BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has unveiled an F40 locomotive painted to honor the Boston & Maine Railroad, the first of three recently overhauled diesels honoring predecessors to the commuter rail service offered today by the MBTA.
The three units are the last of 37 F40PH locomotives built between 1987 and 1991 to complete major overhauls. No. 1030 is one of the locomotives built by Morrison-Knudsen; others were originally built by EMD. The B&M locomotive will return to service next week, the MBTA said; other units, honoring the New Haven and New York Central, will be in operation by the end of the year.
The MBTA said in a statemen that the overhaul included rebuilding and refurbishing the locomotives, with upgrades including remote monitoring and diagnostics, forward-facing and in-cab cameras, and modern brake and control systems.
I always enjoy seeing these heritage units coming on line. As the old saying goes, variety is the spice of life. Metra seems to be doing a good job with this as well.
Very striking livery. I like the maroon and gold. Looking forward to the other two heritage repaints.
Have to wonder how many of today’s MBTA riders have even heard of the New Haven Railroad or the B&M Corporation.
I don’t know when the B&M’s maroon and yellow was retired. Before my time. I remember the more modern blue and white, very easy on the eyes.
As this forum’s New Haven fan, am looking forward! Three color combinations to choose from (orange, green, or McGinnis), only the newest of which I remember.
Speaking of the New Haven Railroad, has anyone heard how the new South Coast trains are doing?
Reading you post I am hoping they attempt the orange New Haven scheme. McGinnis is iconic, but has been well represented in the heritage schemes of the past. Metro-North just did the green scheme, so maybe it is time for the orange. White pin stripes may go well with the F40’s lines…
The B&M adopted the “McGinnis” herald in 1956.
There is the layer cake scheme that hasn’t found a modern interpretation. I had hoped the paint scheme of the EF-4 would find its way onto the BL20 fleet but they went soda can.