NJT Engine Change @ South Amboy - URHS NJ 40th Anniversary Express [ALP-46A & F40PH-2CAT]

Описание: Watch the full NJ Transit & URHS NJ 40th Anniversary Express Playlist:    • NJ Transit & URHS NJ: 40th Anniversary Exp...  

Yesterday 9/30/2023, I was fortunate to ride the NJT & URHS NJ 40th Anniversary Express From New York - Bay Head - Hoboken. One major highlight of the trip was the locomotive change from electric to diesel at South Amboy, a process that hasn't taken place since 1988, before my parents met. From New York Penn to South Amboy, the train was powered by ALP-46As No. 4636 (PRR Heritage) & 4640 ("Disco Stripe" 40th Anniversary Heritage). ‪@FanRailer‬, you were RIGHT about this being a ALP-46A doubleheader, URHS NJ did keep this under wraps.

At South Amboy, the electrics were removed, and the F40PH-2CAT locomotives No. 4120 & 4119 were added. These two F40PHs are the final ones NJ Transit has, and they RARELY are used in passenger service nowadays. So it was amazing to see these two locomotives get another healthy and prideful run in. I rode Amtrak Northeast Regional 160 to NY, and I spotted the F40s near CLIFF Interlocking, moving light to South Amboy.

After watching many vintage clips of E60s & GG1s being swapped for diesel power (and vice versa) at South Amboy, I'm happy to say I finally captured an engine swap here myself on film. The layout at South Amboy is a tad different with the island platform and the yard being removed. So the locomotives didn't "run around" the train. Instead we "wrong railed" from GRAW Interlocking & arrived on Track 2, where the swap took place. I spoke with the engineer, and he told me the ALP-46As went to a storage track near South Amboy and then deadheaded to Hudson Yard and eventually MMC.

Hats off to New Jersey Transit & United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey for coordinating this & props to Amtrak as well. Excursions like this don't happen very often nowadays and I know it wasn't easy to pull off. I felt like, no, I WAS a part of history. Also, it was nice meeting ‪@3985uprr‬ on the trip. Congrats if you actually read the whole description, I don't have a prize for you, but I'm proud of you.

ENJOY!

Mileposts 🚆:
0:00 | Prequel - F40PH-2CATs Spotted Near CLIFF Interlocking
0:12 | ALP-46As No. 4636 & 4640 Get Into Position
3:44 | The ALP-46As Are Removed From The Train
7:30 | The Conductors Set The Switches For the F40PH-2CATs
8:54 | The F40s Get In Position & The Conductors Realign the Switches
12:00 | The F40s Coupling Process Begins
12:57 | The F40s Pull The Train Into South Amboy

#NJTransit #NewJerseyTransit #URHSNJ
#ALP46A #F40PH #NJT