela Express, produce a visually-similar derivative for conventional service.[3][4]
The HHP-8 measures 67 feet 1 inch (20.45 m) long by 10 feet 4 inches (3.15 m) wide and stands 14 feet 2 inches (4.32 m) tall (from the rail to the locomotive roof, excluding the pantographs). This was 16 feet (4.9 m) longer than the AEM-7, though still shorter than the E60. The locomotive weighs 220,000 pounds (100,000 kg). The carbody is stainless steel; the locomotive has a 6MJ crash energy absorbance structure.[2]
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), and12 kV 25 Hz AC (used between New York and Washington). The electrical traction system is directly derived from the system used onAlstom'sBB 36000Astride locomotives;[5] this includes four 1.5 megawatts (2,000 hp) three phase asynchronous traction motors powered byGTO based inverters, with one inverter per motor; the electric system also allowsregenerative and rheostatic braking.[2] The locomotives were designed for up to 135 mph (217 km/h) operation but are actually limited in service toFederal Railroad Administration Tier 1 standards, operating up to 125 mph (201 km/h).[2][6]
Amtrak ordered 15 HHP-8s in 1996 at the same time as itsAcela Express trainsets. The 15 locomotives were completed between 1999 and 2001.[7] The HHP-8s have external styling that is similar to the Acelapower cars, but are designed to operate as independent locomotives, hauling conventional passenger rolling stock. The units supplemented theEMD AEM-7s and allowed Amtrak to commence retirement of theGE E60.[3][8] Amtrak did not purchase the locomotives outright butleased them fromPhilip Morris Capital.[9]
The locomotive's original type designation was HHL-8, for "High Horsepower Locomotive, 8,000 (nominal) horsepower".[10] This was subsequently changed to HHP-8.
In conjunction with the Amtrak order, MARC also acquired six HHP-8s,[6] which MARC uses on theirPenn Line service along the Northeast Corridor betweenPerryville andWashington, DC.
Amtrak operated its HHP-8s on theNortheast Corridor between Boston and Washington, DC;[11] racking up approximately 1,000,000 miles each in service (based on 2009 figure).[12]
In 2002, Amtrak's fleet of 15 units was temporarily withdrawn along with theAcela Express trains due to cracks in components of thetrucks.[13][14]
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.[12]
In October 2010, Amtrak ordered 70Siemens ACS-64 locomotives to replace both the HHP-8 and the older AEM-7 locomotives, with deliveries beginning in early 2013.[15] Amtrak retired its last HHP-8 on February 9, 2015.[16] All units are now stored; to avoid duplicate numbering with ACS-64 units 650–664, Amtrak renumbered its retired HHP-8s to 680–694.[17] 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.[18] The two parties settled the lawsuit in 2021; the terms were not disclosed.[19]
In an effort to extend the life of its existing fleet until the arrival of theAiro fleet, Amtrak began testing a converted HHP-8 locomotive as a cab car in 2023. These converted units are designated as HHP-8C.[20][21]
The project initially aimed to convert two locomotives for expandedEthan 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.[21] In April 2025, Nos. 9750 and 9751 were unveiled in Amtrak's new Phase VII paint scheme.[22]
While reports in 2016 indicated that MARC planned to retire their HHP-8 locomotives and replace them withSiemens Charger locomotives,[23] MARC instead started a refurbishment program for its HHP-8s in 2017.[24] Issues with equipment cooling that kept the HHP-8 locomotives from properly working were addressed.
As of September 2017[update], the first HHP-8 reconditioned under this program had been delivered and was undergoing successful testing.[25]
As of March 2018[update], 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.[26]
As of June 2018[update], 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.[27][needs update]
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
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Media related toBombardier/Alstom HHP-8 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons