An online report said that Amtrak plans to return FL9 locomotives to service this summer and temporarily drop the New York section of the Lake Shore Limited due to construction at New York Penn Station.
The report, which did not provide sources, said the FL9s are owned by the State of Connecticut and will be used as cab cars when some Empire Service trains begin using Grand Central Terminal.
The former New Haven locomotives are needed because for emergencies there must be an exit from a train in the Park Avenue Tunnel. Side doors cannot be used on outside tracks so passengers would need to be evacuated through the rear door
However, Amtrak’s P32AC-DMs locomotives lack a nose door. Therefore, the FL9s will be used to lead trains into Grand Central. The trains will be turned there so that the FL9s will lead at all times.
The report said the FL9s will need to be rebuilt at the Amtrak shops in Rensselaer, New York, for cab car use.
Metro-North P32AC-DM engines are able to use the Park Avenue tunnel because they were built with nose doors.
The planned consists of Amtrak trains using Grand Central will be a cab car or non-powered F-9 leading; an unoccupied Amtrak P32AC-DM to provide traction and head-end power, and the train’s passenger cars.
During this period the Lake Shore Limited will continue to operate between Chicago and Boston.
Tags: Amtrak, Amtrak Empire Corridor, Amtrak Empire Service, Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited, Boston section of Lake Shore Limited, FL9, Metro North, New York City, New York Grand Central Terminal, New York Penn Station, New York section of Lake Shore Limited
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