These diesels have been roaming the eastern USA for quite some time; ever since Conrail ordered them in the 1990s. 28 I believe is how many CR ordered.
Of course 12 were given to CSX as a share of the CR split and 16 were given to NS. Totaling 28.
Now, I have a few questions about these locomotives:
What does the SD80MAC’s horn sound like? I would like to know, because I have heard that they are really weird. And I’ve also heard they sound like the SD70MAC. Which correct.
Also - why is one of the units given to CSX numbered 0804? Why isn’t it just 804?
If you could answer these questions, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!!
Conrail ordered 28, but they bought the two Demos, so they had 30 total.
CSX got 13 and NS got 17.
The sound would be similar to the SD70MACs because they have the same 710G3B two-stroke cycle engine, but a little throatier. The horns I can’t help with.
The reason for the leading zero is a computer system (since changed) that required 4 digits in a number. Only one loco had been renumbered before the software was replaced.
If you want to hear NS’ in person, you’ll find some working on the South Fork Secondary line near Johnstown, Pa,between South Fork and Central City on coaldrag service…They also work the locals between Altoona and New Florence, and do coal train service on the Mon Line up to Shelocta, Pa.
Correct, Conrail owned the only 30 SD80MACs ever built. And Richard, the SD80MACs have the standard Conrail Leslie RS3L Horn, although nearly all the CSX ones have had theirs taken off and replaced with CSX’s preffered K5LAR24. Then reason they sound different is that SD80MACs have automatic button horn vavles, blasting full psi air into the airhorn. This is hard on horns and makes their solenoids wear out fast, causing them to sound bad.
K5LAR24…Leslie RS3L…What do I look like hear? LOL, I’m bad at identifying horns, to say the least. Can you relate the sounds of these horns to other locos on the CR or CSX rosters?
Also, what has NS done to the horns, leave them as is? Or did they flip-flop to?
For the Leslie RS3L, imagine yourself back in time, standing next to the AT&SF mainline at a railroad crossing as the SD40-2 power was bearing down on you. It’s not exactly ‘musical’, but was the sound of the ATSF and UP into the 80s. The Nathan/Airchime K5LAR24 is similar to an Amtrak train.
The Leslie S3L series was also widely used on older ‘CSX’ equipment - B&O, C&O and I believe SCL. It was at one time the most widely used horn in railroading.
Very impressive beasts…I photographed a pair about 10 years back on the (Now CSX/then Conrail) Boston line in Worcester, Ma. They became scarce in New England shortly after the Conrail split. The AC6000CWs that CSX assigned to the same trains were equally impressive thoough…
The CSX 0804 had the redundant 0 added in error, since it is not an issue reflecting on safety or performance they’ll leave it alone until it needs to be repainted. It has a little bit of old New Haven on it I think! [;)] Now, for the fly in the ointment: fuel consumption. In Paul Withers “Norfork Southern Locomotive Directory 2001-2003” P.143 appendix 13, an SD80 is using 237 gallons an hour in run-8, under full load, compared to an SD60’s 184 gal/hr, or an SD70’s 191 gal/hr or an SD40-2s 168 gal/hr. a GE Dash 9 40 CW sips up 190 gal/hr. The new tier II units from EMD (SD70AC2/SD70DC2) and GE(ES44AC,ES44DC) do not have their fuel figures available.(proprietary, I guess)
PBenham - The 0804 has been repainted from Conrail, if that is what you mean. It is now a YN3 and still says 0804.
I don’t know, but maybe CSX will just leave it as is.
Okay if NS owns # 7200-7216 and CSX owns # 800-812, where are the dang other two??? What are the numbers now (on CSX - NS)? And I’m not talking about the demos - NS’s 7200 to 7216 and CSX’s 800 to 812 equal 28 - still. What are the other numbers?
Here is a good site for NS locomotives http://www.nslocos.com You will find the NS 80MACS there, along with Conrail to NS numbering…whatever Conrail numbers are missing from that list went to CSX.
OH! I must have mis-counted. I just thought 7200 to 7216 - 16 and 800 to 812 - 12. I didn’t count the actual 7200 and 800 themselves. Glad that’s been clarified.
Didn’t originally order more SD80MACs, that was cancelled by NS after the takeover? Why did NS cancel them? Conrail seemed to like them, else they wouldn’t have ordered more…something like 19 more IIRC.