E-60CP locomotive No. 975, late 1970s.
Black and white photograph showing a heads-on view of E-60CP locomotive No. 975. Photograph probably dates to the late 1970s, as the unit wears the Phase II paint scheme introduced in 1975.
- Photograph Details
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- Date Archived:
- October 9, 2013
- Geography:
- Northeast
- Decade:
- 1970s
- Data Format:
- Image
- Download the full-sized version of this photo
By the mid-1970s, the GG-1 electric locomotives Amtrak had purchased from the Pennsylvania Railroad were nearing the end of their useful lives. Amtrak began the search for a replacement, eventually deciding on the General Electric E-60. Based on existing freight locomotives, the boxy design gave the 70 foot long unit a solid, heavy appearance. Each of the 26 locomotives ordered weighed in at 193.5 tons and could achieve approximately 6000 horsepower. Like the GG-1, the E-60 was also a dual cab design, meaning that it could be operated in either direction for a quick turn-around.
The E-60s were later joined by the AEM-7s, which became the new "workhorse" of the Northeast Corridor and Keystone Corridor. Some of the heavy E-60s were sold to other railroads at that time while the remaining units operated primarily on long-distance trains between New York and Washington until the last E-60s were retired in 2003.
Photographer: Unknown for Amtrak.