June 10, 1981 on the NEC

Three locations in MD. on Amtrak's NEC shot by my dad, Jim Hammond

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• train
• railroad
• amtrak
• GG1
• metroliner
• NEC
• railway
• passenger
• chase
• aberdeen
• perryville

[MilwaukeeSDman]

WTF Is a MEATBALL & when did they get rid of metroliners

[bno4333]

AEM-7 engines were a Swedish design so were called swedish meatballs. They were also called toasters due to their similar appearance. Don't know when they changed the Metroliner to conventional trains. Some of the MU cars are still around as cab cars between Philly and Harrisburg I believe.

[DeltaPhi79]

2:42. I have NEVER seen a train like that before! WTF was it?

[bno4333]

That was the original Metroliner service. They were high-speed multiple unit cars. They had very distinctive horns.

[bcardcollector]

the train at 3:57, i think that was locomotive 900 which was destroyed at chase in '87.

[bno4333]

Sorry, but I believe that's the 902. If I find the notes from my research of the original VHS tape or run across the tape I'll double check but my raw wmv at higher res looks like 902 or 907.

[wrailfan]

A video with a GG-1 gets 5 stars in my book, let alone Number 4876! Probably the most famous GG-1 behind Old Rivets. I liked seeing the E60s & AEM-7s too.

[ACLTony]

@ma7799 - Yes, it seems crazy that a locomotive that's just over a decade is being retired? I wonder if Amtrak's management is trying to take advantage of the available funds since, as much as I disagree with Obama's policies, is generally pro-Amtrak. So if that's the case it's understandable why Amtrak is going to aim high regarding new motive power and rolling stock while it still can.

[ma7799]

@trainboy94

I am surprised they even had video of any kind in 1981. In those days, they were still using plenty of 8mm and 16mm movie film.

[ma7799]

@ACLTony

Have any "Mighty Mice" been selected for preservation?

[ma7799]

@ACLTony

They are retiring the HHP-8;s????? They made their first runs in 2000!!!!! I guess there will never be another electric locomotive as mighty as the GG-1.

[ACLTony]

@ma7799 -Hi. The new electrics will be from Siemens. The model is called: ACS-64.

They "sort of" look like a cross between an HHP-8 and an AEM-7. Four axles, boxy shaped, like an AEM-7, except that they're a little longer and the cab ends have more of a slope. To me, they look more attractive. Just Google Siemens ACS-64. What I don't understand is why are the HHP-8s going to be retired as well?! They're not that old.

[ma7799]

@bno4333

Swedish Swifty and Mighty Mouse are other nicknames I have heard.

[ma7799]

@ACLTony

What will be replacing the AEM-7?

[YankeePat94]

@ThaExpress2609 there's 11 left in SE Connecticut

[EMDSD14R]

at 5:06 thts the last Amtrak GG1 powered train to harrisburg..i have a tape on it speeding through lancaster but i've never seen another vid or shot of the train until now..thank you for posting this vid!!

[boweandrew3]

Amtrak had railroad crossings on the new York to Washington main line until 1987