Metra F40PH Startup and HEP Activation

[@TrashBulldogProductions]

1:46 gives me the chills. Such a gorgeous melody when that EMD 645 engine begins to scream with power. Then comes the icing on the cake with those radiator fans at 3:36, just awesome! Although I am a devoted fan of the F59PH, the F40PH is awesome in its own way and I will always cherish these "screamers."

[@Patachu666]

that's awesome. the sound of the turbodiesel engine as it revs up is just delicious to listen to~

[@SamGadefrisco1630]

I always look forward to hearing this sound whenever I go to Chicago on the train

[@supermegadestroyerpoopmylo]

frrr

[@Missabe328]

I'm an old steam lover. Raised around 2-10-2s and 2-8-8-4s but I've got to admit I really like the F40PH.

[@theF40PH]

Wow That sound is awesome. Will be playing that on the home surround sound when I get home. Thanks for sharing. Certainly my new favorite video on KZbin.

[@travishunt4562]

Thanks a lot!

[@NERRP2017]

theF40PH dude lol

[@NERRP2017]

theF40PH nice profile pic, love the f40ph’s because they are just awsome

[@Chuffmaster654]

0:43 start-up, 1:26 rev-up, 1:50 HEP, 3:34 radiator fans

[@LSM_Lover]

Nice!

[@manuelalvarado6510]

Impressive on the startup sequence timing.

[@Harbourfire]

What is HEP shortened for ?

[@truckinman86]

@@Harbourfire Head End Power. Provides electrical power to the passenger cars.

[@wheetcracker]

Oh wow I can't believe I found this on here. I work at the company that built the HEP converter for Metra, and have done quite a few board repairs. It's neat to see what my work went into.

[@graythewolf6096]

Cool.

[@daveyr5462]

When you thought it couldn't get better 1:47 happens, even better is 3:35 when the fans come on. This is what heaven sounds like, a screaming red hot turbo and howling radiator fans on a fire-breathing dragon that is the F40. You can really feel this ol' loco wants to get out of the station and onto the open track.

[@rick6612]

Here is something I am curious about. I understand that HEP requires running the engine at ~900 RPM so the alternator will generate 60 Hz AC power to run the lights, HVAC, etc., in the passenger cars. Based on the comments others have posted, running the engine at that speed means setting the throttle to notch 8. I always thought the throttle in a train engine worked like the gas pedal in a car, where notch 1 would be like barely touching the gas pedal and notch 8 would be like "pedal to the metal" full throttle. I guess this is not really the case, though. Obviously, the engine can't really be running at full throttle/full power all the time. I'm guessing that the throttle set to notch 8 must really signal the engine control system to run the engine at a certain RPM, and the actual air/fuel supply to the engine must vary depending on the load so as to maintain a constant RPM. So, my question is, how does the engineer control the speed of the train, if the throttle is always set to 8? Is there a separate speed control of some kind that is used to vary the actual output of the generator that powers the traction motors?

[@SouthShoreTrain]

Rick Hogan To make it simple, think of the throttle notches as RPM settings. The engine governor keeps the engine at the correct RPM for each notch. The governor also controls how hard the main generator loads (how much current goes to the traction motors). HEP keeps the engine at full RPMs, but unless the engineer has his throttle above idle, the main generator doesn't load. As the engineer advances his throttle, the generator begins to load, the governor supplies more fuel to keep the RPMs constant, and moves the load regulator to increase or decrease generator loading based of conditions such as, but not limited to, wheel slip and the amount of fuel being injected. This design also allows faster acceleration because you don't have to wait for the engine to rev up, something I imagine Metra really likes.

[@rick6612]

Hi SST, That seems consistent with what I was thinking. The thing I am still confused about is how the engineer controls the train. My impression is that there is just one throttle lever that the engineer uses to control the amount of power going to the wheels. If the engineer has to put the throttle on notch 8 to run the engine at the correct RPM for HEP, then how does he control the generator load/output? Is there a separate control lever for that? Or, perhaps the engine is set for HEP mode by flipping a separate switch which tells it to run the engine at the correct RPM for HEP, and then the throttle lever is still used to control the generator load/output, which in turn controls how much power is delivered to the wheels to make the train go?

[@SouthShoreTrain]

Rick Hogan Your separate switch theory is correct.

[@KuntalGhosh]

@@rick6612 the throttle lever controls the genarator field.. check the videos about alternator & then u will know that if u give more voltage to the field winding (which is the armature of an alternator) it will produce more volts and thus making more power and putting load on the engine. And when u idle it the genarator field is cut off. & Thats why there is always another small alternator connected to the engine to run the accesories .. this eliminates another extra transformer and more switches for the traction motors. Due to the heavy current draw and specially dc traction. It will require some huge and expensive relay & complex electronics to control the motors if the genarator output was at fixed voltage... The just connect the main alternator with some fuse & diodes to the traction motor. Even though modern ac traction locos uses complex electronics & scr or igbt drive to have more precise control on torque and speed. But these locos r less reliable cuz u can blow an igbt very easily.

[@ErickC]

@@rick6612: There is a rotary switch that has three modes. NORMAL maintains 893 RPM, varies power response with field excitation, and is used when supplying HEP. STANDBY runs the engine at 720 RPM and is used for short-term stopovers. The throttle is inactive in this mode. ISOLATE does not supply HEP and the locomotive has a conventional throttle response with an idle speed of 410 RPM. Typically only one unit in a consist needs to run in NORMAL mode, so the rest would operate in ISOLATE.

[@Creeperboy099]

This is what I love about machines They’re certainly not sentient, but they sound like they are very much alive Edit: I hope the F40PH’s stay around for the next time I visit my family in Chicago, these things are rare except for Metra’s abundant fleet

[@JohnAckerman31]

I love the F40PH-2 locomotives. I always think of them as Metra's workhorse because you see them almost everywhere

[@TheRealEasyA]

John Ackerman They are essentially.

[@hunterneitzel3012]

Metra even has a variation of the f40ph that has a streamlined(or flatnose) cab, that being the f40ph-2m/f40ph-3m. See them on the bnsf racetrack all the time

[@JohnAckerman31]

@@hunterneitzel3012 I’ve seen them when my friend and I go out to Naperville. You’ll also catch them on the Southwest Service and the Rock Island lines

[@thetrainshop]

The engines have a layover system to keep the engine hot for startup. The train is also hooked into layover HEP when it is layed over to keep power in the cars.

[@SouthShoreTrain]

I would have to guess it has to do with ventilation in the stations. It is always best to let an engine (especially a diesel) warm up before you put it under any kind of heavy load. In Union Station, there isn't really a lot of ventilation. You can quickly start to smell the exhaust from an idling engine in there. In Ogilvie there is better ventilation so they do not have to worry so much about the exhaust building up.

[@maas1208]

Lasalle really open more open than Ogilvie however millennium is really enclosed but luckily EMUs are used so no smoke at all

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

It's no wonder why they earned them the nickname screamer

[@dfwrailvideos]

Imagine a battle between F40PH and a little kid who was just denied a toy.

[@reesecole2031]

Well its engine is basically running at full speed

[@anhkietduongdo]

@@reesecole2031 Nah it's the HEP constantly running at 900 rpm

[@pootispiker2866]

​@@anhkietduongdothe HEP is the engine.

[@SantaFebuff]

We missed the on @ La Salle, but at least you got this one!

[@SouthShoreTrain]

Trust me, it is my goal to get one starting up before they are all gone.

[@WindyCityExpeditionist]

This locomotive sounds powerful as fuck than I ever seen all my years railfanning metra. Not going to lie.

[@SouthShoreTrain]

I was told that the small amount of power going through the MU cable could be used to charge the batteries, but it takes so long it is impractical.

[@CaptainTransit]

Alright, so once the buzzer starts sounding, you have 30 seconds to get out of the engine room/away from any mechanical parts, correct?

[@SouthShoreTrain]

Safety wise you shouldn't be near any moving parts unless autostart is disabled, but yes, the buzzer sounds as a warning that the piece of equipment is going to start up. The carbody can be occupied while the engine is running.

[@atomstarfireproductions8695]

It’s a warning in case for some reason is working on something near the engine, to either get out or abort the startup. On some locomotives the buzzer also sounds before shutting down the engine. I have no clue why.

[@cgwry7]

Never know what you'll find in a Shed!!! Awesome Catch!

[@B5guy]

Wonderful sound.......

[@theF40PH]

At 3:34 what is that starting up is that the cooling fans?

[@travishunt4562]

Yes

[@BossSpringsteen69]

+theF40PH The hi speed cooling fan. I used to live next to the CNW/UP main next to a station and typically during the rush hour you would either hear the fan on already while the train is stopping. Or it would turn on during its station stop. Sometimes it would turn off before station departure. The last trains of the day during the midnight hours going out west the fan almost never turned on. It all depended on how heavy the passenger load and or how hard the engine was working at that time.

[@graythewolf6096]

That's the radiator fan for HEP. Yes, it is a cooling fan.

[@moonoink]

you should try to videotape an F40C Starting up

[@ingenjelly5480]

Holly molly I never realized that f40s start up so quick!

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

beautiful sound

[@ColinMucha]

Unfortunately now both F40Cs are in long term storage

[@maas1208]

Can you do 217 start up

[@wifelikecow]

probably, but yo gunna need some seriously heavy and long cables! (really, they just use the HEP unit onboard or the alternator charges the battery)

[@dmvspotting]

OH SHIT THE INTRO SCARED ME!

[@dwkcamman611]

Nice catch!

[@wifelikecow]

In other words the engine has a preheater, is that correct?

[@Cnw8701]

That sounds like a 710! Did MPI retrofit them with new engines?

[@graythewolf6096]

Very interesting question.

[@Thunderhawk-fr6qv]

No they are still 645E3 engines. Progress Rail rebuilt these units not MPI. 100-127 still don't have the Q fans like the remaining F40s (hence which is why they still scream louder). I believe this unit here is 215 which is now sitting at the Western Avenue yard due to a fire in Morton Grove a few months back.

[@maas1208]

@@Thunderhawk-fr6qv fun fact metra f40ph 215 used to be amtrak f40ph 258

[@Thunderhawk-fr6qv]

@@maas1208 yep. I think the 216 and 217 were also Amtrak units. 217 also ran for the VRE

[@maas1208]

@@Thunderhawk-fr6qv there is hope for 215 they should turn 215 into the zero emissions battery f40ph locomotives

[@rattacular12]

MU cables dont relay power to the batteries. Everything else you have there is correct.

[@SouthShoreTrain]

Yeah its probably because Union is mostly enclosed under ground and Ogilvie is more open

[@maas1208]

Lasalle really open more open than Ogilvie however millennium is really enclosed but luckily EMUs are used so no smoke at all

[@SouthShoreTrain]

1:45 is the HEP activation, but Screaming Thunderbox Mode works too. lol

[@megatwingo]

Wow! Cool sound. Thumbs up! :) Greetings Mega

[@lexmarks567]

wonder what happens if a locomotive fails to turn over due to bad batteries. do they use another locomotive to jump start it lol

[@Browningarchery93]

You can do that

[@BossSpringsteen69]

I've watched that quite a few times.

[@Harbourfire]

What is HEP shortened for?

[@SouthShoreTrain]

Head End Power - a system that supplies electricity to the passenger cars.

[@hyvahyva]

USEFUL BOOKMARKS: Engine crank(?) at 0:42 Screaming Thunderbox Mode activated at 1:45 Radiator fans start at 3:30.

[@SouthShoreTrain]

Oh yeah!!!

[@coydog7902]

What does HEP do?

[@rick6612]

HEP is Head End Power. It's the electrical power supply to run the lights and HVAC in the passenger cars.

[@BroadwayLTDProductions]

THIS IS WHAT REAL POWER SOUNDS LIKE!!!! EMD = EXTREMELY MANLY DIESELS!!!!!!!

[@SkyhawkACE123]

We will get the same thing but from an F40C at fprd

[@SOU6900]

Sounded like the batteries were little weak.

[@BossSpringsteen69]

This was actually quick. I've started some that really were hard turnovers.

[@oakcreekrailroadproduction3907]

sounds very similar to an sd70 startup

[@graythewolf6096]

I think they have the same engine thats why.

[@TrashBulldogProductions]

The F40PH has the 645 prime mover while the SD70 has the 710 prime mover.

[@yaraihan]

Like CC 205 (EMD GT38ACe) Startup

[@thetrainshop]

Yes sir!

[@SouthShoreTrain]

Yeah, we should have thought more at LaSalle before we walked away lol

[@monica012077]

nice!

[@scrappiron6307]

METRA!

[@ag6371]

The radiator fans start 2 minutes after HEP starts

[@RailBrothersProductions]

Metra 215 before it burned up to a crisp lol.

[@SouthShoreTrain]

No

[@SouthShoreTrain]

Sad face

[@carlzipperman6689]

Not much of a warm up lol