Metrolink's F59PH Loco

(Context: I wrote this as a school paper and decided to throw it up here)

In the mid eighties, Government of Ontario Transit (GO Transit) was looking to replace its fleet of older locomotives, including GP40TC, F40PH, GP40-2W and GP40-3 models, and worked with Electro-Motive Division, to improve upon previous and existing passenger locomotive models in a number of ways, and ultimately creating the F59PH locomotive. Overtime, GO Transit would become the largest owner of F59PH locomotives, over a period of 6 years (1988-1994) ordering four separate batches of the locomotive, with 49 at its peak. In the early years of the locomotive, some traveled to the United States as demonstrators, including GOT 552 to California. This contributed to the startup of Metrolink, in 1991, by the SCRRA (Southern California Regional Rail Authority), with regular service starting on October 26, 1992. Metrolink trains are operated under contract by Amtrak. Metrolink was the only other original owner besides GO Transit, ordering 19 units in 1992. In 1993, another four units were ordered from EMD.

As Metrolink expanded, more orders were placed for the successor F59PHI model, the I indicating the cab is Isolated, providing the crew with more comfort and a quieter ride, and the body has a more streamlined shape (which I personally don't think looks as good as the F59PH). Metrolink units are equipped with Phase 2 carbodys, with red marker lights on the nose and a single marker light above the cab windows (GO Transit models lacked these features.)

Metrolinks F59PHs have had about four different paintschemes, the first being the periwinkle blue striped version, then the ribbon scheme, seen on the majority of Metrolink’s equipment, and then my personal favorite, the-white-with-a-stripe-scheme-that-i-have-no-idea-what-the-proper-name-is.

In 2009/2010, some of the remaining F59PHs (some have been scrapped, sold, etc.) were rebuilt by Motive-Power Industries to Tier 2 Emissions standards. The units ended up as F59PHRs. Delivery of the F125 locomotive in 2016 initiated retirement of all unrebuilt F59PHs. Just 5 of the F59PHs are left, (road nos. 852, 856, 861, 868, 873). These units are part of Metrolinks reserve fleet, but for some reason (possibly because almost all of the F59PHI units have been sold to an operation in Mexico, along with some of the F59PHs), have been seen operating frequently recently on lines.