Light, Rapid, Comfortable

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The LRC is a Canadian diesel-electric powered passenger train developed from late 1960s through the 1970s to replace the TurboTrain on the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.  The carriages were designed by Alcan and Dofasco and the 3,700 hp (2,700 hp for traction) diesel-electric locomotives by Montreal Locomotive Works (later purchased by Bombardier Transportation).  The carriages of the LRC are constructed using aluminium alloy and they feature an active-tilting design of which the carriages of the Acela Express are based off.  The LRC locomotives were originally intended to be designed to operate at a speed of 125 mph (201 km/h), however, due to excess weight, the production locomotives were permitted to operate at a speed of only 100 mph (161 km/h).  During test runs, the LRC reached speeds as high as 130 mph (209 km/h).  Production LRC trainsets were manufactured between 1980 and 1984.  In its early days, the LRC was plagued with problems, including cracked axles and locking of tilt position.


The LRC locomotives were withdrawn from service in early 2000s.  Today the LRC carriages are still serving the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor but are being hauled by either F40PH2 or P42DC locomotives with tilting mechanisms disabled (still at 100 mph).  The LRC carriages today are under refurbishment which will have their tilting mechanisms completely removed.

GE P42DC Genesis locomotive with LRC carriages

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