This is the press release they presented with the 9900 viewing.
Union Pacific Railroad investing $20 million to test emissions-reducing locomotive technology
Union Pacific Railroad is investing $20 million to test new technology designed to reduce diesel emissions from freight locomotives in California. A series of 25 experimental locomotives will be based in two Union Pacific rail yards in California as part of a rigorous test of emissions-reducing technologies.
The investment represents Union Pacific’s latest effort to further reduce emissions and move closer to the U.S. EPA’s Tier 4 locomotive emissions standards for new locomotives starting in 2015. The experimental locomotives are intermediate line-haul units, with an operating range of approximately 200 miles, and will be used exclusively in California.
“The testing and analysis of these locomotives is part of an ongoing initiative at Union Pacific to develop and use technology in pursuit of emissions reductions,” said Mike Iden, Union Pacific general director, car and locomotive engineering. “This effort is emblematic of our continued commitment to provide environmentally responsible freight transportation.”
I was actually told by a Roseville employee that additional units are already down in Colton, but I’m confused as to what this group of 25 is. The SD59MX isn’t experimental and at least initially they came out of EMD “stock.” Is 9900 part of a new set of 25 units? Or are they retrofitting all of the 59MXs with experimental equipment?
I think that this project is mostly to humor CARB. All the equipment being evaluated is provided by various vendors trying to sell their product. EMD’s participation is probably only to provide drawings so that the equipment will fit and to observe the results. UP probably feels that CARB will require that all locomotives no matter how old will will have to meet the latest emission requirements. I would like to see how this would work on a really worn out GP38.
The 9900 is one of the twenty five SD60M models that were modified by EMD for the Union Pacific with new computer controlled 710 motors. They also got new radiators with increased capacity and new crash resistant fuel tanks along with other modifications. They are now called SD59MX models since the 710 motor has 3200 HP and is a twelve cylinder version. The 9900 was selected for the special scubber type exhaust set up to test the experimental set up and is labeled as experimental. Who knows what the results are at this time.
It may be a public relations move but the rebuilt units are used for local runs on the FRC and the Redding Local here in Northern California.
Creepy I look for CARB to do the Same Freaking thing that they did to MY Industry. About 11 Years ago CARB was oh so NICE to us saying when the NEW Emissions Regulations come out from the EPA we will not Mandate anything differant here in CA or require certain age Units to RUN here in CA. We agreed with them then they stopped being NICE and began using Tabasco sauce on cuts instead of Novacaine. First it was the Idle Restriction even when it was 100 Degrees then the BIG one your rig had to be a Certain Age to even RUN in the state of California.
The Railroads Better Watch out or CARB will do the SAME thing to them. CARB likes to speak soft right before they ram that 2 foot pole sideways where only the Proctologist can remove it sans Lube.
so, the latest issue of trains clarifies. 9900-9909 have egr installed. it fits completely in the long hood. these are experimental. 9900 is the only unit with the additional filters. the rest of the 25 have a spot for egr, but it isn’t installed. therefore, not all 25 are experimental. just the first 10.
so, the latest issue of trains clarifies. 9900-9909 have egr installed. it fits completely in the long hood. these are experimental. 9900 is the only unit with the additional filters. the rest of the 25 have a spot for egr, but it isn’t installed. therefore, not all 25 are experimental. just the first 10.
How long til those 10 are DEADLINED as Maintance Headaches, anyone want to take a Guess. I can tell you this much the Cheapest USED trucks on the Market right now are Anything that is a First Generation EGR or EGR with DPF Equipped truck. Why as they spend more time in the Shop than making the OWNERS Money. There is a Rumor that This Gen Equipment is what Sank some of the Larger Carriers that went under Recently as they could not afford the added Maintance Downtime they got from the Trucks breaking down all the time.
I hope UP’s Power Desk is Smart and assigns a couple Spares to EVERY train these things are on for one reason they are GOING TO BE NEEDING THEM. Roseville will be very used to Changing out EGR’s in less than a Year along with Coolers and all the other Parts these things are going to destroy when they fail.
Presumably, since the EGR can be installed later, it can also be removed later if it doesn’t work out. Since without the EGR it’s just a standard Tier 2 V12 710 under the hood.
Does anyone know if the ECO kit can be set up for Tier 3 the way the SD70 16-710s can?
I know of O/O’s in my Industry that well lets just say Got rid of certain things on their Engines that caused Problems like EGR’s and then via Programmers the DPF’s and got decent Engines in later trucks. Well problem is the EPA is now Checking for stuff like this and if they see that they are Tampered with can you say BEND OVER. One I know of got hammered with a 40K fine for removal of Emissions Equipment and all he did was unhook the EGR valve. So if the Engine is Equipped with something the EPA and some Shop Foreman removes it the RR will be getting Hammered in the Pocketbook for it.
They will be Hammered for Emissions Regulation Tampering and those fines are NOT Cheap.
CPM up until Jan 1st 2011 CARB was not interfering with Interstate Commerce in the State of Californa either with their Regulations either. Now they ARE by banning Trucks and all Diesel Powered Equipment from Working on the Roadways built Prior to 2011 by 2014 is the Drop Dead Date for Everyone. By 2014 Just to Run into the State of Cali from say Arizona you will need to have a 2012 Model Year Truck. They BANNED all older Trucks in the Ports Banned the Shipping Lines from even Running a Standby Genarator ON A SHIP Tied up to the Dock in the Ports of the State of Californa.
Trust me when I say there will be FINES there will be FINES CARB was given the Power by the State of Californa to do what EVER THEY WANT WHENEVER they want in the State of CA. They are even thinking of BANNING Black Cars as they produce to much Heat off them and cost to much in Greenhouse Gas to Cool with AC. CARB is where the EPA gets alot of their IDEAS and along with the Rest of the Nation. NJ NY and alot of the NE have what is called a Snap Idle Test that if your engine Smokes at All your Placed OOS til THEY DETERMINE it is Fixed.
Here is an IDEA of CARB’s Power in CA just to give you a Clue I had to take a Load out there last trip out there with my W900 new truck is due Next week. Well I get out there make my Drop get Pulled in for a so called Smoke Check. I passed then as the CARB guy had me in there he Plugged into my ECM to see if I had changed the Parmaters on my engine at all from Factory settings and used any NON CARB approved Parts in that. He was mad that he could not find anything to hit me with. The Guy beside me a Company Driver for a larger Fleet well his Company was trying to be sneaky with a couple things and say it was repaired when it was NOT done. His company wrote a Comcheck to CARB for 10K Dollars right then and There for Tampering with EMISSIONS Equipment. What had they done Unplugged a S
I’m so glad when people tell me what my state does or doesn’t do.
I’m getting kinda sick and tired of every single discussion about Emissions standards devolving into a discussion of trucking.
Telling me that truckers and trucking companies have lied and tampered with emissions to avoid costs doesn’t make me feel sorry for them. It makes me think they’re lying and cheating. CARB and California has every right to set their own emissions standards. If you don’t like it you’re welcome to try to effect change or move. Or in the case of truckers, not do business within the state.
I ran across a recent report on the UC Riverside website about particulates from cooking exceed particulates from Diesel trucks and presumably diesel locomotives. Granted, cooking may not generate as much NOx as in-state diesel engines, but it does call into question whether CARB is making the right call on emissions regulations.
CPM up until Jan 1st 2011 CARB was not interfering with Interstate Commerce in the State of Californa either with their Regulations either. Now they ARE by banning Trucks and all Diesel Powered Equipment from Working on the Roadways built Prior to 2011 by 2014 is the Drop Dead Date for Everyone. By 2014 Just to Run into the State of Cali from say Arizona you will need to have a 2012 Model Year Truck. They BANNED all older Trucks in the Ports Banned the Shipping Lines from even Running a Standby Genarator ON A SHIP Tied up to the Dock in the Ports of the State of Californa.
Trust me when I say there will be FINES there will be FINES CARB was given the Power by the State of Californa to do what EVER THEY WANT WHENEVER they want in the State of CA. They are even thinking of BANNING Black Cars as they produce to much Heat off them and cost to much in Greenhouse Gas to Cool with AC. CARB is where the EPA gets alot of their IDEAS and along with the Rest of the Nation. NJ NY and alot of the NE have what is called a Snap Idle Test that if your engine Smokes at All your Placed OOS til THEY DETERMINE it is Fixed.
Here is an IDEA of CARB’s Power in CA just to give you a Clue I had to take a Load out there last trip out there with my W900 new truck is due Next week. Well I get out there make my Drop get Pulled in for a so called Smoke Check. I passed then as the CARB guy had me in there he Plugged into my ECM to see if I had changed the Parmaters on my engine at all from Factory settings and used any NON CARB approved Parts in that. He was mad that he could not find anything to hit me with. The Guy beside me a Company Driver for a larger Fleet well his Company was trying to be sneaky with a couple things and say it was repaired when it was NOT done. His company wrote a Comcheck to CARB for 10K Dollars right then and There for Tampering with EMISSIONS Equ
CARB has been SUED by about every group their is for their Balant Violations of the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution they do. How ever all their cases start off in the 9th Circut and that one is Based in San Fran land of the Fruitcake Judges. These are the Judges that allowed a Group that said a Fish that was NEVER seen in a Delta Before or Since to Shut off the Pumps to the Central Valley and Kill off the Most Productive Farm lands in the Nation. The Same people that without any Evidence declared IIRC that all Farmers needed to stop Dust from leaving their Farms. These are the people your going to be going UP AGAINST HAVE FUN.
Why do certain Posters keep trying to tell you what your going to run into it is SIMPLE we in this INDUSTRY got Run Over by the EPA and CARB Combined 10 Years ago and now the RR’s are about to have the SAME thing happen. Except the RR’s still have their Heads in the Sand and can not hear the Stampede of NEW Regualtions coming at them as when the EPA gets ahold of you they will NOT let go and will try to regulate you out of Business. What is CARB and the EPA’s next target for us in the OTR side the Reefer Units we use to give this nation the SAFEST FOOD SUPPLY in the WORLD. They want the Engines on them equipped with EGR and DPF now. Except the USDA is fighting them saying we can not allow the Downtime it will cause.