Did MRL take delivery of any new powerthis summer or fall? I ready an article on the MRL SD-45’s in a Trains magazine this past summer. It stated that new power was ordered for later this year. If so, I wonder if anyone has any pictures and what are they.
Don’t know if they’ve actually taken delivery but it is exciting to see a “short line” able to buy something other than “hand-me-down” stuff.
I’ve seen crew after crew stranded when used power quits on them out on the road. You do what you have to in order to get started but it must really be exciting when the line can finally get some new stuff. Then again, maybe the new stuff may quite too!
MRL ordered SD70Ace’s and I believe they ordered 16 of them. 4300-4315
If you want pictures you could look at any train photo website.
Just found Pictures Of the SD-70’s Here is a link
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=48418
Hope they are enjoying the mountain air.
December 2005 Trains Magazine page 28 shows an SD 70ACes in the consist of a BNSF train, TACPAS from September 7, in route to home rails. It was painted at CEECO in Tacoma, which is owned by the parent company of MRL, which is believe is called the Washington Companies, for Dennis Washington the founder.
Yep, new road power on the way to MRL. I’ve been working at CP rail in the Vancouver Terminal up in BC. I have seen at least a half dozen primered units with MRL stenciled on the cab pass through in the last few months.
CP also interchanges with one MRL’s sister shortlines SRY locally. The Washington group parent company to MRL and SRY, has also purchased the E&N on vancouver island. Some interesting power is headed there, GMD-1 [^]
KCSis also getting somenew units. 2 primered units were sitting in the old BNSF yard at Saperton last week, KCS and numbers were spray bombed on the sides.
dc[xx(]
One went to the Wisconsin & Southern paint shop in Horicon, WI, and I got pictures of the “undec” unit at “North Duplainville”, on the CN (WC):
KCS 4007
Note the positioning of the reporting marks! [:p]
There is a photo feature and story in the latest issue of CTC Board/Railroads Illustrated with nice photos.
Nice looking units.
SD70ACes have tied up in Missoula 2 or 3 times in the past month. They’re gorgeous. And that’s coming from a GE fanatic. I took some photos. After 19 years I’ve almost decided my favorite loco is an EMD.
The trucks need to be repainted silver however, like the NP. This is an opinion shared by many in the local MRL operations dept. It means maintaining stores of non-standard paint for only one locomotive model, of which there are less than 20. And that’s $ that MRL doesn’t have to spend. But silver trucked ACes would make a Viper look like it were standing still (if in fact it were).
ValorStorm, since the SD80s and 90s, all the big EMDs have looked pretty much like GEs anyways!!! But I can still tell a SD90(43)MAC from an AC4400CW on CP in the dark!!!
Silver trucks would be very classy. Heck, they could even go ahead and adopt the old NP paint scheme!!! [}:)][}:)]