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Caption: While this mystery unit is in unpainted primer, hints of green on the pre-painted components and the numberboards reveal her identity: brand new GO Transit F59PH 539, still in an unpainted and semi-primered state, stretches her legs on the test track at the GMD London locomotive assembly plant on a snowy winter's day. At the time GMD was building GO Transit's second order of F59PH commuter locomotives, units 536-547 (GCE-430h class) and 539, serial number A-4878, was the 4th unit constructed. She would hit the paint shop and emerge fully painted and lettered for her new owner a week or two later, along with sister unit 538.
The F59PH invasion would continue for a further two orders, and completely eradicate the remaining pre-F59 power from GO's roster (the GP40-2W's, F40PH's, rebuilt ex-ROCK GP40-3's and APCU/APU F-units). 539 would soldier on for two decades in commuter service, until eventual retirement and sale Rosen Beaudin (RB) Leasing in March 2010 with a few sister units. While RBRX has sold off almost all of its ex-GO F59's (and scrapped a few), 539's disposition after is unknown.
Gord Taylor photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.
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Amazing how these things get tested without a coach.
This looks like something out of desert storm.
@Driver8666..why would a locomotive being tested need a coach?
@ngineered4u: I’ve always wondered how they test the HEP to make sure that it works without a physical coach being dragged along to test it.
Good question Driver8666. I am not sure how the HEP is tested at the builders? Perhaps they have a test bed that simulates the HEP there.
I know that when I was running the GO trains we had a separate system onboard to check the HEP system. I am sure GO tests the HEP with coaches at Willowbrook. I tested the first MP40 621 on the GO sub and it was just the locomotive alone.
@ngineered4u:
Could be a test bed that simulates the HEP over there. How did the locomotive perform if you can speak of it?
I always thought “okay we’re ordering locomotives from you, here’s a spare car to test out the HEP”.
Guess it doesn’t work out that way.