Farewell to the Amtrak P42s 

nice

sorry for your dad injury, hope he recovered

Well, some local commuter railroads still use them, if that’s any consolation.

The real railroad's are long gone. My father was raised in Ashtabula Ohio. Grandpa was a judge and knew most folks around town. A neighbor was in administration for the New York Central. The first generation diesels had character. Every train had a caboose. Vermin hadn't begun the rampant vandalization of railcars and railroad property. Passenger trains had unique names and interesting histories involving heroes returning from war, actors, athletes, and true dignitaries. I accompanied my dad, grandfather, and our grandparents neighbor Joe,on his rounds several times. Was permitted, with help from the signalman, to pull the big Armstrong levers in the interlocking towers. The fast through trains on the water level route, sometimes with a lash-up of twin engined E units would rattle the windows. The ore and coal trains crossing the diamonds going to and coming from the harbor shook the ground. Dad had worked in the car shops before going off to college. There were two roundhouses right down the street from grandma's and grandpa's. I got to turn Geeps and F units on the wye, and rode locos and cabooses on locals. There were emds, ges, alcos, baldwins, etc.The different prime movers all had unique rumbles. Before they built the overpasses it was a railfans delight and a commuters nightmare. So many grade crossings in town. Then, with the interstate highways the trucks started taking the freight and the branch lines closed and were torn out one by one. Freight and passenger stations closed and were torn down. Commie rail came and went, and amtrak took over the more lucrative routes -- that still don't make any money. Unfortunately, amtrak has been a money pit since it's inception in '71. It should be privatized or shut down. The city petitioned amtrak for a station stop in town. Never happened. Csx wouldnt maintain the once regal station, wouldn't sell it, and it fell into disrepair and was recently demolished. It's all about the almighty buck. Now all the locos look roughly the same, trains have eot's/fred's, and vandalized railcars spray painted with funk look like they've all left the sewage pits of the big city slums. Locos in the big crime ridden cities all have protective grates and screens over their cab windows and misfortunate freight's boxcars and conex containers are ravaged by vermin in the yards --- often riding the rails with their doors open and cargo pillaged. I remember the early auto racks with no sides, tops, or end doors. The relatively small number of pukes in society who vandalize and steal made it necessary for the shippers and railroad's to spend money and add weight to attempt to prevent losses. What few cabooses that are left, whether for mow or shoving platforms either have steel screened windows or have steel plates welded over them. Don't know what happened to integrity, principals, and respect. Society has changed in many respects, but I can't say that they've been positive overall. The passenger and priority freight's of years gone by achieved timetable accuracy such that one could set their watch by them. You could tell who was commanding which locomotive by the distinct melodic tones of the whistles and horns. Speeds achieved on jointed rail exceeded what they can do now on welded rail. amtraks 'in time performance' stats are abysmal. The gooberment keeps breathing down the necks of the class ones, insisting on priority right of way, the class ones want to trim crews and reduce overhead. If they have their way trains will have a one man crew or even run autonomously with the ptc that is now along the routes. They run longer dpu assisted consists that don't fit into the sidings-- basically giving the giooberment the middle finger regarding priority for passengers. Ahh, the magical world of railroa--dung behind the scenes. And the brains of amtrak, spending money freely that they've never earned, run 5 car consists (passenger or ballast mow) with locos both ON LINE, gulping diesel that we taxpayers are providing. It's easy to spend other's money. Anyway -- I enjoy the videos. We regularly stop by tracks in Ashtabula, Kingsville, Conneaut, by our lake place in Port Clinton, where friends live in Marion, and other favorites when we're out and about -- Bellevue, Greenwich, Willard, Fostoria, Medina, Mansfield, and coldumpus. Always rather be out in person, but train watching from my recliner with the refrigerator and bathroom close is great for soon to be seniors

i grew up with them

Same here. Via Rail runs them too.

Lot of locos have been extinct. We must just deal with it.

Didn't expect Mike to comment this late at night.

Thanks so much for the kind words, Mike. Most of this footage has been stuck in the vault for years. The original plan was to produce an actual documentary about the Michigan Line. Unfortunately, after moving to Tennessee, I realized that making such a project a reality while living 9.5hrs away was a nearly impossible endeavor. Earlier this year, I decided I would let the footage see the light of day. So much has changed on the Amtrak Michigan Line since then… Including the P42s being phased out, the old signals being replaced, NS dispatchers being replaced with AMTK personnel in Chicago, and the lack of interesting freight trains. That said, I’m glad I was able to document much of those things before it went away. Thanks so much for watching. It really means a lot to know you enjoy what I do. -Drayton

Locomotoras preciosas,,, toda una belleza.!!

whoop of what? i can't think of anything

@@mistzy8435 I'm assuming it's the sound of the air compressor starting.

Adore chargers!!!! you on something bro

@mistzy8435 you can hear it at 7:24

Hopefully Mabye some commuter roads will purchase then and extend their life like the f40s

@@tristontherailfan I’m betting Metra is buying em

@@jonathanaina7754 but only to stick batteries in them because that’s totally the correct solution.

@@jonathanaina7754 I think metra only buys ends

*emds

Me too😢😢😢

They. had their time and I'm sure a few will be preserved

As a. retired AMT engineer, good riddance.

I agree because I hope any of the P42 Diesels will be preserved and perform freight work. #FreightP42s

I have a hard time believing Amtrak is going to retire their freshly painted 50th anniversary p42s soon

@@Traincraft101 not just a repaint. They also got an overhaul.

Thank you so much.

1993 to 2022 actually

@@lebronechilds3512 Oh, thanks.

That's what that is?

I won't film the builder unless there's chargers on them, I've seen enough p42s with ugly phase V to last a lifetime.

@@IronHorsefan1869 It was my first time on amtrak, I was glad I got to ride the p42 once, I liked it it was slow and I got to take in all the scenery

@@supericeman1 Ok, I've ridden behind them plenty of times but I'm ready for something new

@@IronHorsefan1869 riding on the empire builder pulled by 2 p42s originally 33 hours but with a 6.5 hour delay from fargo to seattle was sure something, 40mph in montana in the afternoon because of hot tracks 100 degrees and that night 20 mph cuz of a 65mph windstorm we got compensated with free snacks water and a free lunch, beef stew and rice

I hope any of the P42 Diesels will be preserved and perform freight work. #FreightP42s

I hope the Pepsi unit #160 Midnight blue #100 Get preserved

@@DVR01 They look more like freight units anyway

Hey the ALC-42s are much prettier than the P42s

@@IndustrialParrot2816 eh I disagree but it’s fine if you like the ALC-42 but there were/are uglier engines out there.

Why didn't you transfer to n.c dot didn't they have the 59 locomotive?

@@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164 We at AMT have national seniority, so I went from zone 12 (LA) to zone 5 (Wash DC) and ran VRE trains with old, but goodies, GP40's and loved it.

No one at Amtrak will agree with that statement. Ask any engineer about the Chargers. They’ll tell you those units are awful in comparison to the P42s.

I hope any of the P42 Diesels will be preserved and perform freight work. #FreightP42s

I am kind of guilty of that myself, LOL. While I never really hated the P42's, I had, and still do have a soft spot for the ole F40PH. To me, those will always be the classic "Face of Amtrak". But yes, the P42's did grow on me, and I do like them. All the same, I actually do like the new Chargers as well. I will miss the P42's, just as I miss the F40PH, but I think the Chargers are the going to make decent replacements.