ALP-46
Encyclopedia
The ALP-46 is an electric locomotive
built in Germany
by Bombardier
between 2001 and 2002 for use in the United States
. It is derived from the German Class 101
. New Jersey Transit
(NJT) is the only railroad to operate this model locomotive. They can be found all over the electrified NJT system, but are primarily used for service to and from Penn Station
in New York City
.
, 4601 was sent to Kearny
for testing on the NJT network. All locomotives were transported via road to the port of Bremen and shipped on Roro-ships of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
to Port Elizabeth (NJ)
. The ALP-46 is compatible with NJ Transit's Comet
IIM, III, IV, V, and Multilevel
fleet. It was also used to pull Amfleet
consists on Amtrak
's Clocker
service in its final days of operation.
In February 2008, NJT ordered 27 ALP-46A locomotives to ensure they have enough motive power for their multilevels when they are all delivered in 2010, an order for 45 more multilevels having been exercised at this time. These new engines have newer technology than their older sisters, being 6–10 years younger, that will allow for increased acceleration and operating efficiency. The ALP-46A's have a top speed of 125 mph (55.9 m/s). This contract included an option for an additional 33 locomotives, 9 of which were exercised on June 10, 2009 to begin replacement of the ALP-44. These engines are numbered 4629-4664. On November 13, 2009, Bombardier ceremonially handed over the first two completed ALP-46A's (4629–4630) over to New Jersey Transit over at Kassel plant in Germany. They arrived on NJT property on December 13. Locomotive 4629 was shipped by rail to a testing facility in Pueblo, Colorado
, while 4630 was placed on the rails at the Meadows Maintenance Complex in Kearny
for testing on property and maintenance training. As of April 5, 2011, all locomotives have been delivered.
On June 2, 2010, 4629 entered trial service on the Morris and Essex Lines, coupled to an ALP-46 in case of failure. As of May 7, 2011, all locomotives have entered regular revenue service.
is considering the use of the ALP-46 for some or all of the operator's current lines. GO Transit has performed an study on electrification of their current diesel operations. Currently all GO rail lines use diesel locomotives with some that fall under US Tier 2 requirements.
locomotive, the ALP-46 is about 10 short tons heavier since the carbody has been adapted to the crashworthiness
standards of FRA
. A polyol
-ester
cooled transformer
reduces the catenary voltage and feeds two polyol-ester cooled traction converters in GTO
technology. Each traction converter feeds the motors of one truck
.
General Data:
Technical Data:
Dimensions and weights:
locomotives, as well as the ability to handle 14 multilevel cars without the assistance of a HEP helper locomotive. These locomotives are certified to run at 125 mph.
General Data:
Technical data:
Dimensions and weights:
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
built in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
by Bombardier
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
between 2001 and 2002 for use in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is derived from the German Class 101
DBAG Class 101
DBAG Class 101 is a class of three-phase electric locomotives built by Adtranz and operated by DB Fernverkehr in Germany. 145 locomotives were built between 1996 and 1999 to replace the 30-year old and aging Class 103 as the flagship of DB AG...
. New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
(NJT) is the only railroad to operate this model locomotive. They can be found all over the electrified NJT system, but are primarily used for service to and from Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Orders
NJT ordered the first 24 ALP-46 locomotives in December 1999 and an additional five locomotives in September 2001. They were built by Bombardier (formerly ADtranz) at their Kassel, Germany plant. The first two locomotives were built as preseries locomotives for testing—4600 was tested on the TTCI test plant in Pueblo, ColoradoPueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, 4601 was sent to Kearny
Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
for testing on the NJT network. All locomotives were transported via road to the port of Bremen and shipped on Roro-ships of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics is a privately owned Norwegian/Swedish shipping company, established in 1999 and co-owned by the two shipping companies Wallenius Lines and Wilh. Wilhelmsen....
to Port Elizabeth (NJ)
Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Maurice River Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes...
. The ALP-46 is compatible with NJ Transit's Comet
Comet (passenger car)
The Comets are a class of locomotive-hauled railcars that was first designed in the late 1960s by Pullman-Standard as a modern commuter car for North American rail lines. Later, the Comet moniker was adopted by New Jersey Transit for all of its non-powered single level commuter coaches...
IIM, III, IV, V, and Multilevel
Bilevel car
The bilevel car or double-decker coach is a type of rail car that has two levels of passenger accommodation, as opposed to one, increasing passenger capacity ....
fleet. It was also used to pull Amfleet
Amfleet
Amfleet is a series of intercity railroad passenger cars built for the operator Amtrak by the manufacturer Budd Company in two series during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Today, Amfleet cars are used extensively throughout the Amtrak system outside the western United States...
consists on Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Clocker
Clocker (Amtrak)
Clocker was an Amtrak rail service operating between Philadelphia and New York City on the Northeast Corridor. It was the first service to be officially operated by Amtrak, when train number 235 left New York's Penn Station at 12:05 AM on May 1, 1971 bound for Philadelphia. The last Clocker train...
service in its final days of operation.
In February 2008, NJT ordered 27 ALP-46A locomotives to ensure they have enough motive power for their multilevels when they are all delivered in 2010, an order for 45 more multilevels having been exercised at this time. These new engines have newer technology than their older sisters, being 6–10 years younger, that will allow for increased acceleration and operating efficiency. The ALP-46A's have a top speed of 125 mph (55.9 m/s). This contract included an option for an additional 33 locomotives, 9 of which were exercised on June 10, 2009 to begin replacement of the ALP-44. These engines are numbered 4629-4664. On November 13, 2009, Bombardier ceremonially handed over the first two completed ALP-46A's (4629–4630) over to New Jersey Transit over at Kassel plant in Germany. They arrived on NJT property on December 13. Locomotive 4629 was shipped by rail to a testing facility in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, while 4630 was placed on the rails at the Meadows Maintenance Complex in Kearny
Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
for testing on property and maintenance training. As of April 5, 2011, all locomotives have been delivered.
On June 2, 2010, 4629 entered trial service on the Morris and Essex Lines, coupled to an ALP-46 in case of failure. As of May 7, 2011, all locomotives have entered regular revenue service.
Future North American Clients
Commuter rail operator GO TransitGO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
is considering the use of the ALP-46 for some or all of the operator's current lines. GO Transit has performed an study on electrification of their current diesel operations. Currently all GO rail lines use diesel locomotives with some that fall under US Tier 2 requirements.
ALP-46 Specifications
The ALP-46 locomotives produce 7,100 hp and are powered by overhead catenary. They can reach a top speed of 100 mph (161 km/h). Compared to its ancestor, the more powerful German Class 101DBAG Class 101
DBAG Class 101 is a class of three-phase electric locomotives built by Adtranz and operated by DB Fernverkehr in Germany. 145 locomotives were built between 1996 and 1999 to replace the 30-year old and aging Class 103 as the flagship of DB AG...
locomotive, the ALP-46 is about 10 short tons heavier since the carbody has been adapted to the crashworthiness
Crashworthiness
Crashworthiness is the ability of a structure to protect its occupants during an impact. This is commonly tested when investigating the safety of aircraft and vehicles. Depending on the nature of the impact and the vehicle involved, different criteria are used to determine the crashworthiness of...
standards of FRA
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
. A polyol
Polyol
A polyol is an alcohol containing multiple hydroxyl groups. In two technological disciplines the term "polyol" has a special meaning: food science and polymer chemistry.- Polyols in food science :...
-ester
Ester
Esters are chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol. Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH group is replaced by an -O-alkyl group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and...
cooled transformer
Transformer
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic field...
reduces the catenary voltage and feeds two polyol-ester cooled traction converters in GTO
Gate turn-off thyristor
A gate turn-off thyristor is a special type of thyristor, a high-power semiconductor device. GTOs, as opposed to normal thyristors, are fully controllable switches which can be turned on and off by their third lead, the GATE lead.-Device description:...
technology. Each traction converter feeds the motors of one truck
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
.
General Data:
- Track gauge:
- Clearance gauge: AMTRAK
- Type of vehicle: Electric locomotive
- Railway system operator: New Jersey Transit (NJT)
- Vehicle designation: ALP-46
- Quantity: 29
- Road Numbers: 4600–4628
- Years of commissioning: 2001–2002
Technical Data:
- System voltageVoltageVoltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
: AC 25 kV/60 Hz, 12 kV/25 Hz, 12.5 kV/60 Hz - Head End PowerHead end powerHead end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
: 480 V AC, 60 Hz, 3 phase, 1,000 kW - Battery Voltage: 74 V DC
- Wheel set arrangement: Bo’Bo’
- Axle load: 24.8 short tonShort tonThe short ton is a unit of mass equal to . In the United States it is often called simply ton without distinguishing it from the metric ton or the long ton ; rather, the other two are specifically noted. There are, however, some U.S...
s (49600 lb (22,498.2 kg)) - Number of traction motorTraction motorTraction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
s: 4 - Traction motorTraction motorTraction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
s: Bombardier MITRAC DR 3000 series - Traction Converter: Bombardier MITRAC TC 3100 series
- Power at wheel rim: 5.3 MW (7,100 hp)
- Max. starting tractive effortTractive effortAs used in mechanical engineering, the term tractive force is the pulling or pushing force exerted by a vehicle on another vehicle or object. The term tractive effort is synonymous with tractive force, and is often used in railway engineering to describe the pulling or pushing capability of a...
: 316 kN (71,000 lbf) - Continuous tractive effort: 245.6 kN (55,180 lbf) @ 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Dynamic brakingDynamic brakingDynamic braking is the use of the electric traction motors of a railroad vehicle as generators when slowing the Locomotive. It is termed rheostatic if the generated electrical power is dissipated as heat in brake grid resistors, and regenerative if the power is returned to the supply line...
effort at wheel rim: 150 kN (34,000 lbf) - Maximum speed: 160 km/h (100 mph)
Dimensions and weights:
- Length over buffersBuffer (rail transport)A buffer is a part of the buffers-and-chain coupling system used on the railway systems of many countries, among them most of those in Europe, for attaching railway vehicles to one another....
: 19,498 mm (752.1 in or 62.68 ft) - Overall width: 2,997 mm (118 in)
- Weight of locomotive: 99.2 short tons (198400 lb (89,992.7 kg))
ALP-46A Specifications
The ALP-46A locomotives are similar to the ALP-46 locomotives except that the traction converters are from a newer generation in IGBT technology. The converters are water cooled and have individual inverters for each motor. This generation sports the 7,500 horsepower (5,600 kW) output similar to the latest versions of TRAXXTRAXX
Bombardier TRAXX is a modular product platform of electric and Diesel-electric mainline locomotives built by Bombardier Transportation, built in both freight and passenger variants...
locomotives, as well as the ability to handle 14 multilevel cars without the assistance of a HEP helper locomotive. These locomotives are certified to run at 125 mph.
General Data:
- Track gauge:
- Clearance gauge: AMTRAK
- Type of vehicle: Electric locomotive
- Railway system operator: New Jersey Transit (NJT)
- Vehicle designation: ALP-46A
- Quantity: 36 (24 options)
- Road Numbers: 4629–4664 (4665–4688)
- Years of commissioning: 2009–2011
Technical data:
- System voltageVoltageVoltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
: AC 25 kV/60 Hz, 12 kV/25 Hz - Head end powerHead end powerHead end power or electric train supply is a rail transport term for the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or “head” of a train or a generator car, generates all the electricity used for lighting, electrical and other...
: ABB HEP 1100 Transformer - 480 V AC, 60 Hz, 3-phase, 1,000 kW, 1,100 kVa - Wheel set arrangement: Bo’Bo’
- Drive system: Fully suspended drive
- Axle load: 25.353 short tons (50706 lb (22,999.9 kg))
- Number of traction motorTraction motorTraction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
s: 4 - Traction motorTraction motorTraction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
s: Bombardier MITRAC DR 3000 series - Traction converter: Bombardier MITRAC TC 3300 series
- Power at wheel rim: 5.6 MW (7,500 hp)
- Max. starting tractive effortTractive effortAs used in mechanical engineering, the term tractive force is the pulling or pushing force exerted by a vehicle on another vehicle or object. The term tractive effort is synonymous with tractive force, and is often used in railway engineering to describe the pulling or pushing capability of a...
: 316 kN (71,000 lbf) - Continuous tractive effortTractive effortAs used in mechanical engineering, the term tractive force is the pulling or pushing force exerted by a vehicle on another vehicle or object. The term tractive effort is synonymous with tractive force, and is often used in railway engineering to describe the pulling or pushing capability of a...
: 240 kN (53,924 lbf) @ 85 km/h (53 mph) - Dynamic brakingDynamic brakingDynamic braking is the use of the electric traction motors of a railroad vehicle as generators when slowing the Locomotive. It is termed rheostatic if the generated electrical power is dissipated as heat in brake grid resistors, and regenerative if the power is returned to the supply line...
effort at wheel rim: 150 kN (34,000 lbf) - Maximum speed: 201 km/h (125 mph)
Dimensions and weights:
- Length over buffersBuffer (rail transport)A buffer is a part of the buffers-and-chain coupling system used on the railway systems of many countries, among them most of those in Europe, for attaching railway vehicles to one another....
: 19,900 mm (767.64 in or 63.97 ft) - Overall width: 2,950 mm (116.4 in)
- Height over pantographsPantograph (rail)A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
: 4,489 mm (173.7 in or 14.48 ft) - Distance between bogieBogieA bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
centers: 10,950 mm (431.1 in or 35.93 ft) - BogieBogieA bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
wheelbaseWheelbaseIn both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
: 2,650 mm (104.3 in or 8.69 ft) - Wheel diameter new: 1,118 mm (44.02 in)
- Wheel diameter worn:1,046 mm (41.18 in)
- Weight of locomotive: 101.4 short tons (202822 lb (91,998.5 kg))
External links
- New Jersey Transit—the sole operator of the locomotive