Amtrak P30CH Loco Add-On
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The General Electric P30CH, affectionately nicknamed the “Pooch,” was among the first all-new diesel-electric locomotives built for Amtrak, and is now available for Train Simulator.
Nicknamed after the similarities in its P30CH designation, the “Pooch” locomotives were designed around General Electric’s 3,000-horsepower U30C, but with a streamlined “cowl” more attractive for passenger service. The P30CH was also the first Amtrak diesel locomotive built from the factory that offered Head End Power (HEP), supplied by auxiliary powerplants and alternators.
As the first Amtrak diesels equipped with HEP, the Pooches first went to work hauling short-distance Amfleet-equipped trains, then were also employed on select long-distance trains such as the Chicago-New Orleans Panama Limited and the Washington, D.C.-Savannah (Georgia) segment of the Palmetto. With Amtrak’s decision to standardize on the Electro-Motive F40PH, the P30CH was destined to become an orphan in a world of F40PHs, a fact exemplified by Amtrak’s willingness to lease the Pooches to the Southern Pacific in 1978 for Bay Area commuter service.
But the big P30CHs found a pair of regular homes that extended their operational lives into the early 1990s. One of those regular assignments was Amtrak’s Los Angeles-New Orleans Sunset Limited, which called upon pairs of the Pooches to make the nearly 2,000-mile run across the American southwest. And the other was Amtrak’s Auto-Train operation between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida. The P30CHs were finally retired in 1992.
The GE P30CH for Train Simulator recreates the locomotive in Amtrak’s “Phase III” livery and features of the model include dynamic braking, rear and forward headlight control, gyralight, and classification lights.
Also included are a Phase III-liveried Amfleet II coach, Amfleet Café/Lounge, a Heritage Baggage car, Heritage Diner, and Heritage Dome-Coach.
Includes:
- GE P30CH in Amtrak Phase III livery
- Dynamic braking
- Rear headlight control
- Forward headlight control
- Gyralight control
- Classification lights
- Phase III Amfleet Coaches and Café/Lounge cars
- Phase III Amtrak Heritage Baggage car , Heritage Diner, and Dome-Coach
- Quick Drive compatible
- 3 scenarios for the Miami – West Palm Beach route, also available on Steam.
Amtrak P30CH Manual
GE P30CH - History
Do you have an interest in the history of the GE P30CH locomotive? Our friends over at American Rails have an excellent site documenting the history of this and many other North American locomotives. Click here to take a look.
Image by Roger Puta and used under Creative Commons license.
