Yes four ex-BHP are at Mayfield for complete rebuilding for CFAQ in Sept-iles, Quebec
Ooh, extra cab comforts! I hope they keep that in for the crews![(-D]
NorthWest
Two of the ex-BHP Bilton SD70ACes have been spotted at Progress Rail Tacoma, WA, for conversion to North American standards. Rumor is they are destined for MRL.
These are the thirteen without isolated cabs. They arrived as standard units, but had a lot of extra equipment added to the cabs, CD players, refrigerators and microwave ovens (they worked in really isolated areas and this was needed - you could be held in a siding with nothing in any direction for 100 miles).
Otherwise they had marker lights. Not much else non-standard.
Peter
These units have started to appear in MRL colors. They retain the original non-isolated cabs.
The CFAQ units have also appeared (with their original cabs), and are currently headed north.
Found this on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31385681@N02/30917591638/
Those 2 from Marshalltown are on the way (north)westward. I had them in a train a couple of days ago. I didn’t go into the cabs but the conductor did. He said one of them had been completely stripped, including the toilet.
Jeff
Jeff,
For MRL or CFAQ?
Thanks.
Going to Tacoma as I recall. I think the numbers were EMDX 3004 and 3010, still in BHP colors. I wrote the numbers down in my time book, but it’s in my locker at work.
One of the BHP engines had a nice modification I wish the rest of the SD70ACe variants had. One thing, among others, I don’t like is the rear end walk way. There’s not much footing going around the nose from the side to the rear because of the steps. The one engine had a plate that slides out of a holder and over the steps. They also have or have provisions for safety chains around the steps between the side and back railing.
Jeff
Thanks. Progress Rail Tacoma is doing the MRL conversions.
I wonder if those modifications will survive the process. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I know it’s off-topic, but since it’s the only other homeless SD70ACe that I’m aware of, does anyone know if anything has happened to CSX 4839 since being sold?
She was sold to NRE in 2016 with some chronic ailment that CSX shop forces couldn’t figure out (I thought it went to LTEX which typically means parting out and scrapping for six axle SD’s, but the BullSheet says NRE).
CSX of course retired the rest of the fleet a year or so later, but they went to Progress Rail and are being leased out. 12 of the 19 are on lease to Norfolk Southern right now and presumably all 19 will slowly follow the path of these BHP units in time, being reconditioned, updated, and resold to new owners.
.
Originally all of the BHP units were provided with folding service steps, so its a walkway from the service platform.
BHP also did a mod where they made a swing out service gate in the handrails on the side of the locomotive. Makes it lot easier getting on the loco than walking around from the long hood end for service work.
CSX SD70ACe #4839 was indeed sold to LTEX and there are photos of it on LTEX property. As to what ultimately happens to it nobody knows. it could be sold, scrapped, It could sit in the backlot for years like so many other locomotives owned by LTEX.
the remaining CSX SD70ACe’s in the PRLX lease fleet will continue in service as lease units as long as there is a demand for them or until sold to an interested party. They will surely find permanent homes eventually just as the former BHP units are doing now.
Bryan Jones
MRL 4319 has entered service (was seen in Montana) that was once a BHP SD70ACe/LC, 4316, 4317, and 4318 should not be far behind.
Pictures have also surfaced of the first CFAQ unit, 1001 in service in Quebec with a PRLX ex-CSX unit.
In the Kankakee Il. NS yard 11/16/18 saw EMDX 1009 and EMDX 2001 in BHP colors. The reporting marks were spray painted white. By the Cab had BHP Billiton Iron Ore. They were EMD Teir 4, are they headed to Auzzie land ?
My Friend Glenn shot the photos he had to get a long shot across route 17 in Kankakee the EMDX 1009 and EMDX 2001 are some great finds he has captured
Sounds more like they’re some of the early SD70ACe’s that have been exported back to the US and which have been the topic of discussion in this thread.
I haven’t seen these particular units, but I’ve seen several others with similar numbers like EMDX #2003 in weathered BHP paint with patched cab-side with white spray painted number and EMDX reporting marks. What I’ve seen sure weren’t new Tier 4 SD70ACe-T4’s heading to a sea port for export to BHP.
Did they look brand new? And if they are new units being exported, odd that they’d mar the side of the cabs with crude EMDX markings and number.
Great info, no they looked used and paint was dull.
Since the Tier 4 regulations don’t apply in Australia, BHP wouldn’t buy any Tier 4 units. They are most likely to buy standard Tier 3 SD70ACe units, just like the ones they had before.
They probably need around four new units right now after their runaway…
Peter