F59PHI

F59PHI
Name	F59PHI
Powertype	Diesel-electric
Builder	Electro-Motive Diesel
Builddate	1994–1996
Totalproduction	36
Wheelarrangement	B-B
Primemover	EMD 16-645E3C
Poweroutput	3,000 hp
Tractiveeffort	55,000 lbf (starting)
Disposition	In service, preserved, retired

F59PHI is a class of 3,000-horsepower passenger diesel-electric locomotives built by Electro-Motive Diesel in the mid-1990s. Designed to provide high-speed, reliable motive power for intercity and commuter operations, the type combined a streamlined carbody with updated traction systems derived from contemporary EMD mainline designs. The model was procured by agencies and private operators seeking a modern single-cab passenger locomotive to replace aging fleets such as the EMD F40PH, GE P42DC, and earlier ALP-44 diesel-electrics.

Design and Technical Specifications

The F59PHI features a full-width, streamlined carbody intended to improve aerodynamics for services similar to those operated by Amtrak, VIA Rail Canada, and various state agencies. The locomotive is powered by an EMD 16-645E3C V16 two-stroke diesel prime mover, producing 3,000 horsepower, and uses an EMD D87 traction motor arrangement on a B-B truck layout derived from freight and passenger predecessors. Onboard systems include a computerized engine control unit compatible with AAR standards and multiple-unit (MU) connections used on consists with equipment from builders such as GE Transportation and Alstom.

Brake systems combine pneumatic main reservoirs with dynamic braking that regenerates heat through resistor grids similar to those on contemporary EMD F40PH rebuilds. The electrical plant integrates an alternator and rectifier package that supplies DC traction motors, and onboard auxiliaries are served by an integrated head-end power (HEP) generator rated typically at 480 V AC for passenger car service used by fleets like Metra, GO Transit, and Caltrain. The carbody styling echoes the work of industrial design firms that collaborated with rail manufacturers on projects for Rock Island, Southern Pacific, and Santa Fe aesthetics during the late 20th century.

Safety and crew comfort features were designed to meet standards influenced by agencies including Federal Railroad Administration regulations and to interface with signaling and cab-safety systems such as Positive Train Control implementations later adopted by many operators. Cab ergonomics and HVAC systems were specified to levels comparable to those in locomotives supplied to NJ Transit, Metrolink (California), and Sound Transit during the 1990s.

Production and Variants

Electro-Motive Diesel produced 36 F59PHI units between 1994 and 1996. Orders came from a mix of public agencies and private operators seeking state-of-the-art single-cab passenger power. Several units were built to customized specifications reflecting buyer preferences: some included upgraded HEP capacity to support longer consists used by agencies like Metrolinx, while others received enhanced crashworthiness packages and modified gearing for higher top speeds favored by intercity operators such as VIA Rail and short-haul services in the Northeast Corridor.

While the base specification remained consistent, a few units underwent factory modifications involving traction control, onboard diagnostics, and multiple cab communication protocols to ensure compatibility with locomotives and rolling stock from manufacturers like Bombardier, Siemens, and Stadler. A small number were later repowered or rebuilt by third-party firms associated with overhaul centers in locations served by National Railway Equipment Company and Knoxville Locomotive Works.

Service History

F59PHI locomotives entered revenue service in the mid-1990s on a variety of regional and commuter routes. They were deployed on services that required higher cruise speeds and reliable HEP for modern passenger cars produced by builders including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Adtranz. Their operational profile often included intercity runs, peak commuter services, and weekend express trains in regions served by transit agencies such as Caltrans, VRE (Virginia Railway Express), and agencies in the Midwest.

Operational experience showed strengths in acceleration and reliability relative to older fleets like the EMD GP40PH derivatives, though some operators reported maintenance challenges associated with the prime mover and electrical components that led to mid-life overhauls. Units assigned to high-mileage corridors received periodic upgrades to controls and cooling systems, while those operating in salt-air environments along the Pacific Coast were subject to corrosion mitigation programs similar to those applied on Coast Starlight-roster equipment.

The locomotives saw varied careers: some remained in original paint and roster assignments, others were sold to private tour operators or freight contractors, and a portion were leased to agencies facing short-term power shortages comparable to historical leasing seen between Amtrak and regional authorities.

Operators

Notable operators and lessees of F59PHI locomotives included multiple North American agencies and private firms. Agencies that purchased or leased the type include Metra, Caltrain, VIA Rail, and various state rail authorities. Private operators, leasing companies, and excursion promoters also operated examples, mirroring practices involving equipment swaps between organizations such as Amtrak, Guilford Transportation Industries, and Wisconsin & Southern Railroad.

Inter-agency transfers and secondary-market sales placed units into service with preservation groups and tourist lines, reflecting patterns similar to transfers seen among fleets like Ex-Metrolink and former commuter locomotives sold to heritage operators.

Preservation and Surviving Examples

Several F59PHI units have survived into preservation, museum display, or tourist service. Examples can be found at railroad museums and heritage operations that collect late 20th-century North American passenger equipment, institutions akin to the National Railroad Museum, California State Railroad Museum, and regional historical societies. Preserved units often undergo cosmetic restoration to original operator liveries and may receive mechanical work to enable operation in excursion service, paralleling restoration efforts for EMD F40PH and GP9 class survivors.

Some locomotives were repurposed for non-revenue roles or retained as parts donors, with components salvaged for programs at private shops and municipal transit yards. Surviving examples contribute to interpretation of 1990s passenger motive power evolution alongside contemporaries like GE P32AC-DM and provide chapters in exhibits about commuter rail expansion in the late 20th century.

Category:Passenger diesel locomotives of the United States