Metra Rebuilt F40's

Nice! The paint scheme is much better. Too bad the about to be received MTH version won't be this version. 

Who is rebuilding the units?

Thanks for the information Rusty:

Funny, I saw one on the way to work and just thought is was a new wrap/paint scheme. Had no idea that it was a rebuilt unit.

Since I did not read the article, can you tell us how many units are scheduled for this program?

Thanks.

Charlie

Bogies?  I thought METRA is in the USA.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Bogies?  I thought METRA is in the USA.

Railway Gazette magazine is a European publication.

Thanks 645. Answered all my questions.

One interesting comment from the modelers viewpoint, is that the paint scheme on #175 might just be a one-off scheme, "the others may have a version of what 175 has.

Thanks again.

Charlie

Here is that unit at work this morning, in Elmhurst, IL. Photo by Riley Osborne, posted on the Chicagoland Railfan FB page.

I'm supposing they are rebuilt with original-type 645 engines. I'm interested to know if/how they are fitted with separate engine-generator sets for train power?  645's link shows: 

https://metrarail.com/about-me...tive-returns-service

The rebuilt locomotives, which will now be designated as F40PH-3s, will feature a new high-voltage cabinet with a microprocessor control system, remanufactured engines upgraded to U.S. EPA Tier 0+ emissions standards ...

... and regarding emission standards:

https://www3.epa.gov/nonroad/locomotv/420f09025.pdf

... (Tier 0) applies to most locomotives originally manufactured before 2001. The most stringent set of standards (Tier 4) applies to locomotives originally manufactured in 2015 and later ...

Apparently Metra is still going to use the oscillating Gyralite.  Good for them.

Number 90 posted:

Apparently Metra is still going to use the oscillating Gyralite.  Good for them.

Is there a safety advantage with the Gyralite?  I know ATSF used them

Plus the rebuilds have the 1970's RTA logo in the back.  I thought that aency is long gone.  Unless it has something to do with ownership.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Plus the rebuilds have the 1970's RTA logo in the back.  I thought that aency is long gone.  Unless it has something to do with ownership.

The RTA is the umbrella financial and oversight organization for Metra, CTA and Pace.

Rusty

RTA still exists.  METRA. PACE and CTA are operating divisions of RTA.

Chuck

Oh well, looks like I type too slow!

Here's a photo of #97 at speed, photo by Keith Pokorny.

Metra 97 is one of the ex-GO Transit locomotives from Toronto, and from what I've been hearing, they're real dogs.  The have to run with an F40 as back-up power.

Rusty

jay jay posted:

Here's a photo of #97 at speed, photo by Keith Pokorny.

The siding on the right looks a little overgrown!

Nathan

That's really a great looking schem....to me anyway. 

That one engine looks like the three window EMD freight diesel (SD60?)

https://www.bing.com/images/se...9e5o0&ajaxhist=0

Just for the sake of livery comparison, here are some of the newly delivered RTA F40PHs at C&NW's 40th St. shops on October 10,1977; photos by Steven J. Brown.

Engineer-Joe posted:

That one engine looks like the three window EMD freight diesel (SD60?)

https://www.bing.com/images/se...9e5o0&ajaxhist=0

 

Meebe looks like from the front, but isn't.  It's an ex-GO Transit F59PH:

Rusty

Engineer-Joe posted:

That one engine looks like the three window EMD freight diesel (SD60?)

https://www.bing.com/images/se...9e5o0&ajaxhist=0

 

As they were constructed in about the same time frame maybe some of the design work was shared/overlapped?

With the proper kit, could one convert a 645 prime mover to 710?

Dominic Mazoch posted:

With the proper kit, could one convert a 645 prime mover to 710?

Not only no, but he&& NO! the 710 has a longer stroke, thus requires a different crankcase (Block to you automobile folks).