EMD F59PH

The EMD F59PH is a four-axle 3,000 hp (2 MW) B-B diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division from 1988 to 1994. A variant, the F59PHI, was produced from 1994 to 2001. The F59PH was originally built for GO Transit commuter operation in the Toronto region. Metrolink in Southern California also purchased a fleet for its 1992 launch. The streamlined F59PHI was designed for Amtrak California intercity service. A total of 72 F59PH and 83 F59PHI locomotives were built.

EMD F59PH and F59PHI
Top: F59PH operated by Amtrak on the Piedmont Bottom: F59PHI operated by Amtrak on the Capitol Corridor
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Electro-Motive Division (EMD) Build date F59PH: 1988–1994 F59PHI: 1994–2001 Total produced F59PH: 72 F59PHI: 83[1]
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo'Bo' Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Length F59PH: 58 ft 2 in (17.73 m) F59PHI: 58 ft 7 in (17.86 m)[2] Prime mover F59PH: EMD 12-710G3A[3] F59PHI: EMD 12-710G3C-EC[4] Cylinders 12
Performance figures Maximum speed F59PHI: 110 mph (177 km/h)[4] Power output F59PH: 3,000 hp (2.24 MW) F59PHI: 3,200 hp (2.4 MW)
Career Locale Canada, United States

F59PH

Between May 1988 and May 1994, 72 F59PH locomotives were built for two commuter transit railroads: GO Transit of Toronto and Metrolink of Los Angeles.^[1] Based on the GP59, the locomotives had a turbocharged EMD 12-710G3A, a 12-cylinder, two-stroke Diesel engine (prime mover).^[5] Head end power was supplied by a separate diesel generator.^[6]

GO Transit began retiring its F59PH locomotives in 2008 in favor of newer MPI MPXpress locomotives.^[5] Most were purchased by other operators including Exo (10 locomotives),^[7] Metra (3),^[8][9] NCDOT (11) for use on the Piedmont,^[10][11] and Trinity Railway Express (7).^[12] Five of the NCDOT units were rebuilt into cab control units without prime movers.^[13]

Seven Metrolink units were rebuilt as F59PHR. The non-rebuilt Metrolink locomotives were retired by 2020.^[14] Five of those were purchased by NCDOT in 2018.^[15]

Original owners

Owner	Number	Year built	Unit numbers	Refs
GO Transit	49	1988–1994	520–568	[1]
Metrolink	23	1992–1993	851–873	[14]

F59PHI

The F59PHI is a variant with a fully enclosed streamlined carbody. The first nine units were purchased by Caltrans for use on Amtrak California services and entered service in 1994.^[16] Like the F59PH, the F59PHI is equipped with a secondary electrical generator – rated between 500 and 750 kW (670 and 1,010 hp) – for HEP.^[17] A total of 83 locomotives were built, most for commuter rail and Amtrak corridor services on the West Coast.^[18]

Two F59PHI locomotives were built in 1995 for Philip Morris Companies to haul the Marlboro Unlimited, a custom built luxury train to carry winners of a Philip Morris sweepstakes around the country. After Philip Morris cancelled the train, the units were stored before being sold to Metrolink in 1998.^[19][20]

Some units are still in service with the original owners, while others have been retired. The 21 ex-Amtrak units were sold to Metra in 2018.^[21]

Original owners

Owner	Number	Year built	Unit numbers	Refs
Amtrak (for Pacific Surfliner and Cascades)	21	1998	450–470	[21][4][22]
Caltrans (for San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor)	9	1994	2001–2009	[22][23]
	6	2001	2010–2015
Exo	11	2000–2001	1320–1330	[18]
Metrolink	10	1995	874–883	[14][19][20]
	4	2001	884–887
NCDOT (for Piedmont)	2	1998	1755, 1797	[18][24]
North County Transit District (Coaster)	2	2001	3001–3002	[25][26]
Sound Transit (Sounder Commuter Rail)	11	1998–2001	901–911	[27]
Trinity Railway Express	2	2001	569–570	[12]
West Coast Express	5	1995	901–905	[28][29]