EMD DE30AC and DM30AC


The EMD DE30AC and EMD DM30AC are a class of 46 locomotives built in 1997-1998 by Electro-Motive Division in the Super Steel Plant in Schenectady, New York, for the Long Island Rail Road of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York. Originally divided equally between the two types, the fleet currently consists of 23 DE30AC locomotives and 20 DM30AC locomotives.

Details

The DE30AC and DM30AC locomotives replaced aging GP38s, Alco FA1/FA2s, F7As and F9As, and MP15AC and SW1001 locomotives, with GP38s used to push and pull diesel trains and other locomotives used to provide Head End Power for the trains. The bodies of the DE30AC and the DM30AC are extremely similar; the difference is the ability of the DM30AC to use electric third rail while the diesel engine is off, enabling the locomotive to use the East River Tunnels into New York Penn Station. This permits direct service from non-electrified lines in eastern Long Island via the western electrified main lines all the way to Penn Station. A few such trains a day run on the Port Jefferson, Montauk, Oyster Bay, and Greenport branches, usually during peak times.
Single engines run with six cars or fewer and engines are placed on the East end of the train. Generally two engines are used when there are seven or more cars.
Of the original 46 locomotives, 43 are still in use. The locomotives retired include: