Description
Pre-Order Due Date: TBA
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Pre-Order FAQ
Most manufacturers give an ETA on when they expect to release the pre-order which can be seen near the "add to cart" button on the product page. They also give an order due date (found in the product description) which is indicative of when the product is expected to go into production.
There is a 5% NON-refundable deposit for preorders, this amount will be deducted from the price of the product when it arrives. You will see how much downpayment is required after adding the item to your cart. We do not store your payment information and it is not charged by us when the product arrives.
For any pre-order submitted after the due date, we will try our best to fulfill your pre-order, but are at the mercy of the manufacturer and if they produce more than were preordered by their dealers. If we cannot fulfill your pre-order we will credit the 5% deposit to you.
When the pre-ordered product(s) are available to ship, you will receive an email requesting the remaining 95% payment that will take you to your cart. We will never charge your payment method without you checking out. At this time you are also able to add other in-stock items if you wish.
Please note that Estimated Arrival Dates can change at any point. Midwest Model Railroad is not responsible for manufacturers delaying production. Visit midwestmodelrr.com/pre-orders/ for more information.
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Photo Courtesy: Robert Allard Jr
The U34CH was the very first new American commuter diesel engine for a new era of commuter railroads. As private freight railroads divested themselves of passenger service, the remaining intercity passenger rail service went into Amtrak by 1971. Commuter operations ultimately became independent, run by states, cities, and regional authorities. In the early 1970’s, this often began with an agency helping to fund new equipment or maintenance for decrepit freight railroad service.
This was the case with U34CH, which were funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation to operate on Erie Lackawanna Lines west of Hoboken, New Jersey. The first units arrived in 1970 alongside NJDOT funded Comet 1 cars, making for a completely new refresh of commuter service on these lines.
The U34CH were also the first shaft-driven HEP locomotive to be made. To do this, they were actually the first 3,600hp U36C models made (before any freight orders) and derived HEP from the prime mover driving an auxiliary alternator, leading to a nominal rating of 3,430hp. The true available horsepower at any moment depended on the total HEP load of the train being hauled. All GE U-series units have a large empty space in the hood behind the cab, on U34CH this was conveniently used to house the additional HEP equipment.
As delivered, units came in an appealing “bluebird” two-tone blue an silver scheme with EL heralds on the nose. On weekends, EL even borrowed them for freight service! As EL was folded into the Conrail merger, one wreck rebuild – 1776 – became a bicentennial unit initially with Conrail lettering. By 1983, Conrail fully exited commuter operations, and the equipment and service on the west of Hoboken lines transferred to NJ Transit.
Photo Courtesy: James C. Herold, Rapido Collection
Photo Courtesy: Unknow Photographer
Some U34CH kept Bluebird paint for the rest of their service career, while others received a silver nose with an NJ Transit Logo. Certain units got full NJT “disco stripe” repaints, a striking look on a U-boat. The fleet survived into the early 1990’s, making it the last complete operational U-series fleet in the United States. In the 2020’s, the United Railroad Historical Society revealed a fresh repaint of 3372, the only surviving unit, which the organization is working to completely restore.
U34CH Features:
- Headlights and rear lights
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Marker light (U34CH)
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Lit numberboards
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Walkway Lights
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Step lights
- Three-color class lights
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Full traction motor casing details
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Metal brake chain on engineer’s side
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Detailed underbody piping and conduit
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Separate grab irons
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Rapido’s innovative dead straight metal side handrails with plastic stanchions
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Detailed cab interior
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Lighted control stand
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Heavy, die-cast weight for heavy hauling
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5-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels
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Sound-equipped units feature ESU Loksound V5 decoders
Photo Courtesy: Robert Allard Jr
Details
Scale: |
HO Scale |
Road Name: |
NJDOT |
Version: |
(DCC and Sound) |
Road Number: |
4172 |
Locomotive Model: |
GE U34CH |
