New F125 Metrolink Passenger Locomotive

The F125, also called the “Spirit”, is a diesel-electric passenger locomotive built by Electro-motive Diesel. EMD is owned by Caterpillar as part of a subsidiary company called Progress Rail. These locomotives are capable of reaching a top speed in service of 125 miles per hour and can put out 4,000 horsepower. Power for the locomotive’s AC traction motors is generated by a 20 cylinder Caterpillar engine. The F125 was designed to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s stringent “Tier 4” diesel emissions standards. As of late 2018, the Los Angeles area commuter service Metrolink is the only railroad to purchase the F125 with an order for 40 units. Metrolink plans on using the F125s to replace all of its F59PH and F59PHI locomotives. The prime movers in the retired locomotives will be scrapped, a requirement made by the funding grant Metrolink received to purchase the new locomotives. F125s first began arriving in Los Angeles for Metrolink service in the summer of 2016, but the new locomotives did not begin to enter regular service until late 2017. Let’s take a look at a number of F125 locomotives pulling and pushing trains in Los Angeles and Orange County.

[g-manonthego]

Actually, the F125’s can produce 4, 700 horsepower, but 1, 500 of that horsepower is devoted topowering the HEP generator. What strikes me is that the newer low-emissions passenger diesels that are running today (MP54AC, F125, Siemens Charger, and ALP45DP, although Dual Mode) do not have a 2nd Diesel engine for HEP control.

[TheDjinn]

I work at Metrolink’s Central Maintenance Facility in CypressPark CA and I get to see the awesome EMD F125 in action everyday. Truly an awesome sight to see day in and day out. I even got to meet EMD’s Chief designers for the F125 he’s a great guy.

[metalsnake.productions]

I got an amazing horn show a month or so ago from an F125. It was great!

[CentralPennRailProductions]

Great video, looks awesome on my 4K-60p display! I think the F125's are a bit louder than the Siemens SC-44's.

[busterbanks]

Will be sad to see all the F59’s gone. But I really love the F125’s

[MrBnsftrain]

2:41 that shot really shows how minimized an F125's emissions can be!

[jessemg]

kinda looks like a mix between a genesis and f59phi

[vishnunath]

Fantastic coverage of the new motive power. End of the road for EMD 2stroke locos

[blakrootz]

@3:11...That's the Golden Time of Day and phenomenal footage. Luv'd it.

[amtrak_]

I think these should be future Amtrak locomotives!

[MrGsweatherchannel]

Those old Bombardier coaches ride very well.

[tehangrybird]

I almost bursted into tears when he said the prime movers from the F59phi’s will be scrapped

[alexisvaldez]

Those Metrolink F125’s are the best Mike!

[kevp]

You Rock, Mr. Mike Armstrong AKA +CoasterFan2105! :-D

[adventuresofamtrakcascades]

Despite being a lower pollution locomotive, the F125 still sounds almost as loud as their F59 predecessors

[westep]

I remember watching that locomotive getting delivered on the la Plata railcam

[Brandonvilches]

I’m in tears that there replacing the FP59PH/FP59PHI with the F125. they were awesome locomotives for metrolink.

[TNS]

Whittle Shortline needs to update their engines and get the latest Metrolink engines

[wharris]

I prefer the looks of these 125s to the chargers

[BNSFBishop]

Great narration and fantastic camera. I subbed!