Athearn #15303 F59PHI, RNCX #1755 North Carolina DOT

NORTH CAROLINA DOT FEATURES:

Beginning in 1995, North Carolina developed the Piedmont regional train as a follow-on to Amtrak’s Carolinian. The train runs between Charlotte and Raleigh and runs a maximum of six times a day. Among the motive power used for this service are two EMD F59PHI locomotives, #1755 and 1797. The trains are operated by Amtrak crews; the state owns the locomotives and rolling stock.

LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
LED Lighting for realistic appearance
Non-sound locomotives are DCC ready
See through cab windows
McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers
Bi-directional constant lighting so headlight brightness remains consistent
All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and pulling power
All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
5-pole skew wound motor with precision-machined flywheels and multi-link drive train for optimal operation
Multi-link drive train for trouble free operation
Operates on Code 55 and 80 rail
Painted and printed for realistic decoration
Fully-assembled and ready-to-run out of the box
• Highly detailed, injection molded body
Multiple road numbers
Minimum radius: 9 3/4”

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

The EMD F59PHI is a high speed locomotive produced by Electro-Motive Division (EMD) from 1994 to 2001. It features an isolated cab, lightweight body, and a streamlined shape, features that were absent on the original commuter F59PH.

First built for the California Department of Transportation(CDoT), the F59PHI has seen service in all four corners of America, (Mostly seen in California) as well as in the Pacific Northwest/Montreal area in Canada , and most recently Chicago’s METRA Railroad.

In 1990, the State of California passed a bill that would result in massive funding for the state transportation systems. It also resulted in a separate, state funded system of regional Amtrak routes.

CDOT wanted a locomotive that was both reliable and attractive. They approached EMD, who responded with the lightweight, high-speed F59PHI locomotive.

Soon after, more orders arrived. Amtrak ordered 21 of these locomotives for their Pacific Sufliner service (separate from Amtrak California), and the North Carolina Department of Transportation also selected it as their primary motive power. West Coast Express (operated by TransLink) in Metro Vancouver, also selected it for starting up its service

Montreal’s Agence de Metropolitaine de Transport bought 11 of these locomotives to go with their Bombardier Bi-Level coaches, which were just arriving.

The F59PHI was produced until 2001. It was taken off of EMD’s lineup because it wasn’t able to meet the EPA Tier 1 regulations.