Amtrak No. 603 is an E60MA type electric locomotive built by General Electric (GE) in June 1976 for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, also known as Amtrak, originally as their No. 964. Like the other E60 type locomotives, it was originally intended to replace the aging GG1 type locomotives originally used by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), which would later be succeeded by the Penn Central Transportation Company and then by Conrail after the catastrophic failure of the Penn Central. Unfortunately, due to the E60's problems in high-speed passenger service with their six-axle freight-style trucks, they were later ultimately replaced by the EMD AEM-7, and later, the Bombardier-Alstom HHP-8 in 2003.
No. 964 was originally classified as an E60CP, the CP designating that it was equipped with a steam generator to supply electricity and heating for Amtrak's older passenger equipment at the time. Sometime between 1986 and 1988, it was rebuilt and reclassified as an E60MA, the MA designating that it was rebuilt with a motor alternative. After its rebuild, it was also renumbered to 603. It was later retired from Amtrak in 2003 and eventually acquired by the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, PA for static display in April 2004. As of today, it remains on outdoor static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania alongside Amtrak AEM-7 No. 915 and PRR GG1 No. 4800, among other locomotives and rolling stock. It is also one of two E60 type locomotives surviving in preservation, the other one being New Jersey Transit (formerly Amtrak) No. 958 at the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey in Boonton, NJ.
Gallery[]
