Ok hear me out. I know y’all are probably tired if seeing this Locomotive suggestion. However I really could see it joining the ranks some time in the future. I’m not gonna call out Amtrak. I know their rolling isn’t doing good rn, but if we can’t get from them, let’s try another company. I mean Coaster, Marc or a different Amtrak brand. I know they don’t have a Marc or Coaster license so I won’t push on it. Don’t mind me, just had to get my feelings out
oh yeah, Chargers are really cool and Amtrak and others have placed huge orders for tons of em plus power cars for electrified routes... also the streamlined variant that BrightLine uses on their Florida route is really sleek and nice from me a big thumbs up, I wanna drive this 125 mph beast
I genuinely prefer this, over another iteration of the ACS-64. Genuinely hope that after MBTA Commuter, it'll be one of the Siemens Charger versions we're getting.
like yeah, HSP46, when I checked it out on Wiki, I am now genuinely looking forward to it, but Siemens Charger is going to become a kind of core/mainstay of US passenger rail fleets in years to come, so it would make sense to have it in-game when I learned of its existence, it shattered my (pretty stupid and misinformed) opinion on US diesels that they are heavy, slow and ugly ... I mean, this one looks sleek and is fast (dunno how fast it accelerates, but still)... like, it looks that it is for driving passengers, not hauling coal (lets be honest, many old US diesels were just repurposed freight locos)
would probably have to do a suitable route for it... as far as I know, Chargers are (at least for now) going to be used mainly for long(er) distance traffic, not sure if they are going to find use in commuter traffic, which seems to be DTG focus atm for US passenger rail
The most likely candidate's for an SC-44 Charger to appear at this moment are the Amtrak California ones, Capitol Corridor, San Joaquin, or Pacific Surfliner, other routes are currently limited due to licensing. Matt did state he has the Metrolink OC line on his list (Which shares the line with the Pacific Surfliner) but wants to give a break from SoCal routes. DTG also has references from a PS SC44 Charger as seen during their reference trip to Metrolink.
Brightline/FEC Miami-West Palm Beach/Orlando is a must-have route for me. The SCB-40 Charger needs to be included, along with the FEC ES44C4 LNG units, GP40-3, GP38-3, and SD40-3 units. The Pacific Surfliner or Cascades routes are also good ideas. Plus: more BNSF freight action on both of those routes! Coaster is a must for the PS. I also want a Pacific NW route (BNSF Stevens Pass, BNSF Fallbridge Sub, or UP Portland Sub) or BNSF Marias Pass w/ an ALC-42 Charger and Amtrak Empire Builder Superliner consist included. A Chicago route (Metra BNSF Racetrack?) should include Amtrak Midwest SC-44 (Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg) and ALC-42 Chargers (SW. Chief and California Zephyr), too. The ALC-42s could also be layered onto Cajon Pass (SW. Chief) or Sand Patch Grade (Capitol Limited). A VIA Rail route with Chargers and CP and/or CN power is a must, too.
the BrightLine Florida would have those cool streamlined Chargers as a sort of DMU, supercool, but I fear the route is too long and with too few stops on it to justify doing just a short version of it, but otherwise, would love it, for sure
