BOSTON — The third of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s three heritage locomotives, this one honoring the New York Central, has entered service today (Monday, March 2).
The three locomotives, honoring predecessors to today’s MBTA commuter rail service, are the last three F40PH-3C units in a group of 37 to be overhauled. The heritage units are entering service as the MBTA begins the process of obtaining new 20 locomotives to replace its oldest diesels [see “MBTA seeks new battery-electric, diesel locomotives …,” Trains.com, Feb. 25, 2026].
Previously entering service were locomotives honoring the Boston & Maine [see “News photos: MBTA introduces Boston & Maine …,” Sept. 9, 2025] and the New Haven [see “MBTA introduces New Haven …,” Feb. 6, 2026].
— Updated at 1:25 p.m. CT to add additional photo. To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
One of the great railroad locomotive schemes EVER! Good gosh, railroads could use some truly excellent industrial designers.
Almost to its end, the Milw. Rd. did a fine job w/its 2 commuter lines…and look at ’em now as Metra, both providing great nostalgia. Look forward to extension & expansion…and higher speeds on the C & M. “Slow to 90” anyone?
Let’s salute one more time Metra’s Milwaukee Road Heritage Unit #405 (MP36PH-3S)!
Note that the gorgeous MBTA #1036 (MK F40PH-3C) is now thirty-three years old.
A fantastic job… Well done, MBTA!
NYCRR was a great passenger transportation company. On what’s now the MBTA Worcester line plus a daily Amtrak 448/449, NYCRR back then was mostly intercity and not so much a commuter railroad. Today’s plentiful Worcester/ Framingham commuter service is mostly about what MBTA has accomplished and little to do with the predecessors PCRR and NYCRR.
Many of today’s great commuter services owe their heritage to the private railroads – CB&Q, CNW, NYNH&H, ICRR, PRR, Lackawanna, LIRR, B&M Corporation, and others. Los Angeles Metrolink and MBTA Worcester line, not really.
Eons ago when the F40 ruled the rails across the country Trains published artwork of samples in the classic schemes. One was the warbonnet. I think the other looked like this.
Having graced FP-45 car bodies, its not like the warbonnet wouldn’t work on a F40ph, but in my opinion the locomotive’s angular body is better suited for NYC lightening stripes.