The exceptional locomotive, the P42, is one of the most well-known locomotives designed for passenger service. Even though this Genesis type is extremely rare, it has left an indelible mark on railroad history in North America. Let’s have a look at this fascinating Genesis series.
The History of the P42
In the 1980s, Genesis was looking for a way to develop a new diesel locomotive and came up with the idea for such a locomotive. This isn’t the only need; they also wanted the locomotive engine to be more fuel-efficient than the previous model, the F40PH.
This was the time when GE and Krupp partnered to build a lightweight bodyshell structure to boost fuel efficiency.
Genesis ultimately showed the final product to the wider public in 1993. The Amtrak Monocoque Diesel – 103 MPH/AMD-103 was originally named the Amtrak Monocoque Diesel – 103 MPH/AMD-103 but was eventually renamed the P40DC/Genesis. GE went on to build 44 of these locomotives, however many of them were later refurbished.
The AMD-110 Dual Mode/Hybrid locomotive, the second generation of this model, was released two years later. It was equipped with an AC motor that could reach speeds of up to 110 mph. Following that, the final variant was released onto the market under the model name P42DC, which is still seen on railway tracks today.
The engine in the P42
The locomotive model from the Genesis series is the successor to the P40DC locomotive model. The P42 is a modern locomotive with a powerful diesel engine capable of delivering up to 4,250 horsepower in basic conditions. When it’s in HEP mode, it has a horsepower of 3,550 and an RPM of 900.
When giving the full 800kW HEP load to the train, however, traction mode reduces the basic minimum horsepower to 2,525 already. It has a top speed of 110 mph and a horsepower of 4,250 hp.
Current Status of the P42
Since 2001, when Via Rail Canada replaced their LRC locomotives in the same year, they have been utilizing this locomotive. On the Quebec City-Windsor rail corridor, the P42 they employ presently can deliver a usual speed of 110 mph.
What Engine is in a P42?
The P42 has a diesel engine with up to 4,250 horsepower and a top speed of 110 mph in normal conditions. They do, however, decrease under various circumstances.
How long is a P42?
The length of a P42 locomotive is 21.03 m.
How many P42 are there?
GE constructed a total of 321 P42 locomotives. Nineteen of them had to go through the process of rebuilding.
How much Horsepower does a P42 have?
The P42 locomotive generates a horsepower of 4,250 hp.
What does a P42 cost?
Because it is an electric locomotive, the estimated cost of P42 is now around $6 million. It does, however, vary depending on the various packages it comes with.
Are there other versions of P42?
The P40DC: and P32AC-DM are two further versions of this type. Both of these locomotives were successful enough to leave their impact on the history of locomotives in the United States.
Conclusion
We’ve progressed from the steam engine to the contemporary engines we have today as time has passed. Just like the P42 engine, today’s locomotive engines are more fuel-efficient and powerful than ever before!
Peter has been building model trains for longer than he can remember. An avid fan of HO and O scale this blog is a creative outlet to allow him to dive further into other scales and aspects of the model train community and hobby.