| Go Transit (Greater Toronto Transportation Authority) in Rochelle IL. Due to flooding in Iowa Amtrak was detouring the California Zephyr east and west bound through Rochelle, IL on July 20th and 21st. I missed out on the 20th so I went down to the Rochelle Road Park on the 21st to see if I could catch it at the scheduled time it was coming through. Needless to say it was late, ok, very late. Six hours late, and came through at dusk and I missed it again. But the day was not a total wash. First train through was this interesting "Lash up" which caught me off guard of UP 8142, GO 646, and SP/ UP Patch 6312. GO Transit 600-656 are MPI MP40PH-3C's. The first order (MPI order 2901-2927), 600-626, were built in 2007 and 2008, and are to date the largest single order of motive power purchased by GO Transit. The second order (MPI order 2109-01 to -20) is projected to be 627-646, and was ordered in the middle of 2008. A third order for 10 units, projected to be delivered as 647-656 is expected to be delivered by the end of 2010. Powered by a 4000hp 16-cylinder EMD 710G3B-EFI-T2 and equipped with a 1000hp Caterpiller C27-ACERT HEP package, the MP40PH-3C's are the first locomotives ordered by GO able to supply power to a 12-car train by themselves. They are also faster, being geared for a maximum of 93mph. This series is equipped with 1,850 US gallon fuel tanks. They are also equipped with a 2-setting HEP system, capable of providing GO's standard 575vAC on either a single of the two HEP buses or on both. Units are delivered via Union Pacific to Canada, where they are interchanged with Canadian Pacific and sent east to Toronto. All units are transported under MPEX reporting marks until on GO property and in service. At their July 2008 board meeting, GO's board of directors approved an additional order for 20 units from MPI. While details were not released, it is assumed that they will be more MP40PH-3C's, and numbered above the first 27. This order is expected to be delivered starting in late 2009 and continuing into 2010. GO's board at their March 2009 meeting authorized the taking of an option for 10 more units. These are expected to arrive at the end of 2010. Info on the GO 646 taken from http://www.cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=GO_Transit_600-646 |