Hello everyone, and welcome aboard to another new video.
Previously on the channel, we have seen the brand new ALC-42 diesel electric locomotives
that are being built by Siemens Mobility for Amtrak’s long distance passenger trains.
These are state of the art units that are assembled in Sacramento, California and will
be replacing the General Electric “Genesis” series locomotives over the next several years.
The ALC-42 is part of the Siemens Mobility “Charger” family of locomotives, which
meet US environmental protection agency Tier 4 emissions standards.
Following several months of testing on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and crew familiarization,
these brand new locomotives are finally ready for service.
It was decided that the locomotives would make their debut on the route of the Empire
Builder, a long distance train traveling from Chicago, Illinois to Portland, Oregon and
Seattle, Washington.
A first revenue service date for the ALC-42 locomotives of February 8, 2022 was set.
Charger locomotives 301 and 302, accompanied by two P42DC units pulled the inaugural run
out of Chicago, bound for Seattle and Portland.
With news of the big debut, I packed up my bags and headed for Wenatchee, Washington
to chase the first run of the new ALC-42 locomotives over Stevens Pass and into Seattle.
On the morning of February 10th, 2022, we arrive in Wenatchee to follow Train number
7, the westbound Empire Builder, over the Cascade Mountains and into Seattle.
The train is seen idling in the station as it waits for passengers to board and a crew
change.
On the front of the train is Amtrak ALC-42 number 302, the first of the new Charger locomotives
to lead a train.
During the previous night, one of the P42 locomotives and Charger 301 were uncoupled
from the main section of the train in Spokane, Washington to take the smaller Portland section
down to Pasco, Washington and along the Columbia River to Portland, Oregon.
Behind the 302 is Amtrak P42DC number 161, built by General Electric in 2001.
The locomotive was painted in a special rendition of the Amtrak “Phase One” livery as part
of Amtrak’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2021.
Just before 7:50 AM, the Empire Builder departs Wenatchee.
Ahead lies miles of some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Pacific Northwest.
At East Winton, about 15 miles west of Leavenworth, the Empire Builder rolls past the old Winton
Lumber Mill.
The train continues to fly up the valley to Cascade Tunnel, the longest railroad tunnel
in the United States.
After cresting the summit and passing through the tunnel, 302 meets an eastbound grain train
at Scenic Siding.
There is still plenty of snow on the ground as train number 7 continues on through the
town of Baring.
We catch up with the train along Highway 2 in Gold Bar, Washington.
The next stop in Everett is about a half hour away.
With Puget Sound in the background, Amtrak 302 nears the end of its first revenue trip,
passing Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park.
South of downtown Seattle, the empire builder crosses Horton Street after dropping off all
the passengers at Seattle’s King Street Station.
The train will head a short distance south in order to be turned.
It will then proceed back to the yard where it will be serviced while it waits for its
departure back to Chicago on Saturday, February 12th.
A
short while later, the train returns north to the Amtrak Seattle Yard.
Thanks for joining me for this look at the inaugural trip of the new Siemens ALC-42 in
Amtrak Long Distance train service.
If you enjoyed the video and would like to see more like it in the future, let me know
in the comments below and hit the like button.
For regular upload notifications, subscribe to the channel and click on the bell.
To see even more train and railroad themed content, join me on my other social media
pages.
I’ll see you next Friday at 9 AM Pacific time for an all new railroad themed adventure
right here on the YouTube channel.
That’s it for now.
Until next time, I’m Mike Armstrong.
I’ll see you down the line!
Thanks for watching.