The Old Becomes New Again on the MBTA Commuter Rail | Boston Railroading Explained: GP40MC Rebuilds

[@BostonByRails]

New Geeps or Old Geeps? ⬇️

[@heylol2187]

i kind of like the new, the e bells sound better with the geeps in my opinion, but 1127 is defo one of my favorite :D Also, did you go to railfan day?

[@samstranghorwitz]

Old geeps as a kid I watched them cruise the corridor honk their horns and their classic bronze bell being rang. But I do love the new geeps e bells are okay. Overall old geeps.

[@BostonByRails]

@@heylol2187 didn't make it out, maybe next year!

[@BostonByRails]

@@samstranghorwitz the railfan in me says old geeps for sure, they get me super excited! But man, the new geeps really are fantastic and a great look for the railroad

[@theelectricwalrus]

I guess I just like the new

[@TrainiacTed]

Seeing the Grand Junction in use is always amazing, after living in boston for my whole life only this year I realized how much it get's used,

[@NYCS19339]

If I visit, where is the grand junction?

[@burstintotreats6654]

Probably easiest to say it's the track that runs along Vassar st. through MIT and over the Charles. It connects a bunch of various stuff lol.. didn't realize just how much there was until I checked the wiki en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Junction_Railroad

[@thomasstambaugh5181]

20 years ago I worked at 640 Memorial Drive (the lovely restored brick building at the Cambridge end of the BU Bridge. I used to walk alongside the Grand Junction at lunch, just to enjoy being close to rails. I'm pretty sure -- though not 100% -- that when I worked there, decking was still in place alongside the span across the Charles. In those days, the Ringling Bros/Barnum & Bailey circus train parked on the Grand Junction while the circus was in town. That was really fun, and I had many enjoyable conversations with circus workers hanging out during the day.

[@Seabee_Camper]

The paintwork on the Rochester GPs is fantastic. I love it.

[@JesseCampbell0]

I still remember watching the F40s and FP10s from my father's apartment near South Acton station, those are still what I think of when I picture "the old" :)

[@ericschwartz3559]

9:42, mistake. It’s actually the F40PH-2s which were nicknamed screamers due to the need for their engines to rev much higher than most other locomotives and for their extremely loud main generator. They did not a Head End Power Generator and therefore needed more power to help move both the coaches and power electronics in the coaches that control heating and air conditioning, doors and lights inside the passenger cars with the help from being pulled by a diesel locomotive with wires connecting from the back of the locomotive to the passenger cars for electricity to flow through from the working diesel engine because its diesel-electric to power all those things. Those electric currents travel throughout all the cars with wires connecting between the cars. They were built in 1978-80 by General Motors’ Electro Motive Division (EMD) and overhauled by Bombardier in 1989. The last of the screamers (1013) was retired in 2015. Most of them have already been taken off MBTA property for scrapping, with 1008 and 1013 AS THE LAST TWO REMAINING SCREAMERS ON PROPERTY stored at Rochester, MA out of service and the 1008 is awaiting disposition and it’s been collecting rust, dirt, grime and deteriorating rapidly since it was stored on an unused rail line down in the Cape near the MBTA Commuter Rail Maintenance, Storage And Equipment Repair Facility in Rochester for 9 years where they store, fix, overhaul and maintain the MBTA’s old decrepit rail equipment and inspect and test brand new equipment just delivered from the manufacturer to be released into passenger service since 2015, with the 1013 possibly being preserved and completely restored. These engines were originally due for retirement in 2005, so they were ten years overdue by the time 1013 took its last run on July 10, 2015, pulling a local 5-coach train to Rockport for the final time under its own power with no rescue set or engine assisting it, once the train reached Rockport, the 1013 was announced to be “officially dead”, with it going back to North Station as a double draft with new HSP46 2012 pushing the rescue set from the rear. 1013 was at the back of its set since it was in push mode and heading inbound. When the train reached Boston, 1013’s set was dropped off at BET by the rescue set and the 1013 was permanently removed from service and never to run again “officially dead”. The set was done with passenger rides for the day and stayed at BET. The rescue set continued another few hundred feet to its final destination of North Station, completing the trip.

[@redtrainproductions]

8:18 that horn is amazing. Reminds me of the Go transit bilevel cab cars back when they had K5LAs

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Great video, and I must say I like both the old and new, and hope they remain in service for a very long time !

[@slim.reacts]

I will miss the old jeeps but I ride the Lowell line for college so I’ll probably still see them. I used to see the 2C and GP40s on the south side in the 2010s as a kid so I can’t wait for the rebuilds and hopefully they come back south!

[@plymouthrock7282]

Awesome video. The Heritage unit was on display at the Railfan day yesterday in Hyannis Being close to Rochester, I’m going to have to take a ride over. Thanks again

[@BostonByRails]

Yes! It's a very neat area. Just make sure you do not go onto the property of the shops, they are extremely strict on trespassing. Have fun!

[@nudu3219]

There’s an MBTA heritage unit?

[@DillianTrainzStudios]

@@nudu3219 Yes there is. 1129 was recently repainted into the MBTA's Cranberry paint scheme, which was used on some of the railroad's old FP10's.

[@davidbartlett7344]

Great video well presented with excellent facts ......keep up the great work for to view

[@pinchy08]

Be sure to do a video about test trains on the South Coast Rail Project between Middleborough, Fall River, and New Bedford.

[@osurpless]

It would definitely help sooth over the latest delay.

[@F40M07]

13:08 Amtrak 100 (Midnight Blue HU)

[@conorontherails]

Long Live EMD! Long Live the GP40MC!

[@asdemu4300]

Nice video. I really hope 1135 gets an NHRR paint scheme, that unit has been my favorite since childhood.

[@SleepTrain456]

I found this quite an informative video! I've noticed that while some of the GP40MCs have e-bells _and_ LED lighting, others have only e-bells (but regular lighting), and still others retain their mechanical bells. Now, I know why: some were rebuilt at BET, others were sent to Rochester (I didn't know about that facility), and still others haven't been rebuilt yet. Thanks for the video!

[@BostonByRails]

Indeed! Glad you enjoyed it. There are also a good bunch of geeps rebuilt at BET with Ebells AND LED's. The first 5 or so were given LEDs, but then Keolis decided to just keep the normal headlights for some reason. So, the paint scheme is really the biggest giveaway

[@SleepTrain456]

​@@BostonByRails, you make a good point! Hence, I'll remember: if it's fresh on top and unrepainted on the bottom, it's BET-rebuilt; if it's a heritage unit, a MassDOT unit, or super-fresh, it's a Rochester unit; and if it's not repainted at all, it's an unrebuilt unit. Thanks for the comment!

[@Trainsandanimationstv]

I'm honestly really going to miss the old equipment on MBTA, especially on the south side like the MBB cab cars, F40ph 2cs, and yes the older Gp40mcs because they were a huge part of my childhood

[@DillianTrainzStudios]

BRO SAME

[@mbtarailfan2024]

Same here brother

[@rosarioyeen1371]

it's not a Boston By Rails video without a special guest appearance from the Readville Switcher, and it's looking great in that fresh MBTA purple!

[@ASHMONT1757]

awesome also me & friends we rebuilding 04 chevy impala

[@SuperOwensTrainsYT]

I’m from Shirley so i get NS CSX old mbta and PAN AM/B&E

[@samstranghorwitz]

I hope 1129 will be on the south side. Great video!

[@2005GLI]

Awesome video!

[@OceanStateRail]

Always will have 1134 as a favorite but I also enjoyed filming 1137 and 1138 in Rhode Island. Also eager to see 1129.

[@MikeBehrensWX]

I always wondered why the MBTA uses what I would call "freight style" locos instead of all "passenger style" ones.

[@TLT_Productions]

0:42 “readville switcher” snuck in audio 💀

[@BostonByRails]

I have literally been waiting a whole year for someone to point that out. You are shockingly the first to find that Boston By Easter Egg. Congrats

[@TLT_Productions]

@@BostonByRailsthis is my life achievement (literally) im so surprised no one else noticed this before me lol

[@kablaster449]

@@BostonByRails "thats a problem"

[@buttersrow426]

More 1100 rebuilds to come as 1118, 1127 and 1132 are down in Rochester. The automatic door system is called "Traction Interlock"

[@JohnnyAngel8]

How do these engines and cars get cleaned? Does the MBTA have a drive-though wash for them or is it done by hand? I think all the engines and cars would look terrific if kept clean.

[@sirmister4411]

For a young man you do a great job explaining what’s going on You a good narrator for the videos. Thanks for making them

[@justanf40phrailfan21]

I used to remember when GP40MC 1131 and 1133 as non rebuilds. 2 years later, went into BET and came out with e-bells. I was like “damn 2 years later? Felt like 5 weeks” but over all i prefer both old and new. No matter how much 1134, 1127, gets older. Someday rebuild is going to happen. And i hope that they will have there original purple color scheme

[@jmream2618]

I think Amtrak should give the MBTA they’re old P42s to have a second life & it would be cool to see a P42 painted into the MBTA paint scheme

[@NA_Railfanning_Productions]

I’m going to miss the old Geeps. The new ones are still awesome. How would you feel if Amtrak rebuilt the AEM7s?

[@netrainvideos1501]

saw 1127 in a line of dead equipment at BET with 1125 last week. Looks like 1134s the only original left in service.

[@ericschwartz3559]

I still wonder why 1136 still has a steel bell like 1134 and its twin, 1137 got an e-bell during its rebuild and both were rebuilt in Rochester? it just bugs me. I like the blue MassDOT paint scheme on 1125, 1136 and 1137, it makes them look sharp for such old locomotives. Go EMD and Go GP40MC, every rail fan loves you both.

[@mbtarailfan2024]

Wish they did this to the 3cs instead of painting the purple and black I mean I like the purple and black phase but to my opinion I like the lighting bolt better

[@Songtrains1]

Amtrak 100 is in the clip or MBTA 1120 passes MBTA 1134 on the left side

[@OceanStateRail]

1117 also has ran the NEC in revenue I believe so that leaves 1125

[@busydadscooking001]

1:03 did you take that video yesterday? i saw a dude in ruggles station filming my commuter train on an iphone :D

[@BostonByRails]

Cool! Wouldntve been me, all the footage in my videos is from 3-4 months before theyre posted. I have a large backlog

[@busydadscooking001]

@@BostonByRails tbh i am not totally sure if that's even ruggles as idk what the station looks like from .. outside a train .. rarely get off there. but i was wondering. ;)

[@BostonByRails]

Ah yes, the clip youre talking about is south station. Np!

[@sirmister4411]

Like the new paint schemes love the old bell Like the mass DOT blue and cranberry color I hate the purple

[@dominictherailfan]

I feel like there is going to be a debate about Mbta 1129 it would go like what would call the Mbta 1129 cranberry scheme or maroon scheme

[@austonianb]

Totally in the Cranberry Club.

[@dominictherailfan]

I am going maroon

[@austonianb]

@@dominictherailfan Fist shaking emoji.

[@BostonByRails]

It's tough...I have heard it called Cranberry more officially, but honestly, I think any name fits!

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

I've been a Railfan in New England since the late 1960s starting with my older Brother and Father in the Boston area and seen all the greal RRs NH, NYC, (PC), B&M, and north, south & west to the DH, MEC, BAR, CV, CP, GM, CN, PW into Guilford to Pan Am. I Never got excited about the MBTA at all, except when they got rebuilt F3/F7s (FP10) from GM&O I took photos of them in 1978', but I never like the MBTAs Purple paint !! 👎 I do feel bad for today's Railfans though, my time in the hobby was the very best with all the Fallen Flags still running with 1st, 2nd Gen power 3-5 builders and great paint schemes with No freak'n crap Graffiti right up in the 1980s !! 👍 I've lived in Exeter, NH 50ft from the mainline on Main St the last 30 years moving here because of the location and seeing Everything go by !

[@PDelahanty]

1138 would be George Lucas's favorite MBTA locomotive...except he'd have it in a THX 1138 paint job.

[@brian8152]

GP40s are my favorite MBTA locomotives. F40s my 2nd favorite. Not really a fan of the new round nosed locomotives whatever they’re called. HSP46s I think

[@easternroutemainlinevideos6823]

1127 is dead. 1134 is the last one kicking. It’s a fantastic pulling engine, it’s gonna be a sad day when it gets rebuilt

[@BostonByRails]

Yeaaaa so ive heard. Wild that all it took for me was to delay this video a month and the locos im talking about are cooked. Oh well!

[@samstranghorwitz]

1127 is still in service? Or dead?

[@samstranghorwitz]

My guess 1134 will have 2-5 more years. Before rebuild.

[@BostonByRails]

@@samstranghorwitz probably less than a year. 1127 is already dead and ready for rebuild. Once the next few geeps are released from BET theyll be ready to take on new ones like 1127 and 1134

[@aksyoutube9082]

I hate seeing the old units all rusty and beaten. They deserve fresh paint and parts for all their hard work. I’m a fan of the new paint on the old locomotives but not a fan of new aerodynamic locomotives. Keep the old iron running as long as possible.

[@gravemind452]

keep the geeps old bells

[@Songtrains1]

Did you notice Amtrak 100 the dark the navy blue unit in the background?

[@VictoryHighway]

Mechanical bells > e-bells.

[@NoamTheGOAT50]

WTF?

[@Songtrains1]

Did you notice Amtrak 100 the dark the navy blue unit in the background?