Got off work early enough to catch the heartland flyer leaving OKC at 825 this morning. A lot of talk about 90221 glad I got to see it!
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"Veterans Cabbage"? I am not familiar with that expression. What does it mean. sir?
FrankM
Moonson posted:"Veterans Cabbage"? I am not familiar with that expression. What does it mean. sir?
FrankM
I know it’s not the technical name for it, far from it. I was just trying to get pictures posted. It’s Amtrak’s saluting our Veterans’s unit and a cabbage (control cab/baggage car)
Andrew Lawrence, Thank you.
FrankM
I think Cabbage is a term used mostly by railfans. Pretty cool name for it. Amtrak converted some of their old F40 engines for use in back to back commuter type operations, by taking out the prime mover and traction motors and using the prime mover space like a baggage car. The cab is left intact for the crew to use like an engine to control the train when traveling in the opposite direction. The Genesis engine attached to the other end provides the only power. I'm no expert, but the development and use of these cabbage units seems like a great idea.
breezinup posted:I think Cabbage is a term used mostly by railfans. Pretty cool name for it. Amtrak converted some of their old F40 engines for use in back to back commuter type operations, by taking out the prime mover and traction motors and using the prime mover space like a baggage car. The cab is left intact for the crew to use like an engine to control the train when traveling in the opposite direction. The Genesis engine attached to the other end provides the only power. I'm no expert, but the development and use of these cabbage units seems like a great idea.
Good use for old equipment. Much like the metroliners on the NEC.
Yes, Cabbage is a railfan nickname. The official name is NPCU, or Non-Powered Control Unit. They are literally just F40s with a roll-up door for baggage and nothing on the interior of the locomotive except the cab. No HEP generator, just bare. Flooring was also installed.
#406 has the distinction of being the only NPCU to retain its original appearance. It's the closest thing Amtrak currently has to an operational F40PH, which could be why it retained its original number. #406 was refurbished and rebuilt into an NPCU for the 40th Anniversary Train, to be used with refurbished/upgraded P40DC #822. This was done to honor Amtrak's past look and current look, as well as provide ease of operation. With #406, the train could leave a location much faster as it eliminated the need to turn the entire train around. #406 and #822 could either run around the train or #406 could be placed on the rear and the train could leave in reverse. A very unique feature with #406 is it has a HEP generator. #406 is the only NPCU equipped as such. This was done to save fuel so HEP could be supplied to the train while #822 was shut down. It was also a nice feature to have once #406 was put into regular service, so in the event HEP was not functioning correctly on a P40/P42/P32-8, then HEP could still be supplied to the train.
