Welcome all to another suggestion, I'm TrainGeek08 and today we are heading State-side for this one, I am suggesting the P32AC-DM diesel-electric locomotive operated by Metro-North Railroad Loco Information: The P32AC-DM (GENESIS Series II, short for "Passenger, 3,200 hp (2,400 kW), Alternating Current, Dual Mode") was developed for both Amtrak and Metro-North. They can operate on power generated either by the on-board diesel prime mover or power collected from a third rail electrification system at 750 volts direct current; the third-rail shoes are used on the over-running third-rail into Penn Station for Amtrak units and the under-running third-rail into Grand Central Terminal for Metro-North. The P32AC-DM is rated at 3,200 horsepower (2,390 kW), 2,900 horsepower (2,160 kW) when supplying HEP, and is geared for a maximum speed of 110 mph (177 km/h). Tractive effort is rated at 275.8 kN (62,000 lbf) of starting effort from zero to 14 mph (23 km/h) and 113.43 kN (25,500 lbf) of continuous effort at 40 mph (64 km/h) given wheel power of 2,700 horsepower (2,010 kW). Loco included in base DLC: The P32AC-DM in Metro-North Railroad livery Training (In Training Center): P32AC-DM Introduction Scenarios: Grand Central Diesel: (Difficulty - 2) Drive this P32AC-DM loco-hauled service from White Plains to Grand Central express but due to power outages near Harlem-125th Street, you have been advised to run on diesel power into New York Third-Rail Rescue: (Difficulty - 3) A fellow P32 has failed at Mount Vernon West (due to ice appearing in the third-rail shoes) whilst on its way to Wassaic, drive this spare P32 from Grand Central to Mount Vernon West to rescue the set and then drag it to North White Plains Yard, where it will be taken out of service Double the Thirty-Twos: (Difficulty - 1) Drive this special train from Yankees East-153rd Street to North White Plains led by two P32AC-DMs, no delays are expected so it should be an easy run Timetable: Incorporated into Harlem's current timetable or a separate timetable would be made with the M3A/M7A's services along with the P32AC-DM's services Now let's take a look what the P32AC-DM would haul along the Harlem Line... The Shoreliner coaches (all variants which Metro-North operate) + cab car in order to run in push-pull configuration along the route. Coaches Information: The Shoreliner I was built in 1983. It was heavily based on the New Jersey Transit Comet II. These cars have doors at each end vestibule, and no center door. The Shoreliner I order included 39 cars. Cars numbered in the 6200s are owned by Connecticut DOT, which include 14 cab cars and 26 coaches, while all other cars are owned by the MTA. Four of the Shoreliner I cars were originally equipped with an underfloor head-end power generator, for use behind CTDOT's five rebuilt freight locomotives, which lacked HEP generators. The generators were removed when the freight locomotives were replaced by CTDOT's rebuilt GP40-2H units. The Shoreliner II was built in 1987 and look identical to the Shoreliner I cars and it also was heavily inspired by the NJT Comet II. The Shoreliner II order included 36 cars. Shoreliner IIIs date from 1991; 49 cars were built. This series is based on New Jersey Transit's Comet III. They have an additional center door and a different restroom location from the older Shoreliner series. The Shoreliner IV is much like the Shoreliner III but the engineers side door has been removed as a safety measure. Based on the NJ Transit Comet IV, they were built in two distinct groups between 1996 and 1998. The first order, from 1996–97, consisted of 50 cars. The second set, built for Connecticut DOT in 1998, consisted of 10 cars. I hope you enjoyed this one, if you have, put your thoughts below and please feel free to correct me on any wrong pieces of information as well, but anyway, I've been TrainGeek08 as usual, enjoy the rest of your day, and I'll see you later this week for another suggestion... goodbye all
Excellent idea overall and your Metro North P32AC-DM can then serve as the basis for the Amtrak version. For the Amtrak version remember to change 750v DC Third rail shoe type from Bottom Contact to Top contact PRR/LIRR style. For the services these run Wassaic-NYC direct trips and remember to change modes at Harlem 125th st because you only max out to 60 mph on electric mode. Some train drivers will try to stay on Electric mode to Southeast and then diesel to Wassaic from Southeast
Definitely a great suggestion. I really want to see the P32AC-DM and Shoreliner push pull coaches as a possible DLC for the Harlem line. Hopefully if DTG create either the Hudson or New Haven Line as a future US route DLC, they can feature the locomotive hauled Metro North equipment along with featuring the M3A and M7A EMU's. I definitely think it is possible as this was previously recreated in TSC
Thanks, it would be great to have a DLC for the Harlem Line Oh that's interesting, nice to see some drivers do change between power modes at Harlem-125th Street but others tend to change at Southeast
Yeah, I think this would be a great DLC for Harlem Line if they didn't want to make another multiple unit like the M8 or M9A Having a Hudson or New Haven Line would be nice and it means the M3A, M7A & P32AC-DM can layer onto that appropriate route
Great idea. The Genesis locomotives are my real life favorites, I can never get enough of their "chugging" sounds. That said, I find it unlikely that DTG would build the P32 & Shoreliners for Harlem Line DLC. Instead, I think it might be more likely for a Hudson Line DLC running from Grand Central to Croton-Harmon. Mainly because Metro-North schedules most of their P32s to run on that line. To put it in perspective. I grabbed the train numbers that use P32s and listed them below. Here are regularly scheduled P32 runs according Metro North's Monday - Friday schedules. Click on the hyperlink for each line to see MTA's schedule: Harlem Line GCT - Wassaic: 943 & 953 Wassaic - GCT: 916 & 920 New Haven Line / Danbury Branch Danbury - GCT: 1811, 1819, 1831 & 1841 GCT - Danbury: 1848, 1860 & 1868 * I know certain New Haven trains run with P32s, but they're not consistent, so I just focused on the Danbury Branch. Hudson Line Poughkeepsie - GCT: 802, 806, 810, 814, 816, 830, 834, 836, 838, 840, 842, 844, 846, 850, 854, 858, 862, 866, 870, 874, 876, 878, 880, 882, 886, 890, 892 GCT - Poughkeepsie: 803, 805, 807, 809, 813, 817, 821, 825, 829, 833, 837, 839, 841, 843, 847, 849, 851, 855, 857, 865, 869, 875, 877, 881, 883, 887, 891, 895, 897 * 851 terminates at Beacon * I didn't trains that only operate on one day, such as Nov 22. Now, it's clear IF (big IF, literally) Dovetail decides to make a P32 for Metro-North, they'll most likely pick the Hudson Line. Moreover if they do the Hudson Line, they should also include Amtrak. Ideally Amtrak should run to Penn Station, but I won't be surprised if they cut them back to Yonkers and have the AI take over. I don't want that to happen, but I wouldn't put it past them.
Also, out of curiosity, I had a question about the Grand Central Diesel scenario. You mentioned: "Drive this P32AC-DM loco-hauled service from White Plains to Grand Central express but due to power outages near Harlem-125th Street, you have been advised to run on diesel power into New York" Would the P32 be leading? Normally the P32 pushes trains to Grand Central and pulls them out. The locomotive typically faces the outbound direction / away from Grand Central. That said, there are rare occasions when P32s lead trains into Grand Central.
Thanks for reminding me that the P32AC-DMs are at the other end, but it could be one of those occasions where MNR have done a 'reverse formation'
That's fair enough, they are used more on the Hudson compared to the Harlem or New Haven lines so I'd agree and put it there (where it would layer back onto Harlem )
There are rare occasions where the P32AC-DM pulls a train into Grand Central Terminal. Recently, Metro North has performed this maneuver or formation when it's select locomotives used on the 40th anniversary runs complete their first revenue service trip. This is usually hosted during a Morning peak hour run out originating out of Croton Harmon. They then head up north pulling the train via balloon loop track in Grand Central Terminal. There may also be a few other instances like the Phoene snow train where a double header leads the train, although this is very rare
