LRC (train)

LRC-2 and LRC-3 locomotives
LRC No. 6917 at Newtonville, Ontario.
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Bombardier Transportation Order number M6109, M6125 Serial number M6109-01 to M6109-21, M6125-01 to M6125-10 Build date 1980–1984 Total produced LRC-2: 21, LRC-3: 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo′Bo′ Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Minimum curve 23 Degrees Length 63 ft 8 in (19.41 m) Width 10 ft 5+5⁄8 in (3.19 m) Height 12 ft 9+1⁄4 in (3.89 m) Loco weight 250,000–256,000 lb (113,000–116,000 kg) Fuel type Diesel fuel Fuel capacity 1,665 US gallons (6,300 L) Lubricant cap. 281 US gallons (1,060 L) Coolant cap. 331 US gallons (1,250 L) Sandbox cap. 22 cubic feet (620 L) Prime mover ALCO designed 16-251F Built by MLW / BT in Montreal RPM range 350-1,025 rpm Engine type Four-stroke diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Alternator GTA-17PF2 (traction), GY-68PA1 (aux), 2 Stamford C534B (HEP) Generator GE 581 Traction motors GE 752 (4) Cylinders 16 Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (230 mm × 270 mm) Transmission Diesel-electric MU working Yes Train heating HEP 480 Volt 60 Hertz AC Loco brake Air, Dynamic Train brakes Air Couplers Type H (APTA)
Performance figures Maximum speed 95 mph (153 km/h) Power output 3,700–2,700 hp (2.76–2.01 MW) for traction, remainder for locomotive auxiliaries and HEP
Career Operators Via Rail, Amtrak Numbers VIA 6900–6920 (LRC-2), 6921–6930 (LRC-3), Amtrak 38-39 Locale North America Delivered June 1st, 1981 Retired 2001 Preserved Via 6917 and Via 6921 (both in operating condition) Restored Via 6917: May 2014 Current owner Via 6917: Toronto Railway Historical Society, VIA 6921: Exporail Disposition Most scrapped, two preserved, some for sale

The LRC (a bilingual acronym: in English: Light, Rapid, Comfortable; in French: Léger, Rapide, et Confortable) is a series of lightweight diesel-powered passenger trains that were used on short- to medium-distance inter-city service in the Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

LRC was designed to run with locomotives, or power cars, at both ends and provide 125 mph (201 km/h) service on non-upgraded railway routes. To accomplish this, the LRC passenger cars feature active-tilt technology to reduce the forces on the passengers when a train travels at high speeds through curves. LRCs have reached speeds as high as 130 mph (210 km/h) on test runs.

On its only regular service route, on the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor, wear concerns, signalling issues and conflicts with slower-moving freight trains limit this to 100 mph (160 km/h) or less. For service at these speeds, a single power car was used. Special signage allowed the LRC to run at higher speeds than normal traffic across a great portion of the Corridor when the tilt system was enabled.

The LRC locomotives and passenger cars are compatible with conventional equipment. While the last LRC locomotive was removed from service on 12 December 2001, the passenger cars are still in widespread use and form the backbone of Via Rail's services, albeit with the tilt system disabled. The same basic car forms the basis of the Acela in the U.S.^{[citation needed]}