P30CH - MagnumMacKivler/RLCPT2 GitHub Wiki
A power-hungry SP leased 15 of Amtrak's P30CH's for commute service on the San Francisco peninsula. Pooch #702 leads a commute train on a picturesque California day in 1978. Photo credit Steve Sloan
The P30CH was an HEP equipped, cowl body U30C. Special ordered by Amtrak as a replacement for their aging fleet of F units and E units, the P30CH was essentially GE's trial run with Amtrak; despite the general flaws of the Universal series at the time, the P30CH demonstrated to Amtrak that GE could make a passenger locomotive that fit their description and could do their work.
PT-Specific Information
| General Info | - |
|---|---|
| Prime Mover | GE 7FDL-16F (1) |
| Horsepower | 3000 |
| Truck Type | GE FB-3 |
| Axles | 6 |
| Traction Motors | 6 |
| Minimum Weight | 363,000 lbs |
| Maximum Weight | 420,000 lbs |
| Model Base Speed | 70 MPH |
| Top Speed | 70, 80, or 86 ⚠ |
| Electrical System | - |
|---|---|
| Generator Max Current | 5400 Amps |
| Max Traction Motor (TM) Current | 1800 Amps |
| Max Continuous TM Current | 1195 Amps |
| Traction Motor Type | DC |
| Factor of Adhesion | 29% ⚠ |
| Transition Mode | Automatic, no selector (2) |
| Transition Groups | 2, 1 |
| Transition Shunts | 1, 1 |
| Generator Transition | No |
| Traction Control | APR + Sand |
| Dynamic Braking (DB) Mode (if used) | Mechanical Blowers (0), automatic |
| DB Max Current | 740 Amps |
| DB Max Continuous Current | 740 Amps |
| Blended Braking | Yes |
| Miscellaneous | - |
|---|---|
| Head-End Power (HEP) | Yes |
| HEP Power Consumption | 200 HP |
| HEP Standby/Run Mode | N0, N7 |
| Load Ramp Speed | 3 Amps/Tick |
| TM Overload Protection | No |
| Starter Mode | Manual Primer, Manual Start |
| Air Brake Schedule | 26L (3) |
| Compressor CFM | 236.25 (Wabco 3CDCBL @ 1050 RPM) |
| Main Reservoir Volume | 32.4 Cubic Feet |
Notes
⚠: Not Verified or Educated Guess
(1): Very very late standard Universals were offered with CHEC excitation, and classed as 7FDL-16G.
(2): The U34CH (a similar passenger Universal) was (apparently) equipped with a manual transition lever that was optionally turned on/off. This lever would have made the unit act like it was Automatic with Selector.
(3): 24RL and 34EP were optional.