MPI MPxpress

The **MPI MPXpress** is a line of diesel-electric locomotives built by MotivePower (a subsidiary of Wabtec) for commuter rail service, where it all started in 2003 with Metra Ordering 27 MP36PH-3S's. These MPI Locomotives Should Have their own Wiki so not That Much Info is On This Page.

The Operator's of them are Northstar Line, MBTA, Metrolink, Sunrail, GO Transit, MARC, Caltrain, Sounder, West Coast Express, Virginia Railway Express, Frontrunner, New Mexico Rail Runner Express, And Metra.

## MP36PH-3S

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 Witch were Ex Milwaukee Railroad Units, while the rest were for fleet expansion. Until 2021, when the 3S variants were converted to 3C's, Metra was the only remaining operator of the MP36PH-3S variant of the MPXpress.

### Problems & Many Out of Service Locomotives

When the locomotives were first delivered, the onboard computer systems proved problematic. At one point in 2004, because Metra had so many MPXpress locomotives out of service, two F40Cs had to be placed back into service for a short time.

### Converting into a MP36PH-3C Specification

Starting in 2015, Metra began converting its MP36PH-3S locomotives to the MP36PH-3C specification by removing the static inverter and replacing it with a separate HEP generator. Metra's MP36PH-3C locomotives all have extended radiators to supply the extra cooling for the new Caterpillar generators. Locomotive No. 417 was the first one to be converted and was sent to MPI in Boise. The rest were rebuilt at Metra's 47th Street shops on the South Side of Chicago.

## MP36PH-3C

The launch customer for the MP36PH-3C was Caltrain,  a commuter railroad in the San Francisco Bay Area. Caltrain ordered 6 of these locomotives in 2003, which were built and delivered that same year. This locomotive has gone on to become the most popular MPXpress variant, with 100 delivered to nine different customers.

### The Canadian MP36PH-3C

In 1994 West Coast Express ordered 6 F59PHI's, but was dropped to five after General Motors was chosen to manufacture the locomotives.

However, a mudslide in January 1999 resulted in damages to a locomotive and raised concerns on the lack of a spare in the fleet as the service often relied on Via Rail And CP Rail locomotives, which have resulted in passenger complaints, especially when a CP Rail locomotive was used as they were louder.

The procurement of a spare locomotive was raised again in May 2005 when the TransLink board voted on spending $5.12 million to buy the sixth locomotive. When it was raised, TransLink was leasing various Sound Transit locomotives on a month-to-month basis, Furthermore, Sound Transit wanted their locomotive back. The procurement of a sixth locomotive was approved on May 24.

## MP40PH-3C

The launch customer for the MP40PH-3C was GO Transit , a commuter railroad in the Toronto area. The MP40PH-3C was developed in response to a request from GO Transit for locomotives capable of generating 4,000 hp, hauling 12 passenger cars and traveling at speeds up to 93 mph (150 km/h). GO Transit placed an order for 27 locomotives in 2006, which were built and delivered between 2007 and 2008.

Sounder also Got their Own MP40PH-3C's.

## MP54AC

In 2011 GO Sent #647 Back to MPI To remove the EMD prime mover and HEP motor and replaced them with the twin Cummins engines, Unit 647  was delivered to GO Transit late 2015 and was seen under testing on December 12, 2015, They Wanted to convert a total of ten MP40PH-3Cs but they Instead Ordered 27 MP54AC's In 2017.

## MP32PH-Q

The MP32PH-Q was built from 2013 to 2014 for SunRail. They have similar specifications as new MPXpress locomotives, but are rebuilt and refurbished from units that had previously operated on MARC as GP40WH-2 locomotives. the MP32PH-Q retains the hood unit layout of the former GP40WH-2, but a new four-window MPXpress cab replaces the original cab.

## Horns On the Engines

GO Transit's MP40PH And MP54AC And West Coast Express's MP36PH Come Equipped with the K5CA-LS Horn A Mandated Canadian Passenger Train Horn.

Sunrail Uses The P5 Horn, Though they are in A Box.

Metra's Units Have A P5 Horn or A K5LA

Sounder Uses the K5CA-LS Horn

VRE, MARC, Frontrunner, MBTA and Northstar Uses the K5LA.

Caltrain And Metrolink Use The P2 Horn.

## Locomotive Company's and Fleet Numbers (WIP)

1. ↑ The MP36PH-3C has the same EMD 645F3B prime mover as the MP36PH-3S model, but with a separate head-end power generator, a Caterpillar C-27.
2. ↑ The Only MP36PH-3C In Canada.
3. ↑ GO Transit Has the Most MPxpress Units with 93
4. ↑ 647 Haven't Been used since August 2022 and was reportedly a very crappy runner.
5. ↑ The Horns on Sunrail Are Quiet, As they don't even sound like a REAL P5
6. ↑ These Horns Are NOT Mandated in the US