TMS will modify LIRR diesels - Transit Update - Electro-Motive Division contract to Thoroughbred Mechanical Services to modify Long Island Rail Road locomotives - Brief Article

Railway Age, July, 2002

The Electro-Motive Division of General Motors has awarded a contract to Norfolk Southern subsidiary Thoroughbred Mechanical Services (TMS), Altoona, Pa. (the former Conrail/Penn Central/Pennsylvania Railroad Juniata Shops) to modify 46 MTA Long Island Rail Road locomotives--23 DE30AC diesel-electric units and 23 DM30AC dual-mode (diesel electric/electric) units. The work involves modifications to carbodies and frames. The first unit is expected to be completed and returned to LIRR by October. Terms of the cow tract were not disclosed.

The locomotives, which will remain in service while they are cycled through modifications, were built by Super Steel Schenectady under contract to EMD and delivered between 1997 and 1998. They were designed to haul a new fleet of bilevel push-pull commuter rail coaches supplied by Kawasaki. Since delivery, some structural problems have been found. LIRR says none of the problems have compromised safety.