Western Railroad Discussion > bnsf SD70ACe-P4s' any out yet? what number series?

just wondered if any have hit the rails yet since we are in the 2nd quarter now.

BNSF 9159 was recently renumbered to BNSF 8749. This was the SD70ACe that was wrecked near Red Oak, Ia. back in 2011 and is still at Albia, Ia. for repairs. Perhaps this unit is getting converted?

The initial order of 10 from EMD was cancelled a wile back. BNSF and EMD were going to convert 4 regular SD70ACe locomotives to P4s, but I'm not sure if that is in the works still or not. Trains Magazine did a story about 6 axle, 4 motor units and according to the article, EMD has converted EMDX 1207 to P4 status, with a few more demos due out sometime in the future.

It's funny how the Denver & Rio Grande, WP, AT&SF and B&O ran heavy trains over mountain grades with 4-axle units. If BNSF and UP want only 4 powered axles, then buy more 4-axle units! Put more weight on each axle, vs. lighter loads via 6 axles. Seems a bit odd.

coach Wrote:

> If BNSF and UP want only 4 powered
> axles, then buy more 4-axle units! Put more
> weight on each axle, vs. lighter loads via 6
> axles. Seems a bit odd.

Trouble is, it would probably be too much weight on the axles. The DC-traction GP60M and Dash 8-40BW were already heavy for 4-axle locomotives, and if you tried to squeeze in all the extras to give them AC traction, they would probably exceed the allowed axle loadings. At the very least, it would mean an expensive custom order for a whole new 4-axle locomotive, whereas the ES44C4 (and presumably the SD70ACe-P4) only required a funky new truck slung under an existing model plus a few electrical and software changes. It would seem a bit odd not to try the simpler/cheaper solution, knowing you can always convert the units to regular old ES44AC's/SD70ACe's if they don't work out. On paper, an ES44C4 has more than double the starting tractive effort of a GP60M, and roughly the same tractive effort as a Dash 9-44CW.

The EMD P4 is suposed to use a standard truck just with idlers at the 3 and 4 axles

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Hope their better then the C4's, they shake and rattle badly, I would rather have a C44, I also prefer the older MAC's to the ACe's, EMD dropped the ball with the newer motors, rough riders, rattle, conductors desk too small, etc.

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