ACMU

ACMU
ACMU at the North White Plains station in 2004.
In service1950–2004
Manufacturer
Constructed
  • 4500 series: 1950–1951
  • 4600 series: 1962
  • 4700 series: 1962–1965
  • MP75: 1963
Number built
  • 4500 series: 100
  • 4600 series: 26
  • 4700 series: 61
  • MP75: 30
Number preserved4
Successor4500 Series: M1a
4600/4700 series: M7a
MP75: C3
FormationSingle unit
Fleet numbers
  • NYC: 4500–4599 (later MN 1000–1099)
  • NYC: 4600–4625, 4700–4726, 4750–4783 (later MN 1100–1186)
  • LIRR: 2525–2536, 2675–2692
Capacity130
Operators
Specifications
Car length85 ft 0 in (25.91 m)
Width10 ft 11+12 in (3.340 m)
Doors2 vestibule doors
Maximum speed80 mph (130 km/h)
Weight114,000 lb (52,000 kg)
Traction motors
  • 4 × GE 1240 (100 hp)
  • 4 × WE 1453-A (100 hp) - LIRR MP75 only
Power output400 hp (300 kW)
HVACElectric heat, air conditioning
Electric system(s)660 V DC third rail
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
Braking system(s)Pneumatic
Safety system(s)emergency brakes
Coupling systemAAR

The ACMUs (short for Air Conditioned Multiple Unit) were a series of electric multiple unit railcars built for the New York Central Railroad in three orders between 1950 and 1965. The ACMUs were intended to replace/supplement the original fleet of heavyweight MU cars, some of which dated to the start of electric operations on the New York Central. These were the first New York Central units to offer air conditioning, with sealed windows replacing the drop sash and clerestory types found on earlier cars. The initial set of 100 cars was retired in 1970, upon completion of the M1 railcar delivery, while the second and third orders, totaling 87 cars, remained in service until 2004, when they were replaced by the new M7 fleet.

An order of near-identical cars was built for the Long Island Rail Road as the MP75 class in 1963. The LIRR cars were eventually converted to non-powered push-pull coaches before being retired in the late 1990s.