EMD F59PH

GO Transit - The Operater that Started it all.

The EMD/GMDD F59PH Is a Passenger Locomotive Built in 1988 Firstly For GO Transit to Replace the F40PH's (Sold to Amtrak), The F59PH is basically a GP59 but is cowl-bodied. the Length of This is **58 feet, 2 inches ,** The Width being **10 feet, 3.5 inches,** and the train being powered by **Diesel.** the Word F59PH Means:

F = Full cowl, 59 = 59-series, P = Passenger, H = Head-end power

## History

In The year 1985, GO Transit (Also Known As Government of Ontario Transit) was looking for a new locomotive to Make its fleet Bigger, improve reliability and replace the oldest locomotives, which then were Near 20 years of age. They approached EMD who proposed a solution: modifying their GP59 design by adding a HEP engine and generator, a full-cowl body, a modified "Safety cab", and a higher-speed (but not "high speed) gearing, and thus the F59PH was born.

The F59PH was produced/Built from 1988 to 1994, with GO Transit taking all of the 72 built. The Numbers Ranges from 520 to 568 With 568 Being the last one Built in 1994.

## California F59PH's

Metrolink also Ending up Getting 23 units built from 1992 to 1993 with the numbers ranging from 851–873. They were Delivered in a White and Dark Blue Livery with The Metrolink Logo at the Front.

in 2009 and 2010, Units 851, 852, 856, 861, 868, 870, and 873 were rebuilt by MPI. This Added a lower-emission (Tier 2) engine, an upgraded cooling system, and was designated as the **F59PHR**. The R Standing for Rebuilt.

   in 2019, Units 853, 859, 867, 871 and 872 were sold off to the North Carolina Department of Transportation or NCDOT. For Service on the *Piedmont,* An 317 Mile (510 Km) Long Route Running From Charlotte to Morehead City In North Carolina Operated by Amtrak.

Even If Many units are still in storage and can not re-enter service unless converted to meet or exceed Tier 4 emission standards, 5 units are still in service for MOW and switching duties. They are also Used as back up engines in case of a shortage.

The Engines Still in Service are 852, 856, 861, 868, and 873.

## Service Cuts

Due to service cuts in the mid-90s, GO Transit retired and sold off a number of Locomotives and coaches. F59PH's 565-568 were sold to Trinity Railway Express (TRE) along with a number of early bilevel Coaches in July 1997, the Point being GO would receive a higher return by selling off the new locomotives.

    On Trinity Railway Express These 4 F59PH Would be Repainted into the TRE Livery and Got some minor work at Amtrak's Beech Grove shops before entering service, They Then Worked with ex GO Transit Bilevel Coaches And Cab Cars.

In 2009 and 2010, 565 to 568 Went Under refurbishment at Norfolk Southern's Juniata shops and Renumbered to 123 - 126 To Match with 3 Other F59PH's (120-122). They Were Ex GO Transit Units 525, 527 and 528.

All of the ex GO F59PH's Also Retained There K5LA's.

## Troublesome Failures & Retirement

Since having been rebuilt twice (and Having upgraded HEP engines and generators), the F59 Units were becoming trouble, with Many failures needing a second unit being added to all weekend trains. The first order of units (520-535) were retired and sold off by April 2009, once all of the first order of The New MPI MP40PH-3Cs (600-626) were in service. The second F59PH and third Orders were retired when MP40 units 627-656 were delivered.

## More Life on GO Transit & Others

Plans to rebuild some of the Remaining units again were Pulled in 2010. By early 2011, #558 and #559 returned to service after an overhaul and repaint; all units from 557 to 564 were Later rebuilt for continued service, with the remaining units scattered below 557 retired and sold. in Total Six F59's Being 536, 537, 538, 539, 540, and 554 has been Scrapped by CAD Railway Industries

### Moving Across to Qecbec

In 2011, AMT Purchased 10 GO Transit F59PH's, 543-545, 548-550, 552, 553, 555, and 556, Being Transferred on CN Freight Trains. They Were Then Renumbered 1340-1349. Two units 1341 and 1342 (Ex 544 & 545) were placed into service immediately When Arrived in their former GO livery, 1344 and 1345 were first repainted into a plain silver base, with 1341 and 1342 Following Shortly After. The last 6 units were sent to Brookville for a full refurbishment, returning in 2013; the four in-service locomotives then followed.

In 2017 The Logo was Changed to EXO as they Ended up succeeding the AMT.

In 2022, EXO Ordered Siemens Charger locomotives to replace The Older F59PH locomotive's.

Today, These F59PH's Continue to be In Canada as they Never Got out of It Being Sold off By 2011 to a Company in Montreal Quebec.

### F59PH's On NCDOT

in 2010, F59's 529, 534, 535 and 540 Were Bought From RB Leasing, They were Then refurbished and assigned to the *Piedmont* route. Renumbered to 1810, 1859, 1869, 1871, 1893, and 1984.

Later in 2013, F59PH Units 18521, 18536, 18541, 18542, and 18546 (Nee 521, 536, 541, 542 & 546 on GO) were purchased from RB Leasing by NCDOT, Though After Being Unused for a Number Years, the Units went Under a Rebuild Turning Them in Non-Powered Control Units (NPCU) The Rebuild Removed the prime mover, traction motors, and HEP generator. This Allowed Them to Have a second point of control Along with Push-Pull Operations. They Were Renumbered 101-105.

### West Coast Express F59PH

GO Transit #533 Is a First Order (520-535) 1988 F59PH, It served Many trains with BBL Coaches & Series II, III, & IV Cab Cars Up to 2009 Where it was Retired & Sold to RB Leasing, it Was then Renumbered To #18533 & Repainted in Michigan DOT scheme for leasing to a commuter operation serving Detroit that Didn't even get off the ground. It was also leased to AMT (Now EXO) still in Michigan DOT scheme.

In July 2013, 18533 was Leased to Metrolink along with other Ex GO F59PH's for pulling trains.

In March 2021, West Coast Express purchased 18533 As a Extra unit to maintain capacity during the refurbishment of the existing locomotives the The F59PHI and the MP36. Refurbishment was Worked on by ProgressRail in early 2022 with work completed by March 2023.

The Horn was changed to a K5CA-LS And the bell was changed to a E-Bell the Engine was also renumbered to 907 and Put in the WCE Livery.

On June 16, 2023, the locomotive was Seen in a press conference at Waterfront Station as part of an announcement of restoring full West Coast Express service Starting the following Monday, June 19, which would also mark the same day unit 907 would enter service. Maintenance for this is done by Via Rail Canada and operations by Bombardier Transportation.

Today, 907 (Ex RB 18553 & GO 533) is back in Canada (in Vancouver and not Ontario) Pulling Bilevel Coaches Once Again.:

## Trivia & Facts

AMT 1341 & 1342 Are Ex GO 544 & 545 and were placed into service immediately upon arrival, in their former GO livery. 1344 and 1345 were first repainted into a plain silver base before entering service, with 1341-1342 also being repainted shortly thereafter. The remaining 6 units were sent to Brookville for a full refurbishment, returning in 2013; the four in-service locomotives then followed.

GO F59PH Units 557-564 were Rebuilt/refurbished during late September 2011 for continued service.

On July 24th 2022, A F59PH Was spotted on a Double Header with MP40PH-3C 616 On the Niagara Express, it was only on the train for 2 days then taken off.

In Late July 2022, a F59PH Double header with 12 Coaches was placed on the Niagara Express. The train Had F59's 561 & 563 and the Cab Car Was #309. Railfans Started Freaking out and started Trying to see it as it would only go on for 2 days. though The next weekends had the train too.

All the F59 Sets on the Double Header: 563+561, 562+557, 563+560, 558+562, 563+560 (A) 564+562, 564+558, 564+561, 564+563, 561+564 (RO564+561) 561+557, 562+5?? 561+558, 557+559, 560+5??. (A = Again and RO = Revere of.

1. ↑ GO Transit Cab Cars 223 and 224 Were Sold to TRE and Became 1000 and 1001.