The Adirondack Railroad has purchased a former Metro-North General Electric P32AC-DM for excursion service out of Utica, N.Y., making it the first Genesis locomotive to enter tourist railroad service.

Locomotive 221, built in July 2001, joins the fleet after 25 years of service with Metro-North. Adirondack Railroad says it remains committed to its existing fleet of Alco and MLW locomotives, while the acquisition of 221 preserves a piece of passenger railroad history and adds an HEP-equipped locomotive to the roster.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to preserve a P32 locomotive and look forward to adding a HEP-equipped passenger diesel to our fleet of locomotives,” said Adirondack Railway Preservation Society President Luke Irvine. “We are still committed to our Alcos and have no intention of retiring any of those. This engine will also allow us the opportunity to expand operations by running a push-pull consist with our leased fleet of MBB-built coaches. We are grateful to Metro-North for this opportunity.”

The Adirondack Railroad is operated by the nonprofit Adirondack Railway Preservation Society, which began excursion operations in 1992 on the former New York Central Adirondack Division. What started as a four-mile operation out of Thendara has grown into a major tourist railroad linking Utica with the Adirondacks. Today, its High Peaks Limited operates between Utica, Thendara, and Tupper Lake, covering roughly 108 miles each way and offering one of the longest scenic railroad excursions in the eastern United States.

The P32AC-DMs are dual-mode passenger locomotives capable of operating on either diesel power or third-rail electricity. They were designed for service into New York City, where diesel operation is restricted in the tunnels leading to Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal. Metro-North is in the process of replacing its P32 fleet with new Siemens SC-42DM locomotives.

—Nick Stewart