View source for ABB ALP-44

{{Short description|Swedish/US electric locomotive class}}
{{More citations needed|article|date=January 2009}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = ALP44-O / ALP44-E / ALP44-M
| powertype = Electric
| image = Alp44m4424.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = ALP-44M No. 4424 preserved at the [[United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey]] in Boonton, NJ.
| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg}}
| aarwheels = [[AAR wheel arrangement#B-B|B-B]]
| uicclass = Bo'Bo'
| builder = [[ABB]]
| buildmodel = [[SJ Rc]]/[[EMD AEM-7|AEM-7]]
| builddate = 1989 &ndash; 1997
| operator = [[New Jersey Transit rail operations|New Jersey Transit]]<br />[[SEPTA Regional Rail|SEPTA]]
| fleetnumbers = NJT: 4400 &ndash; 4431<br />SEPTA: 2308
| totalproduction = 33
| poweroutput = Max: {{cvt|7000|hp|kW|lk=in|sigfig=4}}<br />Continuous: {{cvt|4320|kW|hp|lk=in|sigfig=4}}<ref name="om" /><ref name="hem">{{Cite web|url=http://hem.passagen.se/plf66/typer-exp/typer-export-alp44.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010218070341/http://hem.passagen.se/plf66/typer-exp/typer-export-alp44.html|archive-date=2001-02-18|url-status=usurped|title=Passagen - Online sedan 1995 - Jämför försäkringar, lån och elavtal}}</ref>
| t/e starting = {{cvt|51500|lbf|kN|lk=in}}<ref name="om">{{cite book |date=November 1990 |title=ALP-44 Locomotive Operating Instructions |publisher=NJ Transit |author=ABB Traction |url=https://archive.org/details/nj-transit-abb-alp-44-locomotive-operating-instructions-rev.-0-november-1990/page/n183/mode/1up |access-date=May 22, 2023 |id=A003OPM}}</ref>
| maxspeed = {{cvt|125|mph|km/h|0}}
| collectionmethod = [[Pantograph (transport)|Pantographs]] from [[Overhead line|catenary]]
| electricsystem = {{nowrap|[[Amtrak's 25&nbsp;Hz traction power system|12 kV 25 Hz]]}} [[Alternating current|AC]]<br />{{nowrap|[[25 kV AC railway electrification#12.5 kV AC at 60 Hz|12.5 kV 60 Hz AC]]}}<br />{{nowrap|[[25 kV AC railway electrification#25 kV AC at 60 Hz|25 kV 60 Hz AC]]}}
| locobrakes = [[Dynamic braking|Dynamic]], [[Railway air brake|ALP-44O/E WABCO 30E-CDW, ALP-44M WABCO EPIC 3102]]
| trainbrakes = Direct Release air brakes
| firstrundate = 1990 (NJT)<br />1997 (SEPTA)
| lastrundate = 2012 (NJT)<br />2018 (SEPTA)
| preservedunits = NJT ALP-44M 4424
| disposition = One NJT unit preserved, SEPTA unit scrapped, remainder NJT units stored.
| tractionmotors = 4 × ABB LJH 108-8 (ALP-44O, E, S) 4 x ABB LJH 108-9 (ALP-44M)
| t/m amps cont = 1290 [[Ampere]]s
| gear ratio = 85:36
| driverdiameter = {{cvt|51.2|in}}
| locoweight = {{cvt|207,000|lbs}}
| height = {{cvt|14|ft|8+1/2|in}} (locked down pantograph)<br />{{cvt|15|ft|6+1/2|in}} (fully extended pantograph, nominal)
| width = {{cvt|10|ft}} (over body)<br />{{cvt|10|ft|5+9/16|in}} (over handrails)
| over couplers = {{cvt|51|ft|1+25/32|in}}
| truck = {{cvt|9|ft|0+11/16|in}}
| safety = [[Pulse Code Cab Signaling|Cab signals]] with [[Automatic Train Control]]
}}

The '''ABB ALP-44''' was an [[electric locomotive]] which was built by [[Asea Brown Boveri]] of [[Sweden]] between 1989 and 1997 for the [[NJ Transit Rail Operations|New Jersey Transit]] and [[SEPTA Regional Rail|SEPTA]] railway lines.

==Service==
===New Jersey Transit===
[[New Jersey Transit]] acquired 32 ALP-44s for use on its electric railway lines. The first fifteen, numbered 4400–4414 and designated '''ALP-44O''' (Original), were delivered in 1990 (prototypes 4400 and 4401 in late 1989). Five additional units, numbered 4415–4419 and designated '''ALP-44E''' (Extended), were delivered in 1995. The final 12 locomotives, numbered 4420–4431 and designated '''ALP-44M''' (Microprocessor), were delivered in 1996<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.njtransit.com/AdminTemp/njt_commuter_rail_fleet2014.pdf|title = Commuter Rail Fleet Strategy 2014-2020|date = 2014|access-date =August 12, 2016|publisher = [[New Jersey Transit]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210230/https://www.njtransit.com/AdminTemp/njt_commuter_rail_fleet2014.pdf |archivedate=January 3, 2019}}</ref>{{rp|45}} for the new [[Midtown Direct]] service.

NJT's ALP-44s were to be overhauled for a cost of $2 million during a two-year period by Philadelphia-based [[Interfleet Technology]]. A car builder had not yet been selected to carry out the overhaul.<ref>[http://www.railwayage.com/brnewspro/arc7-2008.html August 29 2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024080547/http://www.railwayage.com/brnewspro/arc7-2008.html |date=October 24, 2009 }}</ref> However, by June 2009, NJT decided that it would be more efficient (economically and physically) to replace the ALP-44s rather than overhaul them, and exercised an option of 9 additional [[ALP-46|ALP-46A]]'s to enable the replacement to take place.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=PressReleaseTo&PRESS_RELEASE_ID=2518 |title=NJ TRANSIT APPROVES PURCHASE OF NEW ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES |access-date=2023-05-15 |date=2009-06-10 |work=[[NJ Transit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316142135/http://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=PressReleaseTo&PRESS_RELEASE_ID=2518 |archive-date=2018-03-16}}</ref>

By late 2011, all NJ Transit ALP-44 O, E, and M locomotives had been retired, having been replaced by the ALP-46 and ALP-46A locomotives. The exceptions were units 4405, 4407, and 4409, which were assigned to the [[Atlantic City Express Service]] (ACES); however, these remaining units were also placed into retirement with the cancellation of ACES service in early 2012. Units 4402, 4403, 4408, and 4410 were leased by [[Amtrak]] for work train service through the Hudson River tunnels for a period of time during summer 2011, but were returned.

During 2012, most NJ Transit ALP-44s were prepared for storage in groups of at most five at a time. This work included the removal of pantographs and having the cab windows covered with steel plating. These units were then moved to Port Morris Yard and the [[Lackawanna Cut-Off]] stub track for storage in [[Stanhope, New Jersey]], where they are now stored.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ns3010.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx?id=78581 |title=Archived copy |website=ns3010.rrpicturearchives.net |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704012542/http://ns3010.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx?id=78581 |archive-date=4 July 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NJ.com |first=Larry Higgs {{!}} NJ Advance Media for |date=2021-10-02 |title=NJ Transit junked its equipment sooner than it planned. Now it has to settle up with the feds. |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2021/10/nj-transit-junked-its-equipment-sooner-than-it-should-have-now-its-on-the-hook-for-245m.html |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=nj |language=en}}</ref> Four ALP-44M units numbered 4421, 4424, 4429, and 4430, remained stored at the Meadowlands Maintenance Complex; in July 2023, one of the units (4424) was donated by NJ Transit to the [[United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey]] (URHS) in Boonton, NJ.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Franz |first=Justin |date=2023-07-03 |title=NJ Transit Donates ALP-44 to URHS |url=https://railfan.com/nj-transit-donates-alp-44-to-urhs/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=Railfan & Railroad Magazine |language=en-CA}}</ref>

===SEPTA===
[[SEPTA]] received a single ALP-44S unit, #2308, from ABB, which was part of a damages settlement for a lawsuit stemming from the late delivery of N5 cars for the [[Norristown High Speed Line]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=SEPTA at 30 |author=Yough, Patrick J. |journal=Railfan & Railroad |date=April 2013 |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=42}}</ref> It was replaced, along with the [[EMD AEM-7|AEM-7s]], with the [[Siemens ACS-64|ACS-64]] in October 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.septa.org/events/aem7-farewell.html |title=Farewell to the SEPTA AEM-7 Locomotives |website=SEPTA |access-date=December 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813215822/http://www.septa.org/events/aem7-farewell.html |archive-date=August 13, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/11/11/septa-locomotives/ |title=SEPTA Is Buying 13 New Locomotives for $113 Million |last=Dan |first=McQuade |date=November 11, 2015 |work=Philadelphia Magazine |access-date=December 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=SEPTA FLEET UPGRADES|date=September 5, 2018|url=http://www.septa.org/service/rail/improvement/upgrades.html|access-date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231183347/http://www.septa.org/service/rail/improvement/upgrades.html |archive-date=December 31, 2016}}</ref> with a farewell trip on December 1, 2018.

After the farewell, 2308, as well as seven [[EMD AEM-7|AEM-7's]], were leased to [[NJ Transit Rail Operations|NJ Transit]] to help alleviate a locomotive shortage due to [[positive train control]] installation on their locomotives. However, they were never used for New Jersey Transit and returned to SEPTA in May 2019. The AEM-7s and the ALP-44 were eventually reassigned to SEPTA work service until 2021. In February 2022, the AEM-7s and ALP-44 were withdrawn and sold off.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://railfan.com/end-of-the-line-septa-aem-7s-being-sold-for-scrap/ | title=End of the Line: SEPTA AEM-7s Being Sold for Scrap | date=February 2022 }}</ref> As of late 2022, all AEM-7s and the ALP-44 have been scrapped.

==Specifications==
The ALP-44 was based on the [[SJ Rc|Rc6]] model and designed specifically for New Jersey Transit as a variant of the [[EMD AEM-7]] electric locomotive, used by [[Amtrak]] (until June 2016), [[MARC Train|MARC]] (until April 2017), and [[SEPTA]] (until December 2018). ALP-44 stands for ASEA Locomotive Passenger 4-Axle 4.32 MW. The ALP-44 is powered by [[overhead lines]] through one of the locomotive's two [[Pantograph (rail)|pantographs]] and can produce up to 7000&nbsp;hp (5.2 MW) with a top speed of up to 125&nbsp;mph (201&nbsp;km/h). In commercial use, however, both New Jersey Transit and SEPTA ALP-44s were only cleared for speeds up to 100&nbsp;mph (161&nbsp;km/h).

===ALP-44M===
The ALP-44M is a variant of the original ALP-44 design. It includes microprocessor control for functions such as braking and the then new EPIC brake control stand. These locomotives were notorious for their faulty software, which frequently caused problems and kept them out of service for maintenance.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200">
File:NJT ALP-44.jpg|NJT ALP-44O #4408
File:NJ Transit EWR.jpg|NJT ALP-44E #4416
File:NJ Transit ABB ALP-44M 4430.jpg|NJT ALP-44M #4430
File:SEPTA ALP44 2308.jpg|SEPTA ALP-44S #2308
File:Lackawanna Cut-Off - storage of rolling stock Apr 3 2013 at Port Morris.jpg|Retired ALP-44 locomotives and [[Arrow (railcar)|Arrow]] railcars stored on the [[Lackawanna Cut-Off|Lackawanna Cut Off]].
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[EMD AEM-7]] — A similar locomotive used by Amtrak, MARC and SEPTA

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://archive.org/details/nj-transit-abb-alp-44-locomotive-operating-instructions-rev.-0-november-1990 NJ Transit – ABB ALP-44 Locomotive Operating Instructions (Rev. 0, November 1990)]
* [https://www.njtransit.com/ New Jersey Transit]
* [https://www.septa.org/ SEPTA]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060312193548/http://www.hobokenterminal.com/locomotiveroster.html Unofficial NJT locomotive roster]
{{New Jersey Transit Rail}}
{{SEPTA rolling stock timeline}}
{{ASEA Export Electric Locomotives}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abb Alp-44}}
[[Category:NJ Transit Rail Operations]]
[[Category:SEPTA Regional Rail]]
[[Category:11 kV AC locomotives]]
[[Category:Passenger locomotives]]
[[Category:Electric locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1990]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:ABB locomotives]]