[xx(] I was looking around on the EMD site and came across this unit
EEEEWWWW!
Oh my a face only EMD can love.
[B)]
Actually those are the ones that Ed in houstan works with all the time. He loves them plus they have a 1500 hp model without the DB.
I see nothing wrong with its appearance…
Exactly. It probably wont sell, because things have to be beautiful in order to sell, right?..[#dots]
Well Coborn,
In this instance, form does follow function.
These were designed from the get go as switchers.
The HB&T and the PTRA split the original order of 35 MK1500Ds,we got units 9601 thru 9624, 9625 thru 9634 are the HB&T units, now BNSF units.
Our 25 units, purchased in 1996, are on their tenth year getting the crap beat out of them flat switching.
The 9601 had a piece of drill stem fall of a gondola next track over, jam into the side of it, and pierce the cab through the A/C unit, electrical cabinet and alternator, then bent on the engine block.
The 9606 was hit head on by a loaded UP grain train at speed, was bent so bad you could not close the cab or long hood doors.
Both units were repaired, and are back in service.
Tough little beasts.
They might not be pretty, but if you want to see all around, down in the footboard steps, these are the units for you.
Also note the Green Goats share the same basic cab and body, courtesy of Motive Power Inc. (MK’s last incarnation)
What the photo shows is the prototype, CEFX leased the production run, all the 2000hp units, and a bunch of the 1500 hp units, then leased the entire fleet to UP.
The 2000 hp units have dynamic brakes, and are numbered in the 2000 series; the 1500 hp units do not have dynamic brakes, and are numbered in the 1500 series.
UP uses them in yard service, and as road power.
EMD does not make these, they are produced by Motive Power Inc, under license agreement with EMD.
Motive Power Inc is now part of Wabtec, they purchased them last year.
I would pit a pair of these against a pair of GP38s in yard switching any day of the week.
Not only can the engineer see all around the locomotive, they load quick, kick strong, and stop on a dime with dual clasp brakes, 16 brakes shoes can stop you pretty quick.
And they are not light weight motors, they weight in at 225000 lbs each.
Yes, but the GEVO was NOT meant for switching purposes. It was meant for long freight trains where switching would be minor. The GEVO’s have sold over 1000 units…
The MK1500D’s were meant as switchers and were designed as such.
As long as it runs good,and pulls good,why realy care what it looks like.
Allan.
[#ditto]
It is what is on the inside that counts!
Not the most beautiful looking unit, no.
CEFX 3 is looking good. Did you see 101 and 102 their too?
I think that’s a point we made in another thread, reliability and utility are their own forms of beauty. [:D]
A great case for form following function.
Ed,
Did you guys ever get back the c-c truck version or is it still roaming around somewhere else? What was it a MK 2000C?
Your subject line needs a postive improvement.
[tup] This Switcher Looks Tough and Strong! [tup]
That is what the Forum is all about. Positive feedback.
Andrew Falconer
If it runs on railroad tracks…I’ll take it!!![tup]
Now if we put the paint scheme on it that shows in my picture below, it’ll really be [8D].
Its blue so its already halfway there! [:)]
Like Ed said, they pull and stop and ya can see out of the little boogers…who cares what they look like, they don’t build them to appeal to foamers, they build them to be ergonomic for the crews.
Havent seen it in over a year, I think it is on lease to CMC at their SIT yard in Dayton.
Now thats a fun ride…2000hp with six axles, it would flat out kick cars!
Ed
an ugly train is better than no train at all.[:)]