EMD AEM-7

EMD AEM-7
Silver, red, white, and blue locomotive in the snow
Amtrak AEM-7 No. 943 with a Metroliner at Seabrook, Maryland, in 1987
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderGeneral Motors Electro-Motive Division ASEA
ModelSJ Rc
Build date1978–1988
Total produced65
RebuilderAlstom
Rebuild date1999–2002
Number rebuilt29
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo'Bo'
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter51+18 in (1,299 mm)
Wheelbase25 ft 7+116 in (7.80 m) (between truck centers)
Length51 ft 1+2532 in (15.590 m)
Width10 ft 2 in (3.10 m)
Height14 ft 9.5 in (4.51 m)
Loco weight101 short tons (90 long tons; 92 t)
Power supply500 kW, 480 V AC
Electric system/s
Current pickup(s)Dual pantographs
Traction motors
  • ASEA LJH 108-5 (DC)
  • Alstom 6 FXA 5856 (AC)
Head end power
  • 500 kW (DC)
  • 1,000 kW (AC)
Transmission85:36
MU workingYes, AAR
Train heatingLocomotive-supplied head-end power
Performance figures
Maximum speed125 mph (200 km/h)
Power output7,000 hp (5.2 MW)
Tractive effort:
 • Starting51,710 lbf (230 kN)
 • Continuous28,100 lbf (125 kN)
Career
Operators
Numbers
  • Amtrak: 900–953
  • MARC: 4900–4903
  • SEPTA: 2301–2307
NicknamesToasters; Meatballs
LocaleNortheast United States
First runMay 9, 1980 (Amtrak)
Last runDecember 1, 2018 (SEPTA)
Retired
  • 2016 (Amtrak)
  • 2017 (MARC)
  • 2018 (SEPTA)
PreservedAmtrak Nos. 915, 917, and 945
DispositionTwo Amtrak units sold to TTCI, Two Amtrak units sold to Caltrain, Three Amtrak units preserved, all MARC Units Stored, remainder Amtrak and all SEPTA scrapped
[1][2]

The EMD AEM-7 is a twin-cab four-axle 7,000 hp (5.2 MW) B-B electric locomotive built by Electro-Motive Division (EMD) and ASEA between 1978 and 1988. The locomotive is a derivative of the Swedish SJ Rc4 designed for passenger service in the United States. The primary customer was Amtrak, which bought 54 for use on the Northeast Corridor and Keystone Corridor. Two commuter operators, MARC and SEPTA, also purchased locomotives, for a total of 65.

Amtrak ordered the AEM-7 after the failure of the GE E60 locomotive. The first locomotives entered service in 1980 and were an immediate success, ending a decade of uncertainty on the Northeast Corridor. In the late 1990s, Amtrak rebuilt 29 of its locomotives from DC to AC traction. The locomotives continued operating through the arrival of the final Siemens ACS-64 in June 2016. MARC retired its fleet in April 2017 in favor of Siemens Chargers, and SEPTA retired all seven of its AEM-7s in November 2018 in favor of ACS-64s.

  1. ^ "ALSTOM Transport – AEM7 locomotives, USA". alstom.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006.
  2. ^ "Typbeskrivningar – AEM7 exporterade till Amtrak m fl". passagen.se. Archived from the original on May 24, 2002.