NJ Transit Bombardier-built ALP-45DP 4501 at Hoboken Terminal on the evening of December 29th, 2011.
The ALP-45DP electro-diesel locomotive is derived from Bombardier's ALP-46 and uprated ALP-46A electric locomotives that have been used by NJ Transit since 2002. Its two Caterpillar 3512C-HD engines are arranged symmetrically around the transformer and traction converters to keep the weight balanced. As a result of the additional engine-generators, the ALP-45DP is approximately 6’7” longer and 88,000 lbs heavier than the ALP-46 and ALP-46A. Under the wires, the ALP-45DP has approximately 70% of the power of the ALP-46A (75% of the power of the ALP-46), although both its tractive effort and dynamic braking effort are similar. Away from the wires, it has much less power than in electric mode (55% to 72.5%), but has similar power and tractive effort characteristics to NJT's existing PL42AC diesel locomotives.
New Jersey Transit has ordered 26 of these locomotives to bridge gaps between non-electrified lines (the Raritan Valley Line and the southern section of the North Jersey Coast Line) and electrified sections of track into New York Penn Station, which has an ordinance prohibiting locomotives from emitting diesel smoke within its tunnels.
The first order is to be numbered 4500-4525. Unit 4501 arrived in the United States on March 13, 2011 at Port Newark, NJ, from where it was sent to the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado (over CSX by way of Selkirk Yard) for testing.
