GO Transit 520-568
GO Transit 500-568 are GMDD F59PHs. They were built in four batches starting in 1988, and other than the four sold to TRE in Texas, all remained on the roster until the beginning of 2009, when the units in the first order began to be retired and sold. They were the mainstay of GO Transit's locomotive fleet in the 1990's and into the mid 2000's.
Their purchase in 1988 marked a return to having a single unit having a separate HEP engine and generator, as opposed to the shaft-driven HEP system of the F40PH. As well, they were GO's first units equipped with computerized systems, and thus allowed for a substantial increase in performance and reliability.
Due to service cuts, GO Transit retired and sold off a number of surplus locomotives and cars in the mid-90's. F59PH's 565-564 were sold to Trinity Railway Express along with a number of early bilevels in 1997, the logic being GO would receive a higher return by selling off newer locomotives.
Despite having been rebuilt twice (and receiving upgraded HEP engines and generators), the units were becoming troublesome, with frequent failures necessitating a second unit being added to all weekend trains. The first order of units (520-535) were retired and sold off by April 2009, once all of the first order of MPI MP40PH-3Cs (600-626) were in service. The second F59 order and the majority of units in the third were retired when MP40 units 627-656 were delivered.
Gradually over 2010, a number of remaining units received electronic bells (e-bells) in place of their mechanical ones. Not all units received them however (an example being 564 which retained its mechanical bell).
Plans to rebuild some of the existing units again were put through in 2010. By early 2011, 558 and 559 returned to service after an overhaul and repaint; all units from 557 to 564 were eventually rebuilt for continued service, with the remaining units scattered below 557 retired and sold.
All GO F59PH's retired have been sold off, and many enjoy second careers under AMT, NC-Dot, TRE, and leased to AMT and VIA from RB Leasing, with some rebuilt and others just renumbered/re-lettered.
Orders
Fleet numbers |
Build date |
Serial numbers |
Class | Carbody style |
---|---|---|---|---|
520-535 | 1988 | A4745-A4760 | GCE-430g | Phase I |
536-547 | 1989/1990 | A4875-A4886 | GCE-430h* | Phase II |
548-561 | 1990 | A4914-A4927 | GCE-430k* | Phase II |
562-568 | 1994 | 926354-1-926354-7 | GCE-430m | Phase III** |
*546 and 547 were incorrectly lettered GCE-430k
*552 and 558 were incorrectly lettered GCE-430h; 558 now correctly lettered when repainted/rebuilt
**Phase III carbody variation sometimes called late Phase II
Details
Fleet number |
Thumbnail | Build Date |
Serial number |
Status/Disposal | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
520 | September 1988 | A4745 |
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First unit built. | |
521 | August 1988 | A4746 | |||
522 | July 1988 | A4747 | Was turned to face west to be used as a shop switcher. | ||
523 | August 1988 | A4748 | |||
524 | August 1988 | A4749 | |||
525 | 1988 | A4750 | |||
526 | 1988 | A4751 | |||
527 | August 1988 | A4752 | Briefly received new horizontal GO logos found on GO bus livery, only unit done. | ||
528 | 1988 | A4753 | |||
529 | September 1988 | A4754 |
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530 | September 1988 | A4755 | |||
531 | September 1988 | A4756 | |||
532 | 1988 | A4757 | Was turned to face west to be used as a shop switcher. | ||
533 | 1988 | A4758 |
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At some point in its GO career, received later style HEP grille area. | |
534 | September 1988 | A4759 |
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535 | September 1988 | A4760 |
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536 | December 1989 | A4875 |
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537 | December 1989 | A4876 |
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538 | 1989 | A4877 |
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539 | 1990 | A4878 |
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540 | January 1990 | A4879 |
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541 | 1990 | A4880 |
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542 | February 1990 | A4881 |
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543 | February 1990 | A4882 | 2011 |
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544 | February 1990 | A4883 | 2011 |
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545 | February 1990 | A4884 | 2011 |
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546 | February 1990 | A4885 |
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547 | 1990 | A4886 |
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548 | July 1990 | A4914 | 2011 |
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549 | 1990 | A4915 | 2011 |
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550 | July 1990 | A4916 | 2011 |
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551 | September 1990 | A4917 |
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552 | August 1990 | A4918 | 2011 |
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553 | August 1990 | A4919 | 2011 |
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554 | 1990 | A4920 |
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555 | August 1990 | A4921 | 2011 |
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556 | September 1990 | A4922 | 2011 |
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557 | 1990 | A4923 | Active | Rebuilt/refurbished during late September 2011 for continued service. | |
558 | September 1990 | A4924 | Active | Rebuilt/refurbished during January 2011 for continued service. | |
559 | September 1990 | A4925 | Active | Rebuilt/refurbished during January 2011 for continued service, first unit released. | |
560 | September 1990 | A4926 | Active | Rebuilt/refurbished sometime before late September 2011 for continued service. | |
561 | 1990 | A4927 | Active | Rebuilt/refurbished during January 2011 for continued service. | |
562 | 1994 | 926354-1 | Active | Rebuilt/refurbished during January 2011 for continued service. | |
563 | March 1994 | 926354-2 | Active | Rebuilt/refurbished during late September 2011 for continued service. | |
564 | March 1994 | 926354-3 | Active |
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565 | 1994 | 926354-4 | |||
566 | 1994 | 926354-5 | |||
567 | 1994 | 926354-6 | |||
568 | 1994 | 926354-7 |
- Most build dates verified by personal builder's plate checks of each unit. Build dates can vary in each order.