Hello everybody,
here is a link for the new four axle powered six axle locomotives: http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?locomotive=ES44C4 .
I think it is too bad that they went this way rather then creating a new four axle high horsepower unit. It is easy to understand the theory for the railroads, keeps the costs down but from a modellers perspective it sure would be great to see new four axle units.
Frank
There are a whole bunch of new details on the trucks. Looks like two extra brake cyllinders, and some linkages and bell cranks and such. This system is supposed to lift the center axle a tad (1.5 inches or so) to transfer weight to the driven axles, to help pull a little better.
I don’t think they could have gotten a 4-axle unit, without being too heavy on the axle loadings. At least these can be retrofitted into normal ES44ACs if/when the experiment fails.
More importantly, locomotives are not automobiles, where image, style and unique appearance are as crucial as functionality and reliability. If GE can come up with a workable and reliable way to satisfy BNSF’s requirements by making a modification to an existing locomotive model without incurring the cost of something new and original and flashy, so much the better. Some railfans and modellers still don’t understand that the railroad’s mission is to move commodities for paying customers, not entertain people with cameras at trackside.