4K - First Look! Siemens Charger (SC-44) Test Train on the Pacific Surfliner!

Presented in 4K! On the night of June 8th 2018, Amtrak sent a Siemens Charger test train down to San Diego for one of the first of many tests that will be occurring over the next few weeks. The first test run of these engines happened the previous night before, but I was unable to see them that night. You're looking at the future right here!

Running as Amtrak 946, the test train consisted of 3 Siemens SC-44 Charger locomotives, as well as 3 Superliner cars and 1 Surfliner coach. CDTX 2109 was the solo engine at the South end of the train, while CDTX 2107 and CDTX 2110 were the power at the North end of the test train. From my first observations, they're really bright, kind of blinds you at night with the powerful LED's! The strobe lights I really enjoy, give you a throwback vibe to the classic F40PH's, something that the F59PHI's didn't have here in SoCal. The engine sounds and acceleration is also really quiet, kinda sounds like a loud car when idling! Overall, I am impressed visually with these engines. While they're not the classic taste of the F59PHI's, they're a good change for the next 20-30 years on the Surfline. I will undoubtedly miss the F59PHI's, which have been sold and are headed off to Chicago's Metra Rail.

I also threw in a few other clips of the various Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains around the area (they look normal for now!). Also included is the BNSF Daygo (M-SDGBAR) heading north through Sorrento Valley, with 2 LTEX GP39's! These 2 four axle locomotives were previously used on the Baja California Railroad (BJRR), and are enroute back to Larry's Truck and Electric in McDonald, Ohio.

Thanks for watching!
Video and Content © 2018 MichaelLovesTrains