Just in time for the 4th of July, Metra today unveiled a specially painted locomotive commemorating the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding.
The locomotive is the 26th of 42 remanufactured locomotives that Metra ordered from Progress Rail Locomotives of La Grange. The new locomotives, designated as SD70-MACHs, are former freight locomotives that are improved and reconfigured for passenger use with refurbished, upgraded, or new components.
The special locomotive was painted by Progress Rail using a design by Metra Senior Graphic Designer Falecia Woods with input from the operations team.
“We are proud to present this specially painted locomotive as a gift to the people of the Chicago region, Illinois, and the United States,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “This locomotive also commemorates the important role that railroads played in the expansion and development of our nation. As this locomotive travels the rails, it will do more than push and pull commuter trains in our region. It will carry a message. It will remind everyone who sees it that America’s strength has always come from people working together: from communities connected by steel rails, and from workers committed to service.”
Metra initially ordered 15 of the remanufactured locomotives from Progress Rail Locomotives of La Grange in January 2019, and since then has exercised options to buy 27 more, for a total cost of $206 million. The last delivery is expected by the end of 2027. Metra used a combination of state and federal funding to pay for the order.
The remanufactured locomotives meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 emissions standards, making them the cleanest locomotives in the Metra fleet. They have a bigger fuel tank (4,000 gallons) and are more fuel efficient, so they can travel farther without refueling.
One big improvement is in the traction motors, which deliver the power generated by the diesel engine to the wheels. The remanufactured locomotives have AC traction motors, which are far more durable and reliable than the DC traction motors in Metra’s older locomotives.
Inside, the locomotives are more comfortable and quieter for engineers. And modernized onboard diagnostics and digital gauges provide benefits to both maintenance and operating crews.
-via Press Release
