New contract for the A.P.R.R.

The A.P.R.R. has been on an aggressive search for more motive power, property and new business. Last week, management has struck a deal with UPS to have them ship their trailers via train instead of highway to the area serviced by the A.P.R.R.

Recently, two new engines were delivered to the railroad and instantly put into service. A.P. #600 & #601, a pair of GP60 engines.

An EMD GP60 is a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1985 and 1994. The GP60 was EMD's first engine that was classified as a "third-generation" locomotive. Hidden behind the electrical cabinet doors on the rear wall of the cab, the GP60 concealed a trio of microprocessors that monitored and managed a host of engine, cooling system and control functions. The engine's on-board microprocessors replaced hundreds of wiring circuits, dozens of relays and all but one module card, making it an improvement among EMD's engines.

Power was provided by a 16-cylinder 710G3A diesel engine, which could produce 3,800 horsepower (2,800 kW). This locomotive was 59 feet 9 inches long and featured a 3,700-US-gallon (14,000 L) fuel tank. The GP60 series shared the same frame as the GP59. Cabless units of this locomotive model were also built; they were known as GP60B models, purchased exclusively by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Units built with a comfort/safety cab and a wide nose were designated GP60M and all purchased by the Santa Fe. A total of 294 GP60, 23 GP60B and 63 GP60M units were built by EMD. Due to the mainstream focus of railroads on powerful six-axle units, and strict emissions standards, the GP60 will most likely be the last new EMD "Geep".Rio Grande's first (and last) 60 series units were GP60s 3154–3156, built to SP specs in May 1990.

The A.P.R.R. acquired two of these units originally from the Rio Grande, then off to a leasing company where they were 'mothballed' for many years.

The engines were instantly assigned to this new business and headed out to the Croxton Intermodal Yard in NJ to pick up the first set of trailers. These will be delivered to the Reynolds Intermodal Terminal, where the trailers will be picked up by UPS for routing to their appropriate facilities in NJ. 

As the demand gets larger from UPS, the A.P. will add more service to and from Croxton. This will be a dedicated train, and will bypass Rock Ridge and head directly to and from Reynolds Intermodal Terminal