page_title: Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system
section_title: Former converter and power stations
hierarchical_section_title: Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system / Former converter and power stations
caption_attribution_description: English: Waterside Generating Station, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1910. Operation ceased in 1978. (See Amtrak&#39;s 25 Hz traction power system.)
context_page_description: Amtrak's 25 Hz traction power system is a traction power grid operated by Amtrak along the southern portion of its Northeast Corridor: the 225 route miles between Washington, D.C. and New York City and the 104 route miles between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Railroad constructed it between 1915 and 1938. Amtrak inherited the system from Penn Central, the successor to Pennsylvania Railroad, in 1976 along with the Northeast Corridor. This is the reason for using 25 Hz, as opposed to 60 Hz – which is the standard for power transmission in North America. In addition to serving the NEC, the system provides power to New Jersey Transit Rail Operations, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Maryland Area Regional Commuter Train. Only about half of the system's electrical capacity is used by Amtrak. The remainder is sold to the commuter railroads who operate their trains along the corridor.
context_section_description: The majority of power sources in the original Pennsylvania Railroad electrification were built prior to 1940. Some have been retired out-right, others have been replaced with co-located static frequency converters, and others remain in service and will be refurbished and operated indefinitely. The following tables lists sources which are no longer in service.
caption: Waterside Power station in Manhattan, New York
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