Here are the 80's road numbers in the 1997 Amtrak Genesis order from the GE Transportation Division at Erie. None had been overhauled or repainted lately, until #82 was released from Beech Grove in fresh paint in February 2024. The 80's group had a loss of number 80 to a truck strike at Slidell, Louisiana, when a semi-load of military stryker vehicles turned in front of the northbound Crescent. In July 2023 #84 was damaged in Florida, but it has not been reported as to whether it will be a total loss.
In July 2023, #84 was set out in Florida following a road crossing incursion on the Silver Meteor. In October, 2023, it was moved to Beech Grove in CSX freight service. In December #82 was also moved to Beech Grove, probably for routine maintenance. It received a newly revised 4th generation paint scheme as did #87 in August 2024. One might assume that if #84 returns to service, it might also have refreshed paint. In May, 2024 #83 had a minor derailment at Emporia, Kansas, slipping the front truck off the rail.
From this group of eight remaining 80's road numbers, #85-89 have lately been on the northeast corridor. Some commuter locations are not typically reported, and others are so routine that nobody much cares. In June 2024, #87 was having some issues, and moved from shop to shop. In May, #83 had a low speed derailment at Emporia, Kansas, and was taken out of service as well. As a group, Amtrak's surviving P42 road numbers in the 80-130 range are generally on the east coast, with about 25 in Washington DC, and the remainder in Philadelphia, New Haven, and Boston.
OUT OF SERVICE IN 2024
#80 Serial Number 49618 (April 1997). Loss at Slidell, Louisiana on northbound Crescent, April 20, 2011.
#84 Serial Number 49622(May 1997). Polk County, Florida incident on Silver Meteor July 14, 2023. Moved in CSX freight service in October.
#82 Serial Number 49620 (April or May 1997). Moved to Beech Grove December 10, 2023. Released March 10, 2024 in 4G paint.
#83 Low speed derailment Emporia, Kansas May 2024
#87 Shopped variously at Rensselaer, Chicago, and Beech Grove May 19 through June 6, 2024.
MAJOR MAINTENANCE OVER PAST FIVE YEARS
These locomotives are 27 years old, and have been cycled in and out of heavy maintenance many times over their careers. Here are the ones we know have gotten major Beech Grove work in the past five years:
#84 - Fresh paint August 12, 2019
#89 - Fresh paint September 28, 2020
#84 - Moved in CSX freight service to Beech Grove, October 2023. Out in fresh 4G paint in February 2024.
#82 - Moved to Beech Grove December 10, 2023
#82 - Serial 49620(April or May 1997). Beech Grove December 10-31, 2023 so far. Fresh 4G paint March 10, 2024.
#87 - Fresh 4G paint August 2024.
IN SERVICE AS OF SEPTEMBER 2024
Locomotive #84 was trailing behind #17 in Florida when a road crossing incident occurred. As of August 1, 2023 its situation is unknown, but was set out pending repairs, and in October 2023 it moved to Beech Grove in CSX freight service. We do not yet know if it is down for the count.
Serial numbers for 80-89 are 49618 through 49627. Build dates were April and May, 1997. After delivery in the 1993 style paint, all were eventually refurbished into 2000 millennial livery. Road numbers 82 received northeastern 1998 varient when painted early, while 81 and 84 were done with the 2000 high skirt bluenose. The rest went directly into low shirt millennium paint during 2001-2002. Nose cones were all changed to the bolt-on variety by the end of the decade. Engine 84 was rewarded with Toyota Tundra advertising paint from late October 2004 through the end of March 2005. The paint was applied at Redondo shops in Los Angeles, very unusual considering almost all such work is typically done at Beech Grove, Indiana.
STATUS FOR THE 80-89 GROUP - RECENT TRAIN ASSIGNMENTS NOW ON PAGE 1997
In March, 2024 #82 became only the second Amtrak P42 to receive the new 4G paint job. That makes it the only P42 to have worn all four generations of standard paint (so far). Here are latest reports for the seven active roamer units in group #80-89. Not all movements were necessarily captured and there can be errors. The train assignment date(s). Regional train numbers are typically north of New York City or South of Washington DC, since the gap on the northeast corridor is generally filled by electric locomotives in the 600 series of road numbers. Engines #85-89 are currently dedicated to commuter routes in the northeast.
Note that 500 series train numbers are Cascades. East coast regional train numbers are dieselized south of Washington DC, and north of New York City or New Haven. Generally the regionals running WDCUS-NYP are powered with electrics. But train numbers can be continuous, from as far south as New Orleans or Hialeah, all the way up to New York City or Boston.
As of June 2024, we update tracking of the eastern locomotives less often, which include 85, 86, 87, 88, and 89. They normally run out of Rensselaer, New Haven, or Philadelphia. They have been known to be on Downeasters in the past. We will cover anything unusual that we hear about if they pop out of the northeast. Please attribute our info and photos to 4rr.com for anything other than personal use. For earlier reports, consult the individual page for each unit.
As of June 2024 there are eight actives in the group 80-89, although #83 was set out at Emporia, Kansas after a minor front truck derailment. It was freighted back to Chicago by BNSF. Three are roamers (81-82-83). Engine #82 has been refreshed into 4G livery, the only one of the group to have had much attention lately. Engines #85-#89 typically cover commuter routes in the northeast. Once and a while they will do a Lake Shore run to and from Chicago, and from time to time move down as far south as Florida and New Orleans as #89 is currently doing.
On the night of June 4-5, #87 shuttled to Beech Grove. It has been shopped at Rensselaer, Chicago, and now Beech Grove since May 19, 2024. It received 4G paint and went back on duty in late August.
Updated September 6, 2024 by 4rr.com "feedback" at 4rr.com for email comments, observations, broken link reports, etc.