The General Electric P30CH, affectionately nicknamed the “Pooch,” was among the first all-new diesel-electric locomotives built for Amtrak, and is now available for Train Simulator.
Nicknamed after the similarities in its P30CH designation, the “Pooch” locomotives were designed around General Electric’s 3,000-horsepower U30C, but with a streamlined “cowl” more attractive for passenger service. The P30CH was also the first Amtrak diesel locomotive built from the factory that offered Head End Power (HEP), supplied by auxiliary powerplants and alternators.
As the first Amtrak diesels equipped with HEP, the Pooches first went to work hauling short-distance Amfleet-equipped trains, then were also employed on select long-distance trains such as the Chicago-New Orleans Panama Limited and the Washington, D.C.-Savannah (Georgia) segment of the Palmetto. With Amtrak’s decision to standardize on the Electro-Motive F40PH, the P30CH was destined to become an orphan in a world of F40PHs, a fact exemplified by Amtrak’s willingness to lease the Pooches to the Southern Pacific in 1978 for Bay Area commuter service.
But the big P30CHs found a pair of regular homes that extended their operational lives into the early 1990s. One of those regular assignments was Amtrak’s Los Angeles-New Orleans Sunset Limited, which called upon pairs of the Pooches to make the nearly 2,000-mile run across the American southwest. And the other was Amtrak’s Auto-Train operation between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida. The P30CHs were finally retired in 1992.
The GE P30CH for Train Simulator recreates the locomotive in Amtrak’s “Phase III” livery and features of the model include dynamic braking, rear and forward headlight control, gyralight, and classification lights.
Also included are a Phase III-liveried Amfleet II coach, Amfleet Café/Lounge, a Heritage Baggage car, Heritage Diner, and Heritage Dome-Coach.
The locomotive is also Quick Drive compatible, giving you the freedom to drive the Amtrak P30CH on any Quick Drive enabled route for Train Simulator, such as those available through Steam. Also included are scenarios specifically for the Miami – West Palm Beach route (available separately and required to play these scenarios).
Scenarios
Three scenarios for the Miami – West Palm Beach route:
- Northern Meteor – Part 1
- Northern Meteor – Part 2
- Take Me Out to the Ball Game
More scenarios are available on Steam Workshop online and in-game. Train Simulator’s Steam Workshop scenarios are free and easy to download, adding many more hours of exciting gameplay. With scenarios being added daily, why don’t you check it out now!
Key Features
- GE P30CH in Amtrak Phase III livery
- Dynamic braking
- Rear headlight control
- Forward headlight control
- Gyralight control
- Classification lights
- Phase III Amfleet Coaches and Café/Lounge cars
- Phase III Amtrak Heritage Baggage car , Heritage Diner, and Dome-Coach
- Quick Drive compatible
- Scenarios for the Miami – West Palm Beach route
- Download size: 331mb
