An unusual lashup - to me - at South Station: Youcan barely make out the AIM 7 as the 3rd unit. I'm sure a lashup like this is not unusual on the NE Corridor, just at South Station. Does it imply they Meatballs are being phased out or that they is a power shortage?
Hey Steve, My guess is somewhere between Boston & NYP,there's catenary work being done. Once they get past the work area,the P-42's will be cut & then wait to hook up to a train heading back toward Boston. Diesels are not permitted in NYP.
Mike, it's kinda sad that it takes two P-42's to equal one Meatball. I don't think there are any significant grades between BOS and NYP except the approaches to Hell Gate. After all, the NH did call it the Shore Line Route.
They need the 2 P-42's back-back,so they don't have to wye one engine. They just uncouple from one & couple to the other. They have to change ends so the leading loco is in charge.
Can the electric still be mu'ed to the diesels and be powered too? I've always wondered if this is possible, kind'a like a slug unit, maybe?
OK, that makes sense, but it does seem to be a waste of power from a business stand point. Makes you wonder, again from a business sense, why American diesel locomotives aren't double-ended like most European and Asian locos, and all electrics....? I'd think that the cost of a second cab would be cheaper than requiring a second loco when the power isn't needed, which seems to happen quite often.
A narrow body GP-40 would be ideal for this. The only thing you need is a qualiified conductor( glorified hood ornatment ) in the fireman's seat to call signals when running long hood forward. Since Slamtrak doesn't have that many floating around the east coast,this is the best sinerio. I'm sure they only cut-in the lead unit, so it doesn't cost all that much.
