Engine numbers 306 and 307 stopped at the station in Truckee, California Thursday afternoon on the 24th, being towed from the Siemens Mobility Plant in Sacramento, California, behind the current generation of the old fleet engines 206 and 77. Amtrak's promo shows the new generation mentioned above of number 300 with those bright red chevrons on the rear of the new contract in tow. The dark blue with the numbers up front of the engine makes the new ones easy to spot.
The contract with Siemens was for 75 engines that are known as the ALC42 Chargers can reach a speed of 125 MPH with the average speed of 66 MPH being normal route speeds. Each new engine cost $6.6 million each. They are powered by Cummins QSK95's with Tier4 emissions that reduce nitrogen oxide by more than 89 % and particulate matter by 95%. https://www.businessinsider.com/amtraks-new-diesel-electric-siemens-chargers-locomotives-2021-8
So, with Amtrak showing # 300 in their promotional photos, the two engines being towed that passed through Truckee being # 306 and 307, I had seen one other a few weeks back and didn't realize that it was being towed behind the two regular service engines. So,check out the amazing shots of the promotional engine #300 on an Amtrak search via the link above that will open in a separate window.
The Truckee train is known as #6 California Zephyr that runs daily from Emeryville, outside San Francisco to Chicago. The #5 Zephyr is the same train but is westbound to Emeryville from Chicago.I have ridden the # 5 from Chicago to Denver. Amazing 18 hours and my bucket list includes the Zephyr as it goes through the both the Carson Range and the Sierra Mountains.
