>>1355909>>1355910That's because it is.
It was an experimental locomotive built by Althom (their old name) and ran trial services between Penn Station and DC Union Station along the NEC. Amtrak wanted to test out its capabilities along the stretch, and the locomotive was given the designation X996.
The French loco lost out though to what would become the AEM-7.
X996 was originally one of several prototype locos Althom built for speed records, however, it never really got past a certain stage of construction. It was finished and modified for Amtrak trials though. Despite the power of the French loco, the suspension turned out to be seriously lacking, since it was designed for the high standards of French lines, while the NEC had far more lax standards, mostly as it's impossible to maintain those standards when you have heavy freight on those same tracks.
The Swedish competitor, which had suspension which was designed for tracks in the frozen norths, where track maintenance is maybe.... not such a high priority was what lead to that being out the French loco.
The Swedish loco was given the designation X995, by the way... It was nicknamed the "Swedish Meatball" before the design became the "Toaster". X996 on the other hand was nicknamed "French Fry".... no clue what name it would have gotten afterwards.
