I SAW A PICTURE OF THE SD70 ON EMD’S SITE AND WAS AMAZED AT HOW MUCH IT LOOKS LIKE THE SD90MAC. EMD DOES NOT HAVE A FOREM SECTION SO, SOMEBODY GIVE ME AN ANSWER ASAP!!!
Yesterday, I saw another UPS train through here. It only had 1 3 pack spine car, and 11 5 pack spine cars. They were nothing but UPS trailers. It probably wasn’t no more than 3,000 ft. long and weighed maybe 2500 tons. This thing was loaded with power. Once again, it had 4 and I mean 4 AC6000CW’s. 2 of these would have been sufficent enough for it, but I guess they want to keep it moving. I mean you are looking at around 8.4hpt. I like what UP is doing with these. I have yet seen one stop, they just move everything out of its way and let it go. But I am starting to wonder how much delay is being added onto the other trains while they are waiting. They have also bumped the speeds up and the auto racks, and stack trains also. They are running 70 or better. I just hope the trackwork holds up with these new higher speeds. I have sata back and watched the track when these come through and it is bouncing around like you wouldn’t believe. Personally, if they are going to run at those speeds, they need to come in here and lay down concrete ties, and 136 pound rail. We still have 112 and some 132, but it won’t last long. I know concrete ties are laid for heavy haul, high capacity lines. I know it takes alot of work to lay an entire line with concrete ties, but in the long run, its worth it.
Laters, Dru
I’ve always wondered how much locomotives retailed for…particularly the SD40-2, SD70M, SD70MAC, C40-8w, C44-9w, and the AC4400…eh, might as well ask for the SD90MAC, and AC6000.
Thanks in advance![:D]
Depending on the accessories ordered and whether or not it is equipped with DC or AC traction motors, those models currently available cost between $2.3 million and $3 million. The last time i was directly involved with a locomotive purchase, 20 years ago, we paid $643,000 each for three brand new GP15-T’s piggybacked onto a class I order. Since we paid "cash on the barrelhead’ we got an excellent price.
Locomotives with AC traction motors cost about one third more than those with DC motors, but maintenance costs are lower and tractive effort is superior.
correct me if i’m wrong but i think a MAC90is going for about 6MIL. not sure though
marty
What I cannot understand, if these railroads are paying that high of price for a engine. Why can’t they outfit them with some basic comforts. A small table and cushioned chair cannot be that expensive. Even a small refrigerator and microwave oven I am sure, can be inslalled at the factory for less then $2000.00 dollars. (Whats 2 grand when your spending 2 to 3 million?) These extra comforts would not break the budget. I do not wi***o starte a fight, but if I were a Union official I would be pointing that fact out. Could someone answer me this, would there be room for a fresh water tank?
TIM A
Hey Tim, I had the chance to hostle a CN SD40-2W when i was at Roseville. That sucker had a fridge, microwave, hot plate and coffee maker!!! Icouldn’t beleave what i was seeing
thats us good ol canadians
hehe…and our good ol general motors
Our MK1500Ds ran about $900,000.00 each, but they are a multi use switcher/road unit. The do have some of Tims accesories, a fridge, cushioned seats, and very good air conditioners. No microwave or hot plate, besides, its hard enought to get a engineer out of one anyway.
I have been doing a bit of reading. Engine purchases and engine maintance are a big portion of a railroads capitol budget. Why not lease? You might not save alot of money but you are garenteed a working engine when you need one. Do the big railroads lease? If they do not, than why don’t they?
TIM A
Tim
yes they do.Csx uses furx green gatx blue and gray and i’ve seen an old up c30-7 with a lease company on the side.they also have run through power from both up and bnsf. I still like an sd 40-2 at the point of most trains.
stay safe
joe
we had a lease unit come down off of Donner Pass in Dec. It had no guru valve on the water dump. the entire top of the air comp. was lying there in pieces with the radiators lying on top of that. slap a B.O. tag on it and send it home. what could freeze did.
marty
Wow, I didnt even know I had received replies! Thanks! I didnt receive an e-mail notification, so I didnt check…
The units that the railroad purchase. They no doubt are maintaned under warranty by the builder. What does that include? What if the railroad purchased there engines without a warranty? How much would a new unit cost? I am agast at the price of these units. I cannot understand why the secound hand unit trade (rebuilders) is at rock bottom. Example: You can purchase a SD-40 for around $85,000. Rebuild the engine, compressor, rewire the electrical cabinet. (I think thats what they call it) for another $100,000. Replace the motors with new ones and bearings for about worst case $200,000. Paint job 1 year warranty another $100,000.
So for around $500,000 you can have yourself a very good unit. Now sell this unit for around $750,000. That is not a bad profit. Am I way out of the ball park?
TIM A
I hope this does’nt sound like babble. I get that way when I smell profit.
Tim, you sound like management[:0] I hope not [:D]
No sir, If I were in managment I would locate my rebuild company in Mexico and hire non-union help. I would purchase my engine parts from a machine company in Poland. I would send my electrical cabinets to the Czech Republic to get rebuilt. Buy my new motors from Yokohomo Motors in Korea. Purchase remote control equipment from Svetlana in St. Petersbrug Russia. Put them all together and sell these remote units to American railroad companies with the promise that they can eliminate 3 Union engineers in a 24 hour time period per unit.
But thats only if I were a member of managment.
TIM A
The cost is a major thing for the UP. If I remember correctly, I believe the going cost for an C44-9W is around 1.5 million. For the AC version, it costs about 500,000 more. I can see why some railorads are shunting the AC for the DC’s. BNSF has always baffled me about this. They ordered all the AC’s from EMD. But then in turn, they wouldn’t even think about ordering the GE’s AC’s. Where I am from here in SW Kansas. I don’t that many AC’s, but UP has now started to run the new UPS trains through here at 74 mph. These trains are onlly about 4,000 ft. long, but they are loaded up power wise. We are talking about 4 AC6000CW’s. That is the only units that I have see on them so far. I know the 6000’s have a maximum speed of 75 mph. The SD70M’s have a max speed of only 70. I live at the top of a grade(if that is what you want to call it). Its only a .8% uphill , so I can still here them AC’s whining when they fly through. They are running about 4 of these a day. Plus, there are no stacks on this train. These things remind me of the old SP, and old ATSF days. They are solid piggyback trailers. When I first saw it, it was nostalgic in a since. I just thought I might everyone know that UP has started (as some people call them) the Bullet Train. It just caught me off guard when they told me that UP would be running these things at 74. I don’t know if the trackwork is best suited for this speed, but so far everything is running smooth where I live. If anyone wants to reply and drill me on things, let me know. Laters, Dru
4 cw60ac’s! wow, thats got to sound great. I’ve only heard 1 or 2 6000 hp locomotives loading from a dead stop, and it sounded amazing. almost like thunder.
Can anyone tell me how much it costs per hour to operate a engine? Let say, a SD-40 with about 5000 hours on its last rebuild.
TIM A
at full throttle, in the mountains or on flat land ?
tim e- mail me
Ican’t find my little pocket book but i think an SD40 burns about 150 to 180gals. of fuel per hour. but you have to take in to consideration that Donner Summit has a 3% ruling grade on the west side.