New locomotives under tarps

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Why are new locomotives sometimes transported under tarps?

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=19717

2

One purpose would be to prevent industrial espionage – GE spying on EMD I guess.

Another purpose is for specially painted engines such as the UP’s heritage units where the railroad wanted to have a grand unveiling at an event.

And another purpose would be shipping overseas to avoid damage to the paint job.

And lastly is where a unit is being shipped to a purchaser – in those cases it is treated like a freight car and might sit in a yard for a while – and they want it to arrive more or less free of graffiti.

Dave Nelson

3

Most locomotives for the domestic railroads are not delivered under tarps. They just go behind the delivering railroad’s power (usually), pretty as you please.

It’s GEVO season here on the UP for the next few months.

4

Normally it means that they are going overseas. The tarps prevent damage from Salt Water Spray while on a ship.

5

These are BHP Iron Ore units headed to Australia, hence the tarp protection. They are apparently being leased from EMD as they are all getting EMDX reporting marks, yet retain the cool looking BHP paint scheme.

anb740

6

My guess - the reportings marks are just for transport in the US, I don’t think they are recognised in Australia.

BTW - BHP has been having a lot of cars built in Australia also.

7

You are correct, all movements on their own wheels on the NA rail system must have reporting marks. Probably more locomotives have carried the reporting marks EMDX 1001 or GMDX 1001 than any number ever assigned by a railroad. With the exception of a batch of Saudi locomotives damaged by Hurricane Katrina, its always a one-way trip.

8

Thanks for the replies.

9
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