Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
I’ve noticed a lot of confusion and misunderstood assumptions among railfans regarding MBTAs newest lease, Rolling Stock Solution F40s. So I’m gonna clear up some confusion and provide some detail to these “new” F40s.
For context, in late September last year this grey F40PH was spotted on CSX M436 > L002 and was obvious to all that the locomotive was bound for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). This locomotive is the first of many future rebuilds from a new company, Rolling Stock Solutions (RRS). This locomotive in particular is classified as an F40PH-4c; reporting as RSTX 1001. It was built in 1978 as Amtrak F40PHR 293. It was shipped to where its new home will be in Boston for an event a couple weeks later where the locomotive was put on display and open to the public. Soon after, it was shipped back home for paint and PTC computer systems.
With the locomotive going back it left many unanswered questions, not all I can answer, but I’ll do my best lol.
As I said previously, the locomotive was built for Amtrak as 293. Leaving Amtrak the locomotive resided with a leasing company RailWorld where the locomotive would be leased to NJT (New Jersey Transit) to be used for commuter operations in NJ. Leaving NJT in 2006, it would be sold to the San Luis Central (SLC) where it spent time leased on the MBTA to serve its major power shortage at the time waiting on new MPI built locomotives. After the lease ended with the MBTA, it was acquired by the Agence Métropolitaine de Transport (AMT) to be used on their commuter agency out of Quebec. When it was finished being used by AMT, the locomotive among other F40s similar to the type were bought by Larrys Truck and Electric (LTEX), a company famously for buying old locomotives and storing them as a part source before future scrap. Mostly if not everyone assumed it was the end of the line for 293 and the F40s with it, however we would be proven wrong by RRS in 2024.
The big question most have with these “new” F40s is how many will be leased by the MBTA? When it comes to leasing new locomotives, they order in ratios. From what I gathered it seems 6 locomotives are currently contracted with supposedly 10 as the max to be leased. The purpose of the lease will be to fill in for the HSP46s that will be shipped out for rebuild. It’s funny how the F40s that filled in for the HSPs are doing the same task over again.
And with that it seems I have it all wrapped up. If you have any further questions feel free to drop a comment below.
The pictures below are both camera and drone footage I took upon 1001s first arrival in Massachusetts in CSXs Framingham North Yard waiting for Mondays L005 to bring it to Middleborough to get onto MBTA territory.
The last photo is an official RRS pamphlet of their sats and direct info to these F40 rebuilds including concept art to how the locomotives will be painted.
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NYC returns to the Boston & Albany!
Today was an interesting sight with an EMD SW1 in New York Central livery. The locomotive was put on M436 in Selkirk and later on L002 where its power including the SW1 tied down in Framingham.
The SW1 number 705s reporting mark is “VLIX”, which is short for “Vintage Locomotives LLC”. The locomotive was said to be for a company in Maine but from Framingham the locomotive has no continuing route to get to Maine. Whether it was on purpose or an honest mistake, seeing some NYC in Framingham again for the first time in probably decades is truly something, and a great way to start off 2025.
L002 Power:
CSXT 8400 EMD SD40-2
CSXT 465 GE AC4400CW
VLIX 705 EMD SW1
Y101? power:
CSXT 6206 EMD GP40-2
CSXT 6204 EMD GP40-2
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Framingham
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It’s a new era for the G&U..
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Happy Holidays to all of you and your family!
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I don’t recall sharing my Roblox shenanigans on the channel; should I start doing so?
Heres the base model of a FP10 I about finished tonight.
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New video at 10am. Trying something new, let me know what you think!
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Does anybody genuinely use my MBTA equipment spreadsheet? If so i’ll sit down and redo it nicer but otherwise just gonna let it sit again lol
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A great haul in Worcester today.
About 15 or so locomotives at the fuel pad including 3194, recently rebuild CM44’s 7576 and 7589, AC44 69, and two LORAM grinders for switches.
I also watched Y120? drop its Selkirks for M437 which left shortly after the cut was dropped.
Down the street, I got photos of the P&W Worcester yard with no pumpkins in sight and half the EMDs.
And the cherry on top, M436 tied down on the hill with Y120?s power, 467/482, replacing the original road units from Selkirk that moved to the fuel pad. Three EMDs in tow for Framingham include 8100,6206,8181.
Happy belated Thanksgiving, have a good day all!
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Happy Thanksgiving everyone
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