The Siemens ALC-42 Charger has come to L’Enfant

The future is now. For decades, General Electric “Genesis“ series locomotives have dominated US passenger rail outside of the Northeast Corridor. As late as the summer of 2023 you could stand by the main line just south of Union Station for hours and see nothing but P-42s, sometimes as many as 3 in a single train! But time just keeps on slipping. Amtrak is phasing out the “Genesis“ in favor of the new Siemens ALC-42 “Charger“, and that process has come to D.C. As of late February 2024 it’s a healthy mix of old and new, and as they’ve gone to the trouble of repainting some of the P-42s into Phase VII, you’ll probably still be able to catch these 90s era locomotives for years to come. But the era of the Genesis is ending. And, with Amtrak gearing up to replace the half-century old Amfleets, and with the Avelia Liberty set to begin service on the NEC even as soon as the end of this year, it’s an exciting time for railfans in the US. Come out a