EMD F59PH

The EMD F59PH is a four-axle 3,000 hp (2 MW) B-B diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division from 1988 to 1994. A variant, the F59PHI, was produced from 1994 to 2001. The F59PH was originally built for GO Transit commuter operation in the Toronto region. Metrolink in Southern California also purchased a fleet for its 1992 launch. The streamlined F59PHI was designed for Amtrak California intercity service. A total of 72 F59PH and 83 F59PHI locomotives were built.

Design

Based on the GP59, the locomotives had a turbocharged EMD 12-710G3A, a 12-cylinder, two-stroke diesel engine (prime mover).^[4] Head end power was supplied by a separate diesel generator.^[5]

The F59PHI is a variant with a fully enclosed streamlined carbody.^[6] Like the F59PH, the F59PHI is equipped with a secondary electrical generator – rated between 500 and 750 kW (670 and 1,010 hp) – for HEP.^[7]

History

Between May 1988 and May 1994, 72 F59PH locomotives were built for two commuter transit railroads: GO Transit of Toronto and Metrolink of Los Angeles.^[8]

GO Transit began retiring its F59PH locomotives in 2008 in favor of newer MPI MPXpress locomotives.^[4] Most were purchased by other operators including Exo (10 locomotives),^[9] Metra (3),^[10][11] NCDOT (11) for use on the Piedmont,^[12][13] and Trinity Railway Express (7).^[14] Five of the NCDOT units were rebuilt into cab control units without prime movers.^[15]

Seven Metrolink units were rebuilt as F59PHR. The non-rebuilt Metrolink locomotives were retired by 2020.^[16] Five of those were purchased by NCDOT in 2018.^[17] Metrolink donated F59PHR No. 851 to the Fullerton Train Museum in January 2026.^[18]

The first nine F59PHI units were purchased by Caltrans for use on Amtrak California services and entered service in 1994.^[6] A total of 83 locomotives were built, most for commuter rail and Amtrak corridor services on the West Coast.^[19] Two F59PHI locomotives were built in 1995 for Philip Morris Companies to haul the Marlboro Unlimited, a custom built luxury train to carry winners of a Philip Morris sweepstakes around the country. After Philip Morris cancelled the train, the units were stored before being sold to Metrolink in 1998.^[20][21] Some units are still in service with the original owners, while others have been retired. The 21 ex-Amtrak units were sold to Metra in 2018.^[22]

Original owners

A total of 72 F59PH and 83 F59PHI locomotives were delivered. Most were built at the General Motors Diesel facility in London, Ontario. Super Steel in Schenectady, New York, handled assembly of some units.^{[23][2][24][25][16]}

Notes

1. ^ Marre & Withers 2000, pp. 112–114.
2. ^ Roberts & Stremes 2023, pp. 1–100.
3. ^ WSDOT 2017, p. 95.
4. ^ Solomon 2011, p. 159.
5. ^ Weaver & McGregor 1995, p. 27.
6. ^ "F59PHI debuts in California". Railway Age. December 1, 1994. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
7. ^ Foster 1996, p. 94.
8. ^ McDonnell 2015, p. 208.
9. ^ Vantuono, William C. (January 31, 2022). "Siemens Mobility Chargers for Montreal". Railway Age
10. ^ "Metra to buy three used locomotives". Metra. November 9, 2018. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
11. ^ Danneman, Tom (November 9, 2015). "Metra's first F59PH is now in service". Trains Newswire
12. ^ Warner, David & Sutton, Harry (March 1, 2022). "Amtrak Motive Power Roster: North Carolina DOT Equipment". On Track On Line. Archived March 20, 2022 at the Wayback Machine.
13. ^ "NCDOT adds two refurbished locomotives to passenger fleet". Trains Newswire. August 4, 2017.
14. ^ "TRE Facts". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Archived January 20, 2022 at the Wayback Machine.
15. ^ "Attachment 3E: Statement of Work (February 2014)". Brownfields Property Application: Charlotte Locomotive & Railcar Maintenance Facility. North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 9, 2014. p. 2.
16. ^ Metrolink 2020, pp. 32–35.
17. ^ "Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – December 14, 2018". Southern California Regional Rail Authority. January 4, 2019. p. 4.
18. ^ Lettenberger, Bob (January 31, 2026). "California museum receives first Metrolink locomotive". Trains. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
19. ^ Solomon 2013, pp. 510; 527–529.
20. ^ Branchline 1996b, p. 26.
21. ^ Metrolink 2015, pp. 42–45.
22. ^ "Metra F59PHIs get ready for service". Trains Newswire. November 5, 2018.
23. ^ Marre & Withers 2000, p. 112.
24. ^ Simon, Warner & EuDaly 2023, p. 37.
25. ^ Lustig 2002, p. 52.

References

• "The Motive Power and Equipment Scene". Branchline. Vol. 35, no. 2. February 1996. pp. 23–26. ISSN 0824-233X
• Lustig, David (October 2002). "EMD F59PHI". Trains. Vol. 62, no. 10. pp. 50–55. ISSN 0041-0934
• Marre, Louis A. & Withers, Paul K. (2000). The Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide. Halifax, Pennsylvania: Withers Publishing. ISBN 978-1-881411-25-3.
• Roberts, Earl & Stremes, David (eds.) (2023). Canadian Trackside Guide. Ottawa, Ontario: Bytown Railroad Society. ISSN 0829-3023
• Solomon, Brian (2013). Classic Locomotives: Steam and Diesel Power in 700 Photographs. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-7603-4528-3. – via Google Books.
• Southern California Regional Rail Authority (October 2015). Metrolink Fleet Management Plan FY2015–FY2025
• Southern California Regional Rail Authority (2020). Metrolink Rail Fleet Management Report FY2020 – FY2040
• Washington State Department of Transportation (November 2017). Amtrak Cascades Fleet Management Plan
• Weaver, Christopher S. & McGregor, Douglas B. (March 1995). Controlling Locomotive Emissions in California: Technology, Cost-Effectiveness, and Regulatory Strategy. California Air Resources Board.

Further reading

• "The Long-Awaited "West Coast Express"". Branchline. Vol. 35, no. 2. February 1996. pp. 10–11. ISSN 0824-233X
• Fear, Douglas J. (Spring 2024). "London Calling". Classic Trains. Vol. 25, no. 1. pp. 56–61. ISSN 1527-0718
• Lustig, David (December 1994). "GM's F59 diesel goes Hollywood". Trains. Vol. 54, no. 12. pp. 16–18. ISSN 0041-0934