EMD F40PH - History

History

The F40PH series was originally intended to haul short to medium-length trains on Amtrak's shorter routes. Soon after it entered service with Amtrak it also began to replace the long-distance EMD SDP40F, Amtrak's first new locomotive model, which was earning a troubled operational reputation after reports of rough riding and several derailments blamed on its specialized C-C arrangement that differed from EMD's freight C-C locomotives. The F40 concept was developed based on the proven EMD GP40 series freight locomotives using a two axle truck of known reliability. (The term "F40" by itself can lead to confusion, because the first locomotive to bear that designation was the F40C, a passenger C-C locomotive derived from the SD40-2, similar to the SDP40F but with an HEP generator.)

Hundreds of F40PH units remain in service on passenger, tourist, and freight railroads, such as CSX (for use on business trains), the Grand Canyon Railway and the Algoma Central Railway. The F40PH was purchased by many commuter railroads, such as Metra, MBTA, Tri-Rail, CalTrain, NJ Transit and GO Transit; all except GO Transit still operate these locomotives. Amtrak's large F40PH fleet has been retired, with the locomotives stored, scrapped, sold, or converted into non-powered control units following the purchase of GE Genesis passenger locomotives in the early 1990s and early 2000s. The largest fleet of these locomotives now operates in the Chicago metropolitan area on the Metra system, and totals 117 units. Included in this fleet is the last F40PH built by EMD (as an F40PHM-2) in 1992, Metra #214. Metra's F40PHM-2s look similar to the GE Genesis. After Metra, Via Rail Canada has the second largest fleet of F40PH-2s which totals 54 units. The MBTA in Boston has 18 of the original model F40PHs, all but one are in service. The MBTA also has several aftermarket F40PH-2C & F40PHM-2C locomotives in service built by EMD in 1987-88 and MK in 1991 & 1993.

Commuter agency Metrolink purchased four second hand from Amtrak with hopes to repower them with prime movers from second hand EMD SD60s bought from UP. Only one survived, as SCAX #800.

A handful were bought by shortline railways, and some continue to operate today, after receiving a front platform, made possible by shortening the nose.