Siemens has rolled out the first production SC-44 Charger locomotive from its Sacramento facility, part of an eight-unit order for the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The order will power Cascades service linking Eugene, Ore. and Vancouver, Canada.
The Cascades service is being operated by Amtrak and jointly supported by WSDOT and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Top speed of the Siemens SC-44 is 124 mph from 4,400 hp generated by a Cummins QSK-95 prime-mover built to Tier 4 emissions standards.
Firm orders and options total 66 units by the states of California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri and Washington. Brightline of Florida has ordered Charger-powered integrated trainsets from Siemens.