Very much a fan of the NEC. Lots of traction variety and incredible infrastructure (old and new), Travelling south from Boston is a bit like travelling back through time in terms of electrification kit.
I have spent time living in the US so naturally I have a large interest and decent knowledge of Amtrak and their network, is there anything in particular you'd like to know about the NEC?
It's definitely the closest thing to a "European" style railway in the US, I was also fascinated by the really old catenary that is seemingly integrated into the standard electric/phone wire pylons. The old AEM-7s were probably my favourite NEC locos, absolutely incredible soundings horns at speed, not to mention the Amfleet/metroliner cabcars which are just flat ended metal tubes that can somehow reach 125mph! These have the last remaining aforementioned AEM-7 style horns (on the NEC at least)
They are not 'standard electric/phone wire pylons' - the high level wires they carry (in addition to the lower-level 'train' catenary) are a dedicated railroad 138kV 25Hz high-voltage feeder/distribution system for the (originally) 1920s/30s Pennsylvania RR 11kV 25Hz electrification south of New York. The catenary voltage was raised to 12kV in 1948.
The actual 25/60 HZ break is at GATE interlocking along the approach to the Hell Gate Bridge, about a mile north of HAROLD which is the junction where Amtrak and Long Island Railroad part ways. Because of that mile gap, there is talk of installing 600V third rail along that one mile section for the Metro North Penn Station Access project so that their current EMU fleet that can only run on DC or 60 HZ AC can access Penn Station.
Not sure how that would work, as Metro North uses bottom contact third rail and Long Island uses top contact. Seems to me the Metro North fleet would have to be modified, but that's probably easier than changing the OLE supply frequency into and probably beyond Penn Station.
Any idea what the issues might be with moving the 25/60Hz changeover point to effectively be the Hudson river (even if that means it might have to be 12kV 60Hz) ?
There are contact shoe designs available that are compatible with both. For example, see this post: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/making-top-contact-third-rail-safer.267339/page-2#post-6762556
New Jersey Transit doesn't go east of Penn in passenger service, though they might go to Sunnyside yard which I assume is still on the 25Hz. I've no idea if their equipment would be compatible with 60Hz and I doubt it would be compatible with the LIRR third rail.
Noted. These would have to be fitted to the Metro-North units in question if they don't already have them.
Presumably there'd be issues as well with the AC/DC mix?
I quite like the HHP-8s that Amtrak have converted into non-powered control units too, to use the Yankee lingo. A fairly ignominious end for them, although MARC have a few still in service as actual locomotives. I think there's also a few P42s that Amtrak have converted into NPCUs you can see testing on the Corridor too with the intention to replace older F40s elsewhere. Fascinating railway scene over there.
I quite agree, it's a shame the HHPs didn't get longer (but then again, they broke down more than they worked).
Personally, I wouldn't say they are the main attraction, but yes it's definitely a significant branch of the hobby - probably because the blowing of them (and deep-sounding steam whistles in the past) for the numerous grade crossings has woven their sounds into the general culture (note how often a train horn is a background or scene-setting sound in a US-set movie or TV series).
Good or bad poetry?
AFAIK some of the NJT electrification (away from the NEC) is 60Hz already, so they have at least some dual-frequency capable stock.
Only in the sense that it would be 60Hz + DC 3rd rail instead of the current 25Hz + DC 3rd rail setup.
Fascinating document, thank you for sharing that. The detail in the different horn variations is very extensive; reminds me of change-ringer notes, in a way.I quite agree, it's a shame the HHPs didn't get longer (but then again, they broke down more than they worked).
This is a live document that goes into incredible detail about locomotives, and cabcars on Amtrak (and other railroads), their horn and bell history, liveries and which engines have been converted to NPCUs. It's fascinating how horns are the main attraction for US railfans, and how all the different types are so well documented and named etc.The Horn List
docs.google.com
I believe the older Arrow EMU's are 25HZ only, although they are due for retirement in the near future.
