Are 4 Axle locomotives now a dead end? Was the GP60 the last we will see of 4 axle road locomotives (or the B36-7) ? Or are the ones that are out there so good that they can’t sell any new ones?
Bob DeWoody
That’s what we’ve heard.The time of six axle locomotives is nigh…
Matthew
POUT,POUT!![}:)][:(] But we stell have 4 axle switchers,long live the F-7A&B’s and GP’S[:D][:D][swg]
JIM
If we’re talking freight…
For Class I railroads they may be off the plate for awhile. Locals don’t generate near the revenue as intermodal, unit and bulk point to point commodity do. The big high HP 6 axle mainline locos give them the most bang for thier buck in this role. Class I’s will rebuild primarily EMD 4 axle units for local and switching such as de-rating GP50s to GP38s to extend the lifespan. To deal with emissions standards and increasing fuel prices they have turned to new technologies such as the RailPower GG20B Green Goat hybrid for many of the new 4 axle purchases. Also in keeping with the mainline primacy, many of the local and switching jobs have been contracted to smaller roads using second hand, rebuilds or newer low HP four axle units such as the MK1500/2000 (GP15D/GP20D) which are rebuilds from older units. This is the case in Houston, where the PTRA switches for UP, BNSF and KCS using a fleet of MK1500s.
Class IIs and regionals still use a variety of second hand and rebuilt 4 axle power. St Lawrence and Atlantic for instance has several NRE rebuilt GP40-3s from GP40s, some of with are equipped to act as mother units for road slugs, to achieve greater tractive effort, with greater flexibility and fuel savings. Some are also turning to hybrids and newer low HP models as above. By and large the ability to rebuild EMDs and keep them going for a long time supports this as well as the Class Is divesting themselves of 4 axle units as the need for them decreases in mainline service.
Info on the GP20D (essentially the MK rebuild) can be found here:
http://www.gmemd.com/en/locomotive/
GE doesn’t show any domestic four axles units on it’s site.
4 axle passenger locomotives are still being made to order.
Dan
I’ve seen plenty of GP20D’s here in the Houston area and they are brand new locomotives switching in all the yards…no six axle there…chuck
That cab on the GP20D is about as ugly as they come, I hope this is not the fate of the rest of the GP fleet.
Bob DeWoody
PTRA uses the MK1500s and they keep them clean. UP has several CEFX GP20Ds that have have leased for switching in the Houston area, vice buying them. PTRA will use whatever is available and at times borrow SD40-2s, Dash 9s…for local work. Amtrak also recently purchased a group of GP20Ds for switching duty and has experimented with the GG20Bs.
The point I was trying to make, is that Class I’s really aren’t buying new 4 axles (leasing yes…for specific duties) except for things like the hybrids, instead focusing on heavy mainline units that reflect the current trend in revenue generation. And the new 4 axle units available are low HP 1500-2000 HP vice the 3000 and greater HP of GP40/50s/60s since no one’s asking for them in enough numbers to make it profitable, intead they are either rebuilding older units or outsourcing local service to local groups.
An example would be the branch near my house. It is routinely serviced by a standard trio of 2 GP35s and a GP30, however darn near everything has made an appearance there. If BNSF could outsource it to a local concern, I’m pretty sure they would.
Dan
Isn’t the P2K, four axle GP20 being re-released but with sound? Thought there was a picture in Oct MR.
Bob,Every major railroad still has 4 axel units and will more then likey keep them on the roster for years to come because simply put they are stilll needed by the railroads as yard units,hump units and local work…
Check the following rosters.
http://www.nslocos.com/main.html
http://www.trainweb.org/csxphotos/html/nojava.html
http://westbnsf.smrn.com/roster.htm
http://www.thedieselshop.us/UP.HTML
These are current rosters…As you can see the B-B units are still alive and well.[:D]
Here in Tn. Conrail and Family lines all run 4 axles.
On the former Pacific Electric branch nearby, UP uses a GP-15, GP40-2 (ex-SP?) and SW1500 combination for power. Since the geep lacks d/b I suspect it is ex-Mopac or C&NW. The era of the four axle on class ones is not quite dead, but fading fast. Regional and shortlines will remain the bastions.
Dave
CN GP9’s live on!!! everyday here in the yard.
4 axle power on the mainline is going the way of steam. However the market for low to mid horsepower 4 axles for local and switching is still strong. So no more GP50/60 or B36/40s. But GP38s and the new MKs and GP20s will live on.
Nick Brodar
GE has 4-axle versions of its Dash-8 Series : Dash 8-40BW and Dash 8-32BHW.
Martin
Québec City
Might be a market for a fuel efficient, low horsepower, B or GP that the Manufacturers haven’t cataloged or put their sales force on the street with. The order books must be too full of the big six axle units, or too many candidates available to meet the demand in the rebuilts. Makes you wonder if the price of oil will have the same impact on the railroads as it did on the buying publics interest in SUVs for soccer Moms. Will be interesting to review this situation six months from now.
Will
Big high horsepower locomotives need generous mainline and curves. Many of today’s Class II railroad’s are relaying track to accomodate… something many modeler’s need to do. Secondary roads with 100 year old curves will be using the Geep’s, as will modeler’s with 4 X 8 design’s will find out…
CN is still running a 1950’s vintage 4 axle switcher (looks like an RS-2) with GP-38’s and sometimes a cow unit on a regular basis in the Edmonton Alberta region around some of the refineries and scrap metal recyclers. I get to enjoy this show on th way to work in the evenings. Sorry I don’t have a digital camera to share any photos of same.