Four axle units are actually quite expensive these days. The class ones are discovering that they need some to service industries, after they sold most of them off! SD40-2s are fairly cheap nowadays, as long as the track will hold up under them.
Last I heard, used GP40-2s were going for $100-200k, while SD40-2s were going for $40k at the UP auctions. The rebuilt GPs are more.
This issue is one I know I’ve heard discussed about what will be avalible for Shortline railroads in the future. The problem is, many of the Shortlines have trackage that can’t handle 6 axel power, and some are beginning to wonder where they will be able to get their power in 25 or even 15 years when they need new locomotives and there are no hand-me-down 4 axel locomotives that are any newer than what they already have. It will be interesting to see what happens down the road.
Noah
Well if Rail power can survive the next couple of years, We may see Railpower units down the road. UP really seems to be buying lots of Railpower equipment, both the Green Goat Switcher and the RP Road switcher. CP has a bunch on order too, it deffinately will be interesting.
[8D]
The BNSF here in Tulsa sometimes uses SD40-2 for the local. The otherday while listening to my scanner, I heard them 911 the dispatcher because they derailed. I also heard the engineer tell the conductor that he knew it wasn’t a good idea to take “that” 6-axle on “that” track.
I have seen the tracks they were switching at the time of the derailment. They are not in very good shape. In the Tulsa city limits, they have what they call the old Howard Sub, it services a large portion of the industries in town. The track is the old 39’ bolted rail. It is not straight in any section that I can see. Can a 6-axle be practical for this type of line?
Anyway, the GP’s seem like the logical unit for this type of work. And, as in this case, the SD’s just don’t seem logical for less than mainline maintained track. I am by no means an expert on railroading, but it seems that there is a gap in the market. Rebuilding has to cost more than manufacturing.
Like I said before, I guess I will be adding GP38’s or 40’s to the roster.
Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub
I think a big reason for the lack of new 4 axle locos is that GPS like the GP-38 and GP40s locomotives are still around in abundance. Conrail engineers really liked their GP-38-2s even more than 8-40CWs. From alot of the websites I’ve been to and from a couple engineers I’ve talked to the dash 8s had a reputation for oil leaks and other mechanical issues.
around here we have dash9’s and sd 70’s for local every once in a while.
As you might know NS and CSX bought up Conrail and Norfolk Sourthern usually uses Dash 9s and SD70s on their trains around here too. I have yet to see any high-nosed NS geeps though. But then they did get a huge chunk of conrails engines and you still often see old conrail locos with the black number areas on the sides and the initials NYC stenciled below.
I’ve been wondering what the answer to this question was myself. The area I live in, Nashua, NH, everything we see that’s from a local road is a Geep of some sort. Guilford runs their GP40’s, but every once and a while I’ll see foreign six axle power in the Nashua yard from the Bow coal train. The local tracks in this area are in such poor shape that I was surprised the first time I saw some of the newer NS and CSX power in the yard.
NJT ordered a genisis-like locomotive but I imagine its still part of the genisis line , the P40DC, P42DC, P32AC-DM and now PL42AC, of which i am referring to.
up until the last one, they all have the same carbody. NJT’s locomotive is the newest, but it appears to be in the same line, and they are all 4 axle units.
However, it does seem like it is unlikely a new “GP” locomotive will be made. Besides, they can leave that stuff to older units, and new switchers like the MP15
I see them all the time up around the industrial tracks in NJ.
if it says NYC on it, that means it belongs to CSX. If it says PRR on it, it belongs to Norfolk Southern. thats beacuse the heritage of conrail trackage decided which tracks belonged to whom. while the locomotives might not have been along since the PRR/NYC days, they used those letters to differentiate, especialy on units still in the blue.
Alot of the power i do see is all 4 axles stuff. ironicly i rarely catch any six axle untis unless i’m going out somewhere far away. I ususualy see GP15-1s, GP38-2s of all vareities, and GP40-2s.
Like WSOR 3801 said 4 axle power has become quite expensive to purchase used.
You used to be able to pickup lease expired Ex-Conrail GP40s, GP38s for great prices in the early mid 80s. Now you can buy a SD40-2 for the price of a new BMW 5 series. It’s all about supply and demand.
The Green Goats appear to be the wave of the future. EMD tried to get in on the action with their GP15D and GP20D, but they weren’t too successful. We will see if Rail Power will survive as is. Most of these new switchers purchased for the UP are being financed by Federal nickels because of clean air legislation. I think it’s inevitable that EMD and GE will have to market a similar line in the next 5 years, if not one of them purchase Rail Power.
EMD may not be selling many GP20Ds, however it still lists the GP20D on its website.
Also, the question has been asked “What will shortlines buy?” I doubt many could afford to buy brand new locomotives. They will probably continue buying used locomotives from used locomotive dealers, Class 1s, Class 2s, and Class 3s.
Thanks for the help with the sublettering. I wasn’t really sure which was used for which.
I gotta say the PL42AC’s are NOT GE they are ALSTOM
Just wanted to echo this; while the designation is very similar to the GE line, and the locomotives look very similar at a quick glance, NJT’s PL42ACs are made by Alstom (with EMD prime movers).
The thing about orders like the P32AC-DMs, P40s, P42DCs and PL42ACs is that, while they are four-axle locomotives, they’re all made for passenger service, and GE is no longer actively producing anything four-axle. NJT’s PL42AC are the newest four-axle power, but they’re a very small order at only 33 units for one railroad. And all of these (the GEs and the Alstom units alike) are cowl units, which makes them much less desirable for freight service, since they’re not as useful for switching (due to the lack of visibility to the rear), or when run-around moves are needed or when the unit might end up being run “backwards” (as there’s no control stand for running in the other direction, and poor visibility again).
EMD is still operating??? I thought the only large locomotive builder in the US is GE anymore. I thought EMD went out with ALCO.
I think many shortlines will just continue to rebuild their switchers and GPs over and over again[:)]. BTW, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Ry. has recently sold a few GPs and SWs in favor or a few “new” SW1500s. BTW, they’ve still got a SW900. It was rebuilt in 1990- asking $210,000- any takers?[:D]
GO NJT!!![:)]
SOMEBODY MODEL THEM PLEASE!!! 
IIRC, you can’t use passenger type engines without end steps for switching, due to a lack of a place for a crewman to ride. This rule came about when roads in the 70s and early 80s used F-units for switching. F45s would be OK. They have end platforms and steps.