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General Electric P30CH
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United States | 1975
25 produced
DE 18 in May 2015 in Hanover
DE 18 in May 2015 in Hanover
Roger Puta

The P30CH was a six-axle passenger locomotive built by General Electric for Amtrak in 1975 and 1976. Although it was the second diesel locomotive ordered by Amtrak after the EMD SDP40F, it was the first one that had two separate 375 kW diesel generators to provide head end power. So no power of the prime mover got lost for HEP and it didn't always have to run at rated speed to provide power of the right frequency.

Due to their designation P30CH, they got the nickname “Pooch”. Only 25 were built since Amtrak soon decided to only procure four-axle locomotives. Additionally, they were not very popular and had mechanical problems. As early as in the late seventies, a huge number of the type was leased to other operators in California for commuter traffic. Amtrak used them for the last time in 1991.

General
Built1975-1976
ManufacturerGeneral Electric
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length72 ft 4 in
Wheelbase59 ft 7 in
Rigid wheelbase13 ft 7 in
Service weight386,000 lbs
Adhesive weight386,000 lbs
Axle load64,333 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed103 mph
Starting effort58,900 lbf
EngineGE 7FDL-16
Engine typeV16 diesel
Engine output3,000 hp (2,237 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
passenger
GE Universal
last changed: 12/2024
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