{"product_id":"in-stock-athearn-n-15304-f59phi-north-carolina-dot-city-of-asheville-1797","title":"Athearn N 15304 F59PHI, North Carolina DOT \"City of Asheville\" #1797","description":"The EMD F59PHI is a high speed locomotive produced by Electro-Motive Division (EMD) from 1994 to 2001. It features an isolated cab, lightweight body, and a streamlined shape, features that were absent on the original commuter F59PH.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst built for the California Department of Transportation (CDoT), the F59PHI has seen service in all four corners of America (mostly seen in California), as well as in the Pacific Northwest\/Montreal area in Canada, and most recently Chicago's METRA Railroad.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 1990, the State of California passed a bill that would result in massive funding for the state transportation systems. It also resulted in a separate, state funded system of regional Amtrak routes. CDOT wanted a locomotive that was both reliable and attractive. They approached EMD, who responded with the lightweight, high-speed F59PHI locomotive. Soon after, more orders arrived. Amtrak ordered 21 of these locomotives for their Pacific Sufliner service (separate from Amtrak California), and the North Carolina Department of Transportation also selected it as their primary motive power. West Coast Express (operated by TransLink) in Metro Vancouver, also selected it for starting up its service\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe F59PHI was produced until 2001. It was taken off of EMD's lineup because it wasn't able to meet the EPA Tier 1 regulations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNORTH CAROLINA DOT FEATURES:  Beginning in 1995, North Carolina developed the Piedmont regional train as a follow-on to Amtrak's Carolinian. The train runs between Charlotte and Raleigh and runs a maximum of six times a day. Among the motive power used for this service are two EMD F59PHI locomotives, #1755 and 1797. The trains are operated by Amtrak crews; the state owns the locomotives and rolling stock. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:\u003cbr\u003eFully-assembled and ready-to-run\u003cbr\u003eLED Lighting for realistic appearance\u003cbr\u003eNon-sound locomotives are DCC ready\u003cbr\u003eSee through cab windows\u003cbr\u003eMcHenry operating scale knuckle couplers\u003cbr\u003eBi-directional constant lighting so headlight brightness remains consistent\u003cbr\u003eAll-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation\u003cbr\u003eHeavy die-cast frame for greater traction and pulling power\u003cbr\u003eAll-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow\u003cbr\u003e5-pole skew wound motor with precision-machined flywheels and multi-link drive train for optimal operation\u003cbr\u003eMulti-link drive train for trouble free operation\u003cbr\u003eOperates on Code 55 and 80 rail\u003cbr\u003ePainted and printed for realistic decoration\u003cbr\u003eFully-assembled and ready-to-run out of the box\u003cbr\u003eHighly detailed, injection molded body\u003cbr\u003eMinimum radius: 9-3\/4\"","brand":"Athearn","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43023780708415,"sku":"ATH-15304","price":106.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0269\/7461\/7663\/files\/ATH15304_A0_JLQCW7NW__56973_f7623024-93ff-4701-b3f3-5a96e0f1add5.jpg?v=1773979641","url":"https:\/\/factorydirecthobbies.com\/products\/in-stock-athearn-n-15304-f59phi-north-carolina-dot-city-of-asheville-1797","provider":"Factory Direct Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}