Today we see a lot of first generation power around on shortlines and small regionals. But how weird would it be to see a SD70M or C44-9W as shortline power? I know it seems far fetched but would do you guys think about that?
Probably for many, if not most, shortlines will require track upgrades to handle SD70Ms and 9-44CWs.
By the way, have you seen SJVR’s BL20-2 (RLK 2120) yet?
More likely that we will see more hybrids and multi engine N-viromotives helped along with grant funds. They are 4 axle and it is much cheaper to replace power than bridges and rail.
LC
Perhaps we will see these new hybrids bump significant quantities of the GPs that the class ones use for yard switchers and locals off the class one roster, then the shortlines will start picking them up. Does about 20 years sound about right before there are a significant quantity of hybrids on shortlines?
=== More likely that we will see more hybrids and multi engine N-viromotives helped along with grant funds. They are 4 axle and it is much cheaper to replace power than bridges and rail. === Except the rail will have to be repalced anyway, if it’s going to meet 268K requirements.
Not necessarily. Remember that a lot of the rail replacement out there is already happening incrementally and that sidings and yard tracks don’t require replacement for 286K. Also, most short lines can run 286K with any rail over 90# and there is quite a bit of 100#, 110#, 112# and 115# already on many short lines.
The real 286K issue isn’t so much rail as it is bridges.
LC
That sounds about right. Now that the need for power is so great, the cascading of older power will slow for a few years as manufacturers try to catch up with the traffic boom. I would doubt you’ll see much cascading for a couple years. For example, even when NS recently decided to get rid of its ex-CR B40-8s, CSX was right there to buy them.
LC
I guess the Reading & Northern may be out of the shortline category–didn’t it pick up some SD50s?
I’d call the R&N a lot of things…many not too kind, but in terms of their size I’d call them a regional.
LC
An SD70 as a grain switcher? Interesting
dd
An SD70 might not be all that wierd on a short line. It has radial trucks which make it as kind to the track on sharp curves as a Geep. It has axle loading less than a GP40-2 with the large fuel tank. It is more fuel efficient than a GP40-2 at idle and under power. Since it is microprocessor contolled, it should have less wiring in it than a GP40-2. The desk-top controls might make it a bit weird to operated long hood forward, though.
An SD70 is a long distance runner, and by the time they are replaced, successors to the “Green Goats” and their low/no emmissions competitors will have that niche sewed up!
WABTEC’s MotivePower division will most likely come up with something to fill the void left by the retirement of old 4-Axle Switchers.
Well this is interesting…SD70 and such on shortlines in the future??/ Hay it could happen, I guess?? I do wonder when this happens will they come out with “super heated” ceramic rails? Now that would be something.
The 70M’s will be around, but the dash 9’s will be cut up!
So does that B40-8 example mean the Pennsylvania Railroad still prefers six motor power but the New York Central is happy with high power four motor units? Or am I just getting old! I guess CSX still had its half of them anyway!
M636C
Once. It passed by the Super Walmart heading to Lemoore a few weeks ago.
While some bigger power that is kind to tracks will survive on short lines, I predict that many older 4-axle locomotives will get their third or fourth rebuilding as gen-set, hybrid, and gen-set-hybrid power to serve as switchers and as short-line motive power. If the frames are OK and the trucks and traction motors are OK, they can be used for a rebuilding program that can produce almost-new lcomotives with the same emission and economy advantages.
Reading and Northern is also a coal hauler operating in some pretty mountainous territory, using well engineered and constructed ex-Reading right of way.
Having run SD70s and C44-ACs, neither one is really suited for the frequent stop and start type of operation usually found on shortlines. They are slow to load, slow to stop, and really uncomfortable to run backwards with.
Nick
Remember back to the days when F7’s and GP7’s were the “Queens of The Fleet”? Well, look at them now and then think about twenty years from now or more when the SD70’s and Dash9 units will be the switchers in your local yard!