Engines of SEPTA: GE U34CH

Note: The P30CH clip is owned by oversearailway. Forgot to credit him
After being dormant for over 2 years and being delayed for a long time here's the official reboot of Engines of SEPTA! As stated a while ago I did a poll asking you guys what should come next in Engines of SEPTA after the ALP-44. The diesels won that poll by a landslide and interestingly I decided to start on the U34CH. While not an official member of SEPTA's roster I felt like it would still make for a great episode as this locomotive's history is not well known and the engine played a crucial role during the "Railworks" age of SEPTA in the early 1990s.
For more info on the U34CH on the NJT end check out this video (There's 2 parts) • Engines of New Jersey ...
John's channel: / oaksmodelrr
John's website: www.trainweb.org/rpotw/
Other channels that contributed to this video!
1990's railfan: / @1990srailfan
Jackmp294.5: / 1jackdk
mrkeithphoto: / mrkeithphoto
RR Train: / @rrtrain5706
Paul Tupaczewski: / paultup
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Deviantart: www.deviantart.com/pennsy
Chapters
Intro: 0:00
Erie Lackawanna: 0:55
New Coaches: 1:41
Designing the U34CH: 2:21
Horns: 4:16
Dual Service and Transition into Conrail: 4:51
New York's U34CH and NJT Takeover: 6:07
Trouble on SEPTA: 7:03
Rail Works: 8:28
The End Of The U34CHs: 11:18
Where Did They Go?: 12:26
The Lone Survivor: 13:17
Ending: 15:02

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

To this day I'll never understand why SEPTA didn't keep 4154 if they went through the trouble of repainting it

[@jordandorsett3106]

Blue birds 4 ever and life

[@RailsofForney]

Catchy road number 😂

[@malachimuhammad76]

@Thunderbolt When can the Kawasaki B-4s coming?

[@amtrakproductions-mx9ib]

I demand that 3372 should be repainted into 4154's bicentennial paint scheme as memorial honor and tribute to the engine

[@StocktonSubber]

Nobody: Thunder: Haha Engines of SEPTA Ep.9 sudden premier go brrrrr

[@Whitewolf1869]

A Genesis Engine I laughed at the profile it looked funny

[@Upguy-tj3gv]

Your pfp brings back 2010-2015 train face videos....nostalgia

[@The8BitNerd]

When he says there is not much to talk about and it’s still the longest episode yet!

[@oakrail8100]

*The return of a Legendary series*

[@caseyiel]

then the series disappeared... again

[@MetroGaming75]

YEESSS FINALY I'VE BEE WAITING FOR THIS TO RETURN

[@theclickbaitmasster]

That was the fastest live stream ever

[@UnionPacific3977]

It's called a premiere.

[@rileyludlow961]

Lol But it is engines of septa returned!

[@theclickbaitmasster]

Septa international

[@itmcbhpbgf.6374]

9:14 epic wipeout by the pole! xD

[@danielleclement885]

4:31 rs53 horn

[@fernandomarques5166]

Fun fact: down here in Brazil, there's still large numbers of dash-7s and U-boats, notably 9264 (ex-5099) a C30-7 that still sports the BN colors even after 20 years of operation, the original U23C's bought by the Federal Railroad Network in between 1972 and 1976, many rebuilt to dash-7 standards as U23CA, U23CM, U23C1, U23CE and C30-7MP. All of the above are still in mainline service, with 9264 being put as a MU unit on the last train headed by EMDX SD80ACe 8080, the SD80 demonstrator and the U23Cs being common as MU units or in other trains outside the iron ore drags.

[@doctordothraki4378]

1:05 I remember the story behind the shown locomotive is that EMD made a freight locomotive, Southern Pacific wanted a longer passenger variant, and Erie Lackawanna wanted a freight version of that with more fuel and ballast. A freight version of the passenger version of a freight locomotive.

[@doctordothraki4378]

@@LJRailfan-Gamer_07. yes

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

You’re correct. I believe an EL SDP45 survives today in rough but economically restorable condition, might be Roanoke, VA

[@genesisrailfan1507]

SDP45 are SD45s with passenger gearing SD45M are similar to P45s but lacked passenger gearing and we're set for heavier ballasting and more fuel for greater tractive effort

[@GMan9029]

NGL right before 13:13 hit, my heart kept sinking as I thought there were no U34's left. Thank god one is still out there, hopefully it will run again someday. People don't think diesels are important for preserving as much as steam, which is unfortunate. I love diesels (even gevo's), they're all apart of America's ever-growing railroad history just like steam was.

[@RDC2003]

It does they made it operational

[@thatoneguy6555]

It’s sad to see a locomotive do so much for a railroad and than be almost completely forgotten.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

it wasn’t widely used, like the GP9 or F40s or other units…it’s easy to be forgotten when you’re small in number and long since retired

[@A_Lazy_dude]

The u34ch is 52 now

[@chrisgermany7370]

It's not happy but septa could of kept 4154 because they could've kept it and then rebuild it into a better engine u30pch and then make more 5155-6100

[@kimberlyknox4426]

Hi

[@TheBostonUrbanist]

great to have this series back in production! Keep up the great work!

[@northernpennrailproduction3373]

Hey Thunderbolt! I Was The Kid That Was At Colebrookdale with you!

[@Keystone_State_Rail_Films]

GRADY

[@northernpennrailproduction3373]

@@Keystone_State_Rail_Films CHASE

[@Keystone_State_Rail_Films]

GRADY

[@northernpennrailproduction3373]

@@Keystone_State_Rail_Films CHASE!!!

[@BadDriversofMaryland]

I'm watching this as I'm here one block from the Cecil B Moore bridge and you just started talking about it. I'm so happy I found your channel. I love seeing stuff that is relevant to where I am and is so educational. Boy I need to ride some Septa trains.

[@yeetyeet806]

Thank you for making this video I appreciate it ❤️

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

Nice work it has been a while since you made one of these good job.

[@Proj2008]

r.i.p the ge u34ch anyway great video thunder

[@zeferinoresendiz1698]

Waiting time:exists Everyone: no

[@brianfalzon6739]

Well done, thanks for the info and documentary!

[@MrNJT]

Very nicely done Thunder! I enjoyed it!

[@davidmolin8944]

Great episode that was very informative please keep up the good work and if possible, please don't make us wait another 2 years

[@AmtrakGuy42]

Saw 3372 repainted and looking nice at the NJT 40th anniversary.

[@vDARKICEv]

I love the EMD GP40 and the SD40s one of my favorite locomotives of all time. I sometimes see the GP40 on the Atlantic City line in the push-pull configuration. Definitely would love to see the GP40’s in some more passenger transportation schemes and service like SEPTA or Amtrak.

[@MonValleyNathan]

Thanks for showing

[@kindcake]

What a great stream @Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions

[@danielleclement885]

14:11 rs54 horn

[@quintinrobinsondjgrandque4514]

That was very nice thanks I work for them for 35 years!!!!! And still do today on the Subway good company to work for!!!

[@georgemurphy2579]

Excellent and accurate commentary...two thumbs up and five stars!!!!!

[@BritanniaPacific]

Had to keep replaying the clip of the guy running into that column. That was totally unexpected.

[@jamcamrailfanning]

Can you do it earlier because I always work the night shift and we’ll it sucks to have to watch it the next day because all my rail fanning friends would have already spoiled it for me

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Just did for 5pm. I normally dont do this but since I do night shifts on occasion I'm letting this one slide

[@jamcamrailfanning]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren thank you so much i love engines of septa

[@Sjwilliams07]

Hell yeah Engines of Septa are back

[@simonbooth6116]

4:31 rs53 14:11 rs54 horn

[@mohsoo6858]

Ferromex in late 2014 begin scrapping all former u boats and c30 left from fnm, today only one remains operate which is 3571 I believe and others from ferrosur and one c30 in ferrovalle. So I think most of the units maybe scrapped in 2003 or 2014 while other maybe sent into Brazil from TFM.

[@colbyjames7205]

Mexico lost quite a number of locomotives and they haven’t been great at hardly saving much their for preservation as well.

[@ClubFanByNobleUra]

Finally another episode of engines of septa

[@GreenbeanProductions]

this was a great vid better then the ALP-44 or AEM-7 this was great!

[@stuartk.9104]

I love your videos!!

[@brandonaviation6010]

Awesome video, thunder! Could you possibly do a documentary on that incident where an Amtrak F40PH NPCU in some special color hit a forklift in California?

[@philiproszak1678]

Wow this is great.

[@sumeetbeniwal6365]

Yay a new engines of septa episode

[@heathermcclintic1067]

I love this video

[@ironcityrailfan8467]

Nice!

[@colbyjames7205]

I love the GE U34CH’s and it is good that 3372 is to be restored once again. I had a look into the Lake Erie survivors apparently 3372 isn’t the only one. It is revealed they are two in Brazil apparently locomotives 3367 and 3380 now 4167 and 4180 one as you said is spares and apparently 4180 was a National Railway Equipment locomotive before being sold further on. As much it’s ashame 4154 could not have been preserved but hey hopefully 3372 gets restored to running order again someday.

[@KDJW5]

Love the intro.

[@joshbrony2204]

It’s been way too long since the last episode.

[@Tiger1goingdark]

Thunderbolt Thunderbolt I was wondering if you could do some short documentaries on Canadian Railway crashes through Canada I understand that you do a lot of other railway around the world but I don’t think I haven’t seen one in regards to Canada yet I would like to see some short documentary on train collisions in Canada. If you can possibly make that happen

[@gustman9048]

I love using the NJ U34CH with the NJ paint on Train Simulator 2021

[@BiggusDickusMontePython]

Pa-say-ick lol

[@wdd6864]

Could you do one on the BlueLiners of Septa that were inherited from the Reading?

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

The Comet name didn't come about til the early 1980s when Bombardier built 117 Comet ll cars for NJ Transit.

[@amtrakfan3023]

Can you please do the 1972 Chicago train collision and the 1977 cta derailment

[@CSX8817_Produtions]

I miss these engines

[@detroitdieselseries5071]

Will you do engines of SEPTA Kawasaki K streetcars?

[@MetroGaming75]

No that will be last

[@GoldenOne131]

I thought the episodes are over but no it not I'm happy

[@EpicThe112]

Keep it up and had SEPTA kept the U34CH you are more likely to see them as maintenance trains on septa Commuter Rail lines but not Amtrak owned track They're the Wilmington Newark Paoli Thorndale & Trenton lines. I wonder if the network can actually support Dual mode trains like Alstom Coradia Polyvalent ALP-45DPs and Stadler Eurodual Locomotives. If the network can support them then they can be operating 30th street Center City to Allentown or restoring the Newark, NJ line pre 1981.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

they can and did operate diesels on the lines before the Center City Tunnel was built but SEPTA is diesel-phobic so won’t use them for lines because it’d mean extending service to other places

[@blue9multimediagroup]

Actually no, the loop at Fern Rock is used to bring NB trains to the platform. The former station only had crossovers in front of it and trains had to cross over in front of each other

[@RailsofForney]

Please keep doing this series. Heck, Amtrakguy365 ran out of engines to discuss so why not continue while *you* can?

[@GamerRobYT]

Can you do the Market-Frankford M4's?

[@QuartiyoPasdevHerjiKreuz]

This is definitely a new series

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Feels like one but it's just a reboot of a dead one

[@brendanu1680]

what station do you start at on your trips to downtown Philly?and what center city station do you get off at?

[@SgtChip]

I like the U34CHs. They're still Universal units, but they've got that GE radiator at the back, which wasn't as big on other U-series units.

[@thatsicilian787]

Isn’t it kind of coincidental that 3372 is preserved by the same agency that preserved one of the locomotives that saved it from the NY&GL yard?(Morristown & Erie 19)

[@colbyjames7205]

3367 and 3380 are still in Brazil over far away from United States in the borders

[@ashtonmorrison642]

Bro it’s been a year since this video plz make another

[@MOHAWKL4A3124]

What a happy ending for the U-Boat.

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Which diesel are you planning to discuss next?

[@a.gproductions_official]

When will the next episode be?

[@nicholasfedirko481]

Hey Thunder, i wonder if you're gonna do the Saint Paul Minnesota 24 years later.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Sorry. I'm gonna be quite busy that weekend so no not this year

[@Whitewolf1869]

Learn about the P30CH's and their problems in Engine of Amtrak: GE P30CH. Fun fact: Despite the problems they had I love the locomotive (The P30CH)

[@cadencaccuro]

You could probably make Engines of SEPTA on these trains: 1. MP-54 2. Blueliners 3. PCC Trolleys 4. Market-Frankfurt Subways Cars 5. Broad Street Subway Cars 6. Newer Kawasaki Trolleys 7. ACS-64

[@MetroGaming75]

He's doing diesels then subway then trolley

[@StocktonSubber]

I already requested the ACS64 at one point, but Thunder mentioned they were just too young at the time, and it’s kinda too late for such engines.

[@malachimuhammad76]

Yes, Caden Caccuro, great idea. And I can help him out.

[@malachimuhammad-dy2ow]

I can help him too.

[@TEBEnthusiast]

Yes!

[@kathleenpaytas9339]

when are you doing the phandale train accident?

[@JPaul60]

It was borrowed from Transit and they were pissed when they saw we painted it Septa Blue with yeller handrails.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I still don't get why SEPTA painted it in the 1st place. We're they thinking about keeping it or what? It's a thought that bugs me to hell ever since I made this video

[@Ih8kone]

Can you do the Kawasaki B-IVs and the Adtranz M4s?

[@dr.huskigaming4575]

@Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions What happened to engines of septa?

[@Tony-1950]

👍👍

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Meanwhile in a parallel universe, EMD approaches NJ DOT first with the FP45 and NJT becomes the 3rd railroad to buy the FP45. Also R.I.P. ALCO, it will certainly be remembered in history, especially better known for steam locomotives like the New York Central Hudsons and Union Pacific Big Boys

[@Transportationfan1421]

I actually have a model engine of the NJT U34 in NJTs regular paint scheme

[@angelacrawford3173]

Very nice 👌 👍 👏 😀

[@nathanmahoney6346]

those S3L horns tho. so majestic!!

[@ajjj4wood1]

are you gonna the MFL budd M3’s

[@somax1259]

we should have an episode on the acs 64

[@lynlewis8606]

Talk about the failed SPSF railroad in a later livestream please

[@alejandrobarraganlopez3231]

I love all documentals Made by thunderbolt, please don't stop we'll wait More content. Here we also want to know about the only U34 that went down the border. Any info I'll share with you guys

[@6680thSOG]

Who else left at 9:14 for a minute to go find the video of the guy hitting the pillar??

[@sleepythespian1455]

Where’s the next Engines of SEPTA?

[@familycat9949]

Deltarune music mixed with trains. The best!

[@a.gproductions_official]

12:50 I’m Actually In Mexico And I See The U34CH All The Time Here In Regular Freight Service

[@drumhead89]

What's the intro music?? That awakened a deep memory within me!

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

The intro was the Walt Disney Home Video logo from the 1990s. I had a few tapes with that logo and that wonderful sound was burned in my mind since childhood and then it hit me, that'd be perfect for a new intro to the reboot of this series.

[@9751asd]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren actually Walt Disney used that logo séquence 1986-1999

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

@@9751asd that's what I said...

[@9751asd]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren yeah I know I just wanted to post how long that séquence was used for

[@Boypogikami132]

I hope someone does “Engines of Philippine National Railways”

[@southernkansasrailfan3746]

GOT MY FIRST K&L MODELS TODAY!!!! I LOVE THEM!!! P.S. If your curious, I got The Ms Mikados, The J-Class, and S&A 750

[@TailsFan369no2]

Did you see my suggestion on discord

[@CaseysTrains]

By the way that SEPTAgeddon Picture was a picture I took. It actual the thumbnail of this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/laDKnoyNebKXrJo

[@upas9655]

HERE BEFORE PREMEIRE

[@ambermolohon3986]

Aren't ALL U-boats mixed traffic?

[@louisianamainlineproductions]

Thunder: jeez I haven’t done one of these in awhile Me: farts

[@Sweatymilkshake]

I don’t really care about this railroad, I’m not from this region. But this was fascinating. Maybe keep the series up covering obscure locomotive types in general.

[@samblensdorf7384]

What wreck were these in

[@northamericanpichu]

Early 90’s instruction video vibe

[@jordandorsett3106]

3372 (nickname USA diesel AU of Flying Scotsman) along with other locomotives

[@randomtransportguyx4397]

Why are you named after a tornado siren