Engines of Amtrak - EMD F59PHI

The EMD F59PHI has become a staple and icon of west coast American train travel. With a streamlined wedge shape and three window isolated cab, they sure have an identity and image of their own. The PHI has it's roots all the way back in EMD's 1985 freight product; the GP59. But what else got the F59PHI to where it is today hosting a nearly 30 year career? Find out in this new episode of Engines of Amtrak!
Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and videos to be used in this video! I'll likely reach out to you guys again for future episodes considering the amount of submissions I received being very high. Apologies if your picture or video wasn't featured, I tried to fit in as many as I could in and have it make sense with the script in mind. Those unused photos and videos may be used in a future project down the line though.
Special Thanks to:
Amtrak Productions
/ petru04
SantaFe669
/ caseybnsftrains
CoasterFan2105
/ coasterfan2105
CameraManRailfan
/ @cameramanrailfan
Caltrain912
/ amtrakfan463
TrainsForDayz2398
/ @trainsfordayz
Rail Racer
/ @astromotive6047
FoxTrot774
/ @foxtrot7747
Oregon Western RR
/ @oregonwesternrailroad...
Joshua Kosek
/ @joshuakosek1410
S2TTurboTracker
/ @naf275
High Iron
/ @highiron
Garrett the train guy
/ @railfangarrett6313
TwoRail Studios
/ @tworailstudios3134
Music Used:
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door OST - File Select
Sonic Colors OST - Tropical Resort Act 1
HOME - We're Finally Landing
Sonic Adventure OST - Welcome to Station Square
Sonic Adventure OST - Emerald Coast (Azure Blue World)
Sonic Adventure OST - Speed Highway (At Dawn)
Sonic Adventure OST - Speed Highway (Run Through the Speed Highway)
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door OST - Mail for the Mario Brothers
Links:
Twitter: / amtrakguy365
My Site: amtrakguy365.weebly.com/
Flickr: www.flickr.com/people/1424538...

[@CoasterFan2105]

I've been waiting for this moment for months and it's finally here! Very nicely done! Glad I could help!

[@jacksonskyline]

Irene Davis he uploads vids every Friday at 9 Pacific

[@TrainLover-wt9ix]

CoasterFan2105 There is so much F59. Different railroads. BTW love your videos cause you teach me all about trains and love your videos

[@bigiron2572]

5th

[@amtrakfan4068]

Hello CoasterFan2105

[@d64tv06]

Beware of Sebastian Floyd

[@guarddog0079]

Series: is called engines of Amtrak Story: starts with GO Transit

[@muhammadfadhiil5992]

*Legit*

[@devvydoesstuff]

well the F59ph was made for go transit

[@melonsoda4743]

the story about f50phi starts with amtrak tho

[@marilllover2177]

I feel like everyone just copies off of GO transit also at the beginning when he said "and canada" it showed a west coast express in vancouver

[@davidmolin8944]

@@melonsoda4743 59 not 50

[@MarioYoshi4723]

I stopped binge-playing Animal Crossing to watch this

[@catwithabat7163]

Dedication

[@erichudson645]

i don’t remember asking

[@thekidfromcleveland3944]

Thats commitment🤣😂

[@pennsy6755]

Animal crossing? CRINGE.

[@siriusxakanscaleguy7147]

@@pennsy6755 shut it some people like that game

[@collinthetrainfanatic]

One of Metra's F59PHI's has been painted into Chicago & North Western colors and is now a heritage unit on Metra

[@WindyCityExpeditionist]

Metra: Owns both F59PH and PHI's. Metra fans: Oh yeah, it's all coming together.

[@mrvontrips]

I just hope they keep their f40s for a while longer.

[@WindyCityExpeditionist]

@@mrvontrips That's our backbone yes. But it depends. They are replacing the UP mainline bridge due to the bridges being old and they are the old bridges are the reason the F40PH-3s are being preserved. And there is a chance they might get replaced or not, if so. Not all will get replaced. Just some. I hear the SD70mac-h will be the sucsessor/they are already being delivered. They were ex KCS and are in geogria where they are rebuilt rn.

[@get_emld]

R4M_ImperialEnforcer they probably will because at least some of them are being rebuilt.

[@FosterCampbell1]

Trinity Railway Express: talk to me

[@WindyCityExpeditionist]

@Mprosser I do. Yo_Adrian! Told me that they will be starting on the Milwaukee districts and are Ex KCS by a metra employee. They have been transferred to Georgia to get HEP.

[@trainmemes9115]

Video: *is released for 30 secconds* The first few viewers: Quick Think of something funny fast.

[@WindyCityExpeditionist]

Very true brother.

[@TWb-bu9tl]

EPA: Amtrak, your F59PHIs don’t follow my standards. Amtrak: *sighs* fine. Exo (local commuter train in Montreal): Doubleheads F59PHs AND F59PHIs

[@Train_Chaser-KeiTruckUrbanist]

Bro i keep forgetting exo has f series lmao i keep thinking of mr90s and alp46s

[@simontrainbrainz6038]

AmtrakGuy365: I won’t review the EMD F59PHI Reviews it anyway Everyone: “You have become the very thing you swore to destroy.”

[@lethargicstove2024]

Amtrak guy 365: i am making videos shorter Everyone: you were the chosen one!

[@tedsalmen]

you forgot Minnesota's North Star we have f59phi's

[@d64tv06]

Beware of Sebastian Floyd

[@AmtrakGuy365]

Check out the description for the KZbin channel links of those who provided photos and videos! Also, this will be the last big video for a little while as I'll be on vacation for 2 weeks soon! I hope this will hold y'all over for a bit while I take a break from videos. After my vacation, I'll be back to making videos and big projects as usual. I may have one more smaller video after this one coming out, but I'll see how things play out. Anyway, my plan for Engines of Amtrak is going to be switching between new episode and remade episode. For example, I started doing the remake of the SDP40F episode, then switched to the new F59PHI episode, the next episode will be a remake of the P30CH and then so-on-so-forth until I run out of remakes. After all the remakes are done, it will be all new locomotives I haven't covered yet! With that said, I'm aiming for a new Engines of Amtrak episode every month or two months. Again, this will be dependent on what's going on for me so it could change for better or worse, but that's my ideal plan going forward. Anyway, thanks for watching and for all the positive feedback thus far! I'm really enjoying making this series again!

[@gamerfan8445]

Are you doing the GG1

[@AmtrakGuy365]

@@gamerfan8445 I might do it yeah, but we shall see when the time comes!

[@DevonMopiedmont1143]

You should do passenger cars of amtrak

[@lawrencewheeler8868]

I think these are on the FrontRunner commuter trains?!

[@thekidfromcleveland3944]

Hey take your time man. Im a patient man. Especially for quality work like EOA and uh.....whatever that other short one was. Definitely dont want you to get burned out so enjoy vacation.

[@ConfusedNyan]

Great video. As someone who has used the Capitol Corridor and the San Joaquins over many years, I think you gave the F59PHI the perfect treatment.

[@williamcroker9076]

I remember there was a Freaght Diesel locomotive that had the same body as the F59PH

[@astromotive6047]

Happy to have contributed my clip at 6:31 to this video Jared. Fantastic work on this video of the "Rocket Ship" engine.

[@solarflare623]

The F59PHI is definitely my favorite locomotive ever. It’s not just because I like the way they look. I also like them because they bring me so much nostalgia. I grew up around Los Angeles during the 2010’s so I saw these locomotives on Amtrak and metrolink all the time and I’m very sad that they’re gone.

[@STUAA2024]

6:45 I remember some of F59PHs were also sent to the TRE (Trinity Railway Express) Two of the former GO Transit locomotives were involved in 2 separate wrecks in 2018 and the same locomotive involved in another wreck in 2020

[@nathancorcoran5347]

I have seen two of Amtrak Surfliner F59PHI locomotives in 2016 at my visit to the San Diego Grand Central Station. They are pretty cool video of these locomotives. It is sad that they discontinued in service today, but still being remembered by Amtrak. At least we know Metra had purchased the ones from Amtrak Surfliner. Also I want to point out that the Caltrans engines weren’t named by crews, because there is no information of it in the wiki of the locomotives.

[@TrainsofChicagoland]

**sees the awesome thumbnail** Me: *intense breathing*

[@TalenGryphon]

Growing up seeing the Cascades train go by my house across a small bay, I love the F59PHI. It was pretty and a worthy successor to the F40PH. I miss them

[@metraforce441]

I remember watching videos of Amtrak surfliners throughout my childhood and I just loved the horn and the F59PHIs. I always dreamed of going to California and see these locomotives in real life. When I heard news that Metra was going to be purchasing these F59PHIs I pretty much screamed in excitement! It felt as if I was dreaming cause it felt so unreal! Getting to see these in my home was such a dream come true. I live very close to a metra line that uses these F59PHIs so every now and then I hear the horns and E-bells going when they stop at the Grand-Cicero station. I was only able to catch the F59PHIs twice but in the future I’ll definitely be looking into catching more of them! I heard a story that a Metra engineer said that they loved these locomotives and wished they purchased these new compared to the mp36phs as they were just more reliable. Definitely will be enjoyed in their new homes and Metra railfans can enjoy seeing them. Awesome video BTW!

[@04punky]

Very nice video on the F59PHI. I would say yours and coasterfan’s video are beautifully well done. And fun fact: a Pacific Surfline train collided with a Semi in California. The reason why was because the driver stopped at a red stop light while crossing the tracks but didn’t know that the trailer was stuck on the tracks. And moments later the Surfliner collided with the semi truck which damaged the front nose of the engine. The incident was caught on tape and can easily be found on KZbin.

[@mlptf]

They certainly are some of Amtrak's fleet of really useful engines.

[@DH2906PRODUCTIONS]

This is one of my favorite series on KZbin or anywhere

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

I am a Texas Raklfan thank you very much for showing the Texas Trinity Railway Express I live 30 minutes West from the DFW area and I grew up seeing and riding the TRE

[@TrainsForDayz]

Amazing video!!! I'm very grateful to be a part of one of your narrated video series!!! I saw my picture of one of Metrolink's Ex GO-Transit Units at 1:38, which is super awesome!!! I've always loved both the EMD F59PH and F59PHI locomotives from all different railroads, from Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, Amtrak Cascades and Piedmont services, to the Los Angeles Metrolink Commuter Railroad, San Diego Coaster, Seattle Sounder Transit, just everything about them is amazing...especially those that have the beautiful aerodynamic design through their streamlined cab, and the streamlined side skirts covering the fuel tank with the rounded roofline, I just really enjoyed growing up, watching them on the many railroads that were local to me in my home-state of California!!! Great Job man!!! :)

[@TheOneTrueDragonKing]

I'm in Texas, and these engines are staples on the Trinity Railway Express or TRE, a jointly-owned-and-operated commuter service between Dallas and Fort Worth. They're still in use today, and boy are they beautiful in that Texas-style red, white and blue.

[@fordmotorman]

I love their coming out more often, about 2-3 weeks instead of 2-3 months

[@rambunctiousmedia3350]

I used to ride Amtrak's San Joaquin service to Modesto, a few times taking the Capital Corridor from Auburn to catch the San Joaquin in Martinez. Only TODAY did I ever learn that Amtrak CA crews gave some of the locomotives names.

[@DalekPratt1963]

Thank goodness my home town's train system (Metra) saved this amazing looking EMD...

[@nuttynathan]

Loving this series! Thanks for making these! Have a great vacation and we'll see you when you get back!

[@YukariAkiyama]

I’m gonna miss them. F in the chat

[@decepticonman17]

I see the NC units everyday, always a treat to hear that Nathan Horn in the distance.

[@MissChevelle71]

I'm proud of you BOTH, AmtrakGuy and CoasterFan!!!

[@91_C4_FL]

I rode the Capitol Limited to Washington DC back in 2003 and the lead unit was one of the NC Piedmont F59PHIs. It must have been in Chicago for an overhaul and was heading back down south.

[@spadesofpaintstudios1719]

I’m glad you made a video about these engines they are my favorite or second favorite type of diesel type of locomotives and it’s what I grew up with

[@triplehproductions5214]

Glad to see that the F59PHI are still in service

[@cmag19]

A little note about the PH and PHI on Metra, the PHs runs on the Heritage Corridor, from Joliet to Chicago Union Station, while most of the PHIs are on the Union Pacific lines, from Ogilvie Transportation Center to places North, Northwest, and West of the city.

[@NMW_Productions]

Magnificent work! I remember always seeing these units on the Surfliner before they were replaced by the newer Charger locomotives. Keep up the good work!

[@haroldalexis4200]

Did I enjoy this video? I loved every minute of it! 😀 I have so many models in HO scale of these featured, All ATHEARN! This is/was a educational video I get/got so much out of this. I'm looking forward to see the next episodes... 🚄🚞😀

[@coastaku1954]

As a Torontonian, I really enjoyed the mention and coverage of GO Transit's contribution to this locomotive, or at least it's predecessor

[@jmm2000]

Chicago Metra started painting their F59PHI's with heritage colors: CNW green and yellow colors, Milwaukee orange and black colors and Rock Island yellow and red colors. If they continue, it would be nice to see heritage paint scheme in Illinois Central Gulf colors, Soo Line colors and Frisco colors.

[@ROTE]

I love the F59PHI!

[@HotShotDesigns3D]

0:34 4:48 8:07 Thank you for showing my videos!

[@kanchanananayakkara8959]

Enjoying your informative videos!

[@joeythecat7482]

Me: *Sees upload* Cool *vid shows clip of a TRE* Me: I KNOW THAT LINE

[@jimmymakmta]

Your videos are awsome and as for the F59, I fell in love with it when I laid eyes on it at Union station years ago, enjoy your vacation

[@Sonicthehedgehog_930]

YOU DID A VIDEO ABOUT MY FAVORITE AMTRAK ENGINE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@leothesniper1537]

Finally my favorite engine of Amtrak thanks for doing this

[@MattChaffe]

Man, I'd love for Train Simulator and TSW2 to model these F59PHI's for Metra and get updated Chargers for Surfliner and generic Amtrak service. I didn't realize they weren't fully retired!

[@localrat2796]

iv been waiting forever to see this series

[@robertstroup1274]

8:16 Haha Amtrak has been holding onto their units. Love the videos Thank you for all of the time you put into them

[@risecomics3548]

Fun fact: The F59PHI is currently being license built by MotivePower

[@BlaxlandRidge3]

This was so well done as always, loved the art too!

[@oregonwesternrailroadprodu5239]

Not gona lie i squealed like a foamer when i saw my vid used

[@WindyCityExpeditionist]

Same. I am always excited to see new engines work for metra.

[@canadianbacon2205]

Less than a mounth since the last one!? This is great!!!

[@geosutube]

This was a very thorough review of a durable and powerful engine. We rode on Amtrak from San Diego and back often. Also, we used it to get to San Luis Obispo more than once. Great ride, by the way.

[@davidmolin8944]

I loved these engines and when they left service I was pretty sad and more unhappy at the sc-44 chargers

[@marilllover2177]

meh i liked the chargers tbh and they get too much hate for the "ugly design" but i think it looks awsome but i'm upset they are replacing the GE Genesis for AMTRAK and VIA Rail

[@davidmolin8944]

@@marilllover2177 well the slim chargers are quite nice looking but the normal ones in my opinion are not really that good looking. I think i don't like the design as they remind me of a light rail engine or a tram type and for some reason it bothers me but i admit they do the job well and i'll probably warm up to them eventually

[@the.flat.six.]

One of my 2nd favorite passenger locomotive.

[@Noodle_Train]

I’ve been waiting for this video for forever

[@AcelaRailan2150]

This presentation as always was clean and well planned nicely done

[@brooksdaniel7921]

These are my favorite engines ever

[@willhahnproductions6092]

So cool to see my name in the credits!!!! Now I can forever say I was apart of engines of Amtrak!

[@juntao8375]

I love all of the color type of The F59PHIS. There so beautiful!

[@manuelalvarado6510]

It's amazing how the F59PH and F59PHI have their pedigree from the GP59 freighter loco just like how the F40PH was based upon the GP40-2 freighter.

[@Dondo_Golden_Rose]

Oh this was great and long awaited. And the P30CH is underrated imo. It being one of my favorite amtrak locomotives

[@SkeeterTheHedgehog]

Love the fact that this vid's background soundtrack is made of the music of two of my fave games Sonic Colors and Paper Mario and the Thosand Year Door. Fantastic Picks my friend.

[@NJbldragon]

Btw, looks like Metrolink still has a few left in California. Gonna be seeing these beautiful engines here for a little longer.

[@lectrician2]

I'm in chicago and one time I was walking through union station and i was like "wait what, whats that locomotive" because it isnt similar to any of metras other locomotives. Thanks for the history lesson!

[@vpisarski]

Yay F59phi video! My Favorite Amtrak Engine!

[@AmtrakProductions]

Thank you so much! Glad my footage @0:20 was used

[@joshbrony2204]

Quick fact: an Amtrak F59PHI actually hit a truck in Oxnard, CA back in 2005. EDIT: Amtrak 458 slammed into a stopped truck on the tracks. The light turned red, which means that Fox River Grove pretty much repeated itself. This time, nobody was killed

[@akana_]

0:28 look! West Coast Express! That is a little known commuter system in Vancouver, where I live! Fun fact: not only do they use F59PHIs but they also use MotivePower locos, happy to see my hometown represented here!

[@F59PHI]

Great video, awesome to see these beasts’ history.

[@RailsofNorCal]

Excellent video, and thanks for including me in this

[@MilePostMunk]

As always, great vid...again :)

[@robmiller2811]

Ha Ha as an Irishman, I wasn't expecting to see the Dublin-Belfast Enterprise train!!

[@robmiller2811]

Here's a nice link kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH3MpZitq9CAp9k

[@joshuakosek1410]

Awesome video! Glad I got to be apart of it! 5:17

[@srgntsylveon2919]

Personally these were my favourite American locomotives, not my favourite loco of all time, but my favourite American loco

[@massrailvideos]

Awesome video man!

[@BenLomonRail]

Great video! There are also F59PHIs running on Montreal’s exo (originally AMT) commuter rail services, as well as several rebuilt PHs from GO Transit. We’ve also had some ex-Amtrak F40s in the past!

[@SantaFe19484]

Awesome video!

[@Markthomas007_]

I do like these trains. I still see it on occasion when im at Sacramento station but i will probably miss the streamlining when they fully are replaced.

[@javierrodeshernandez6679]

Nice vid!! Thank's

[@SkateGeneva]

These videos are amazing

[@solarflare623]

Is it just me or does the f59phi seem to perfectly match the superliner cars to the point that the locomotives might just be superliners converted into locomotives.

[@foxtrot7747]

thanks for featuring my video! 6:00 :D

[@HSMiyamoto]

I had no idea that the F59PHI is descended from a design fathered in Canada. I hope one eventually gets to the state railroad museum in California, because of their iconic status. Since I live near San Diego, I will still have many enjoyable rides behind one (two left on NCTD), but even the NCTD units will leave someday, probably sooner than later.

[@HSMiyamoto]

@Acerailfan3303 Trackside I'm stuck at home and just received word the Chargers took over Feb 8, 2021.

[@robrepass2179]

Miss these very beautiful locomotives

[@northlanderdude]

Only 2 Canadian rail agencies have the PHI's WCE in Vancouver BC and AMT/EXO in Montreal QC. VIA Rail Canada was gonna buy 78 of these to replace the LRC and F40PH-2's but went with 21 P42DC's as part of an Amtrak order instead.

[@odielodie]

Yay! I’ve been waiting!

[@enoi660]

Love this!

[@daf827]

Excellent!

[@marilllover2177]

I always wondered why the METRA F59PHI's were in pacificsurfliner like design and now i know THANKS AMTRAKGUY365

[@goldenstateaviation2861]

I’m glad we still see the F59PHI in Northern California

[@evanbart4109]

Great video 😀👍👍

[@christherailfan5851]

Yes, great work!

[@catwithabat7163]

Me: *sees this was posted 32 minutes ago* A new record!

[@natman242]

I love this new style

[@AnIllinoisan]

That horn is just epic

[@steak2137]

thank you, I love the F59PHI.

[@ogjk]

Love the video game music keep up the great vids AG!

[@chafanonash3418]

I literally stopped everything to watch this. Keep up the good work mate.

[@Trainzer767uR1ckr0l1]

Yay another video!!!