Via Rail F40 rebuild

This news is a little dated.

Via will rebuild its fleet of F40PH-2 units which should add 20 years to their service life. Via has 54 F40's which were built in 1986/87. Each engine has travelled an average of 4.2 million kilometres. The project is expected to be complete by 2012.

Rebuilt features:

1. emergency horn
2. higher intensity headlight
3. event recorder with crash hardened memory
4. led indicator lights
5. cleaner burning engine with stop/start system -fuel savings of 5 million litres of fuel/year
6. fuel heating
7. HEP diesel generator - saves fuel and allows for more traction power
8. layover heating
9. new paint scheme
10. new copper air piping, receptacles, switches, relays and wiring.
11. cooling fan sequencing
12. independent dynamic braking
13. microprocessor controls
14. new cruise control, de-misting air to windshield, electronic fuel monitoring
15. addition of anit-corrosion material
16. improved ergonomics, third seat
17. automatic horn sequencing
18. microwave oven, sun screens and air conditioning

etc.

Via Press release

http://tinyurl.com/5cbfef

 

I recall seeing photos of the first rebuild a while back, but I haven't seen any more. Not that I've been looking, but...

It's nice that, unlike Amtrak, VIA seems committed to long operating lives for its power.

 

I think that comes from the Canadian culture of Conserve, Repair, Recycle, Make-do. Whereas Americans MUST have the Latest, Greatest, New-n-Improved, Chucking the Old, even though it still works fine. :tb-hissyfit:

 

What are they doing to the prime mover to get more efficency?
And How are they going to fit a Hep Generator in there?

Hmm, 710ECO? Or 3rd party engine replacement?

 

YOHO;

I am looking at a schematic of a rebuilt F-40 and they show the generator directly above the rear axle. The generator is labelled HEP diesel generator saves fuel and allows more traction power

Hope this helps.

 

I have a certain fondness for F40PH's since they pulled the overwhelming majority (possibly all?) of the Amtrak trains I rode while growing up.

 

So, what did they have to take out of that space to fit it?

 

Amtrak's F40PH units were HEP from the day they were built. In the couple of years before the Superliner cars came on line the Heritage car equipped trains had a steam boiler car added if being pulled by a F40PH.

 

That's what the H in the designation means.