WELCOME TO 4RR.COM - 2025 SURVIVING AMTRAK P42'S

Yes, the domain can be sold. Send your complete contact information, no spamming. Amtrak had 146 working P42 locomotives on March 1, 2025, with 90 actually running in revenue service. There are always a few more on hot layover at any given time. General Electric produced 44 P40 and 207 P42 diesels for Amtrak. Most of the P40's have been scrapped. About half of those P42's remaining are now on the northeast corridor and its feeder commuter routes. The list of retired P42's on Dave's page.

In October, #9700 appeared (previously P42 #184) now converted to a cab car and shipped back to Rensselaer. It is now designated as a P42C. A second one (#9702 - former 177) was released out of Beech Grove on January 13. It seems that others will be converted, likely to replace some converted EMD F-40's in their role.

Most prolific year of production of P42's at Erie was 1997 with 74 units in a full year of production. The next largest volume year was close behind with 72 in 2001. By the build stickers, there were 46 units produced in the short 1996 year (August-December), and 15 in the partial year of 2000. The total was 207 for Amtrak, not counting P32 dualmodes (which are Genesis-cabbed).

STATUS OF THE GENESIS PROJECT AMD-103

GE built 321 Genesis series locomotives (Amtrak monococque diesel, 103 mph), most of which went to Amtrak starting in 1993. Upgraded P42s accounted for 207 of them (road numbers 1-207). Six 1993 (rebuilt 2011) vintage P40s remain servicable. Four salvage units have recently been privately rebuilt for Keewatin: 801=KRC 2506, #802=KRC 2507, 803=KRC 2508, and 839=KRC 839. Amtrak also rebuilt a few for Connecticut DOT that now run on Metro North with CDTX marks.

Surviving P42 road numbers #85-132 are currently assigned to NEC east coast commuter routes. Originally #101-111 were northeast corridor units, but the number based in the east has significantly expanded. While most eastern locomotives are from the 1997 subgroup, one is from 1996 (#46), one from 2001 (#145), and #121-132 are from 2000. They sometimes leave the north east, turning up briefly at Ivy City and on Lake Shore Limited.

P42 PAINT JOBS - GENERATION ONE - 1993-1996

Genesis P40/P42 series locomotives have had four styling generations. Only one unit (#82) has worn all four. As-delivered in 1996-1997, Amtrak's road numbers 1-100 (and #112-120 for Coast Starlight) were painted in 1G platinum mist, and carried traditional bicentennial striping. New York's dualmodes have recently been converted back to a variation of 1G (with modified trap-door noses for narrow-clearance New York City tunnels). Engine #145 still carries a variation of 1G bicentennial striping as a 50 year anniversary repaint.

GENERATION TWO 1997-1999

In 1995, a second generation "northeastern" 2G variant appeared with modified stripes. The platinum mist undercoat was still employed. It was originally just applied to a handful of New York dualmodes and dedicated northeast corridor P42's (#101-111). After 1997 the 2G scheme briefly spread to a few other P40 and P42's. In particular, surviving P40's were redone that way, as well as P42's in road number 1-28 group. The only new P42's to arrive in 2G straight from GE were #101-111 in 1997, #121 and #122 in 2000. The handful of New York dualmodes also wore it. Before being converted to a P42C, #182 had a throwback version of this livery. For 50th anniversary, #164 received G2 treatment and still wears it.

GENERATION THREE - 2000-2001

A third change took place when more new engines began arriving in 2000. This was 3G (millennium) and applied to road numbers 123-135 in 2000 and 136-168 in 2001. In 2001, minor mods took place at road number #169, when small Amtrak side logos disappeared, and a blue skirt band was narrowed. Originally delivered that way were road numbers 169-207. Amtrak has also employed some stickers, banners, and wraps over the years. 3G became the new fleet standard until 2024.

GENERATION FOUR - 2024

In January 2024 a 4th generation scheme was introduced on engine #174. Platinum mist has been dropped as the base color in favor of a dark blue. Amtrak generally rereshes paint at its Beech Grove, Indiana shop, averaging one unit per month. An even dozen showed up in new 4G refreshed scheme during 2024: #69, #75, #79, #82, #87, #125, #138, #154, #167, #174, #176, #187, and #196. In a surprise, #9700 (former #184) was also released as a cab car and painted 4G. A second one (former #177) appeared that way in January, 2025 (#9702). Tne most recent repaint was #154 in March, 2025.

March 2025. Update by 4rr.com - feedback "at" 4rr.com