ABB ALP-44

ALP44-O / ALP44-E / ALP44-M
Type and origin
Power type Electric
Builder ABB
Build date 1989 – 1997
Total produced 33
Specifications
AAR wheel arr. B-B
UIC classification Bo'Bo'
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Electric system(s) 12.5 kV 25 Hz AC Catenary
12.5 kV 60 Hz AC Catenary
25 kV 60 Hz AC Catenary
Current collection
method		 pantograph
Performance figures
Maximum speed 125 mph (201 km/h)
Power output Max: 7,000 hp or 5.2 MW
Continuous: 5,790 hp or 4.32 MW
Starting Tractive Effort: 230 kN or 52,000 lbf[1]
Locomotive brake Dynamic, ALP-44O/E WABCO 30E-CDW, ALP-44M WABCO EPIC 3102
Train brakes Direct Release air brakes
Career
Operator(s) New Jersey Transit
SEPTA
Number(s) NJT: 4400 – 4431
SEPTA: 2308

The ABB ALP-44 is an electric locomotive which was built by Asea Brown Boveri (Sweden) between 1989 and 1997 for the New Jersey Transit and SEPTA railway lines. As of 2014, only SEPTA still operates the ALP-44 in revenue service, as New Jersey Transit has retired its fleet.

Service

New Jersey Transit

The ALP-44 was originally ordered for New Jersey Transit's electric lines, with fifteen units, designated ALP-44O ("O" denotes Original) and numbered 4400 through 4414, delivered in 1990, with prototypes 4400 and 4401 in late 1989. An option order for five more units, designated ALP-44E ("E" denotes Extended) and numbered 4415 through 4419, were delivered in 1995. The final order for 12 ALP-44M units ("M" denotes Microprocessor) numbered 4420 through 4431 were delivered in 1996 and into early 1997 for the new Midtown Direct service.

As of late 2011, all NJ Transit ALP-44 O, E, and M locomotives have been retired. All units were retired with the delivery of the remaining ALP-46A locomotives, except 4405, 4407, and 4409, which were assigned to ACES; however, these remaining units were also placed into retirement with the cancellation of ACES service in early 2012. Units 4402, 4403, 4408, and 4410 were leased by Amtrak for work train service through the Hudson River tunnels for a period of time during summer 2011, but have since been returned.

During the winter and spring of 2012, the ALP-44's were prepared for storage in groups of five at a time. This work includes the removal of pantographs and having the cab windows covered with steel plating. These units were then moved to Port Morris Yard and Lackawanna Cut-Off stub track for storage, where there are now at least fifteen units stored, if not more.[2]

SEPTA

SEPTA ALP-44M #2308. This ALP-44M supplements SEPTA's seven AEM-7 locomotives.

SEPTA received a single ALP-44M unit, #2308, from ABB, which was part of a damage settlement for a lawsuit stemming from the late delivery of N5 cars for the Norristown High Speed Line. ABB gave SEPTA an ALP-44M, instead of the EMD AEM-7, which make up the rest of SEPTA's electric locomotives, because EMD had discontinued the production of the AEM-7.

Specifications

The ALP-44 based on the Rc6 model and designed specifically for New Jersey Transit as a variant of the EMD AEM-7 electric locomotive in use by Amtrak, MARC, and SEPTA. The ALP-44 is powered by overhead lines through one of the locomotive's two pantographs and can produce up to 7000 hp (5.2 MW) with a top speeds of up to 125 mph (201 km/h). In commercial use however, both New Jersey Transit and SEPTA ALP-44s are cleared for speeds up to 100 mph (161 km/h).

ALP-44M

The ALP-44M is a variant of the original ALP-44 design. It included a microprocessor control for functions such as braking and the then new EPIC brake control stand. These locomotives were notorious for their faulty software, which frequently caused problems and kept them out of service for maintenance.

Overhaul

NJT's ALP-44's were to be overhauled for a cost of $2 million during a two-year period by Philadelphia-based Interfleet Technology. A car builder had not yet been selected to carry out the overhaul.[3] However, as of June 2009, NJT has decided that it would be more efficient (economically and physically) to replace the ALP-44's rather than overhaul them, and has exercised an option of 9 additional ALP-46A's to enable the replacement to take place.[4]

References

  1. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20010218070341/http://hem.passagen.se/plf66/typer-exp/typer-export-alp44.html
  2. ↑ http://ns3010.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=78581
  3. ↑ August 29 2008
  4. ↑ NJT Press Release

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to ABB ALP-44 locomotives.