New Jersey Transit (NJT) 960 - GE E60

Originally this electric locomotive was built by GE in July of 1976 as Amtrak E60 #960 to replace the aging GG1's still in service but starting to fail. Unfortunately,Amtrak was not happy with the speed restrictions imposed on the E60's due to unstable truck and bolster design at high speeds. They sold off their group of E60's with NJT receiving 10 used to replace the aging GG1's. An unknown railfan took this color slide.

Built by GE originally as Amtrak #960, the electric unit replaced the popular and powerful but aging GG1's. It was then transferred to the New Jersey Transit. In 1998, the group of E60 units were themselves replaced by the new ALP-44 units. Richard Louderback captured this moment while it sat in the South Amboy yard before another commuter run.

An ex Amtrak E 60 is ready to go into Penn Station for a trip to South Amboy later this afternoon. The E 60s were to take over the role of the GG 1s, but never seemed to quite live up to their predecessors repuation.

The new order-an F40 passes and ex Amtrak E60 west of the South Amboy station

Contrast this photo to the shot my dad took from roughly the same angle in 1964. Here we have an NJ Transit E60 ready to head into Penn Station with a Bay Head train, and an Amtrak SW 1. Not quite the same as GG 1s and a horde of P 70s.

More like same old arrival with new power. One of the E 60s NJ Transit bought from Amtrak arrives with a train from New York. Ex Pennsy subscription car North Jersey Commuter Club is head out,

By this time in 1983, NJ Transit had acquired some Amtrak E 60s to replace he GG 1s, which were slated for retirement. This one has just cut off its train from New York at South Amboy, and continues the time honored tradition of the engine change, pulling past the crossivers to head for the small yard. Note the crossing guard shanty and the old hand operated gates. These would soon pass into history.

After the GG 1s were retired in 1983, NJ Transit acquired some second hand Amtrak E 60s to cover their North Jersey Coast trains on the NY&LB as far as South Amboy. Here we see the swap complete, and the E 60 headed to the yard. Somehow, its just not the same!!

Three E-60-CH's, two still in Amtrak colors, are hostled into the diesel shop by GP-9 #7000 at the MMC.