An Amtrak GP40TC sitting at Boston South Station. Photo Credit: Peter Van den Bossche

The GP40TC is a passenger variant of the GP40 that is not the overfoamed and absolute piece of shit engine that is the F40PH.

The TC in GP40TC is exactly a good place to start addressing this engine’s history. Originally built for the Government of Ontario Transit (Otherwise known as GO Transit) between 1966 and 1968 with 8 units, they were commonly used on commuter trains coming out of the Toronto area.

When the F59PHs came in during the 1980s to get everything else off the roster, the GP40TCs were part of the fleet to go. They all ended up on Amtrak in 1988 along with GO’s supply of foamer bait. Now under Amtrak, they commonly ran on intercity trains or were there in case Amtrak’s foamer machines ate shit. They did this between 1988 and 2005, where in 2005, they would later become GP38H-3s via an Altoona rebuild from Norfolk Southern.

Technical Specifications

General Info	-
Prime Mover	EMD 645E3 V16
Horsepower	3000
Truck Type	HT-B
Axles	4
Traction Motors	4
Minimum Weight	244,800 lbs
Maximum Weight	278,000 lbs
Model Base Speed	65 MPH
Top Speed	65, 71, 77, 83, 90, or 96 MPH

Electrical System	-
Generator Max Current	6000 Amps
Max TM Current	1500 Amps
Max Continuous TM Current	1050 Amps
Traction Motor Type	DC
Adhesion	25%
Transition Mode	Automatic with no Selector
Transition Groups	1, 1, 1, 1
Transition Shunts	1, 0.67, 0.53, 0.40
Generator Transition	No
Traction Control	APR + Sand
Dynamic Braking Mode	hm. dynamics. hahahahah. coffee sip (No Dynamics)
DB Max Current	N/A
DB Max Continuous Current	N/A
Blended Braking	No

Miscellaneous	-
Head-End Power (HEP)	Yes (it is fucking complicated god why)
HEP Power Consumption	N/A
HEP Standby/Run Mode	N/A
Load Ramp Speed	2 Amps/Tick ⚠️
TM Overload Protection	No
Start Mode	Manual Prime, Manual Start
Air Brake Schedule	26-L
Compressor CFM	254 (Gardner-Denver WBO @ 900 RPM)
Main Air Reservoir	33.8 Cubic Feet ⚠️