Locomotive No. 901 leaving Washington Union Station, 1980.

In this image, AEM-7 locomotive No. 901, the first AEM-7 to enter revenue service, departs Washington for New York leading Metroliner Service train No. 108. Amtrak contracted with the General Motors Corporation's Electro-Motive Division (EMD) to  manufacture the AEM-7 electric locomotive, a high-speed, lightweight model based on Swedish designs. The AEM-7 was produced from 1978 to 1988, and can reach speeds up to 125 mph. Behind the locomotive are Amfleet cars, which were first put into service in 1975.

Prior to its departure, the locomotive was christened with a bottle of champagne by Congressman Robert W. Edgar of Pennsylvania, who was joined by officials from Amtrak, General Motors, Federal Railroad Administration and Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget (ASEA), the Swedish firm whose Rc4 locomotive heavily influenced the design of the AEM-7.

The steel beams and girders in the background were constructed as part of an uncompleted parking garage built behind Washington Union Station when it briefly served as the National Visitors' Center during and after the Bicentennial.

See other images of locomotive No. 901 in the Archives.

Photographer: Ed Wojtas for Amtrak. From the Amtrak Corporate Collection.