CSX M648 heads north under stormy skies with West Coast Express 903, a F59PHI engine as their 3rd unit dead in tow, at Mortons Gap, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on May 12th, 2023. From the looks of the engine, it is fresh out of the shops somewhere down south and is on its way back north to Canada. According to CPTDB Wiki, it is one of several GMDD F59PHI locomotives owned by TransLink for use on the West Coast Express in Canada. During the procurement process for these locomotives in 1994, three locomotive manufacturers entered the bid to supply six locomotives: General Motors, MK Rail, and AMF Technotransport Inc. GM was initially eliminated as it was the most expensive option and MK Rail was to be the manufacturer, as recommended by transit staff. The contract was valued at $11.2 million and would've been six rebuilt engines costing $1.86 million each. However, BC Transit overruled the staff decision and went with General Motors, despite being the most expensive option. The contract given to GM was revised to five locomotives instead of six, valued at $16.5 million. According to masstransit.com 903 is one of Seven locomotives on the West Coast Express that will be refurbished under a project to be paid for by the governments of Canada, British Columbia and TransLink. The Metro Vancouver commuter rail service has been in service since 1995 and sees more than 2.6 million boardings annually. The project includes refurbishing the engines of six of the seven locomotives to extend their lifespan by 15 years. In addition, all head end power units, which provide heat and lighting to the passenger cars, will be replaced to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and allow operation of longer trains. The locomotives will be refurbished one at a time to ensure there is no disruption in service. Once work is complete, each locomotive will be tested, commissioned, and returned to service before work starts on the next locomotive. Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 190. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #PALtrains #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #kentuckytrains #WestCoastExpress

M648 moves West Coast Express 903 north through Mortons Gap, Ky

CSX M648 heads north under stormy skies with West Coast Express 903, a F59PHI engine as their 3rd unit dead in tow, at Mortons Gap, Kentucky on the Henderson Subdivision on May 12th, 2023. From the looks of the engine, it is fresh out of the shops somewhere down south and is on its way back north to Canada.

According to masstransit.com 903 is one of Seven locomotives on the West Coast Express that will be refurbished under a project to be paid for by the governments of Canada, British Columbia and TransLink. The Metro Vancouver commuter rail service has been in service since 1995 and sees more than 2.6 million boardings annually.

The project includes refurbishing the engines of six of the seven locomotives to extend their lifespan by 15 years. In addition, all head end power units, which provide heat and lighting to the passenger cars, will be replaced to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and allow operation of longer trains.

The locomotives will be refurbished one at a time to ensure there is no disruption in service. Once work is complete, each locomotive will be tested, commissioned, and returned to service before work starts on the next locomotive.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone, RAW, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/1000, ISO 190.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #jimpearsonphotography #PALtrains #mavic3classic #drones #trainsfromtheair #trainsfromadrone #kentuckytrains #WestCoastExpress