Amtrak's Non-Powered Control Units (NPCU) are former F40PH locomotives that had their prime mover (engine), Head-End Power (HEP) unit, and traction motors removed. The cab of the NPCUs still have their original control stand and are powered by the HEP units installed into a diesel-electric locomotive such as the GE P42DC which is often used on NPCU trains. All but one of the F40s convertered into NPCUs had "90" placed in front of its original road number (e.x. Former F40PH #200 became NPCU #90200). The NPCUs are used as cab and baggage cars which earned them the railfan nickname of "Cabbages". Fold up doors where added to the sides of the NPCUs allowing for baggage to be stored where the main components of the locomotive once were. Amtrak currently has 24 NPCUs on their roster. The NPCUs operate in several places on the Amtrak system, however they primary operate on the Midwestern Services based out of Chicago, Illinois. The Amtrak services the NPCUs operate on are the Pacific Surfliner, Wolverine, Blue Water, Hoosier State, Downeaster, Hiawatha, Pere Marquette, and the Heartland Flyer. In addition, the Washington, Oregon, and California Department of Transportation have leased several NPCUs for service on the state-supported Cascades (Washington and Oregon) and the San Joaquin (California). Several NPCUs have been painted into specific liveries such as; the Cascades scheme, the Caltrans scheme, Seattle Seahawks scheme, and Amtrak Veteran's scheme. Amtrak NPCU #406, which operates with Amtrak's exhibit train, has the distinction of being the only NPCU to keep its original road number and the only NPCU to still retain a HEP system installed. A typical Amtrak NPCU painted into the Phase V paint scheme, credit goes to Matt Donnelly. A typical Amtrak Cascades NPCU, credit goes to Flickr user Zargoman. Caltrans NPCU #90215 'Bakersfield', one of three NPCU currently on lease to Caltrans. Credit goes to Jamie West. Amtrak NPCU #406, credit goes to Flickr user Knelson27. The cab of a typical NPCU, credit goes to Matt Donnelly.
All of the available routes where Amtrak uses NPCU like the Pacific Surfliner, the Racetrack: Chicago to Aurora route, and the small part of the Stevens Pass route where the Cascades operates on.
