The PL42AC is a diesel-electric 4-axle locomotive built by
Alstom with the
16-710G3B prime mover for
New Jersey Transit. The first two locomotives were manufactured at the
Meinfesa plant in
Valencia,
Spain in 2003. The 31 following units were assembled at the Alstom Transport plant in
Hornell, New York in 2004, and were produced through early 2006. The power rating of the PL42AC locomotives is 4,200
hp (3.1
MW) total for
tractive effort and
head-end power. The locomotive has a design similar to the
GE Genesis, mainly because both PL42AC and Genesis series locomotives were designed by industrial designer
Cesar Vergara. This locomotive uses
IGBT technology with precise traction computers for tractive effort. The PL42AC has 800
kilowatts head-end power and
WABCO's EPIC II braking system, along with an E-7 wheel slide device, made by
Wabtec, preventing flats spots on the wheels through software and hardware. It has an Intelligent Display Unit (IDU) based on
Bombardier Transportation technology from which an engineer or technician can view data or download events and faults from the previous weeks or months. The technician can do a host of tests from the IDU to determine if a specific system is operating correctly. The PL42AC uses computer hardware and software to control functions and to protect the engine. For example, if the on-board computer detects too little oil in the system, it will shut down the engine to avoid damage. == Future ==