Locomotive, Diesel, MPI MP36

History: MPXpress is a series of diesel-electric passenger train locomotives designed for commuter rail service.

The MP36PH-3S uses a 16-cylinder EMD 645F3B diesel engine as its prime mover, capable of generating 3,600 hp. Head-end power (HEP) is generated by a static inverter that receives its power through connections to the prime mover (hence the "S" (static) designation). Compared to a locomotive with a separate HEP generator, the prime mover must constantly maintain a higher RPM in order to supply power to the passenger cars. The setup is simpler but leads to higher noise levels and higher fuel consumption.

When providing the maximum 500 kW HEP load, maximum traction power is reduced to 2,930 hp since HEP generation diverts some power from the prime mover. The MP36PH-3S was the first variety of MPXpress locomotive to be built and the launch customer was Metra, a commuter railroad in the Chicago area. Metra ordered 27 of these locomotives in 2001, which were built and delivered between 2003 and 2004. Fourteen were to replace the railroad's aged F40C fleet, while the rest were for fleet expansion. Metra is currently the only operator of the MP36PH-3S variant of the MPXpress.

From Wikipedia

Railroad/Company: MotivePower, Inc. (MPI) is an American manufacturer of diesel-electric locomotives. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wabtec Corporation, and traces its history back to the MK Rail division of Morrison-Knudsen. .

Morrison-Knudsen established a separate rail division, MK Rail, in 1972. Morrison-Knudsen spun-off the division in 1993; it became a publicly traded company in 1994. After Morrison-Knudsen's bankruptcy in 1996, MK Rail renamed itself MotivePower Industries, doing business as Boise Locomotive. The company merged with Westinghouse Air Brake Company in 1999 to form the Wabtec Corporation. Wabtec renamed the Boise Locomotive division to MotivePower in 2000. MotivePower continues as a wholly owned subsidiary of Wabtec.

From Wikipedia