Eastern Railroad Discussion > Conrail SD80MAC repainting opportunity

I'm not normally the sort to suggest things like this, but I'll just put it out on the floor.

With NS having recently repainted Southern SD40 3170 into its original Southern paint scheme, here's a chance -- if they choose -- to do the same with a Conrail unit. Yes, it would be a much newer locomotive, but it's one that could conceivably be assigned to ex-CR territory (South Fork coal area) in the same manner as is planned for the 3170, and it would be a locomotive that as built was unique to Conrail. Yes, I'm referring to one of the SD80MACs they just bought from CSX and are about to run it through the paint shop. And to repaint it into the as-delivered blue/white scheme, it would be visibly different from the NS8098 Heritage unit.

I'm not going to advocate for this beyond throwing the idea out here where somebody from NS might read it, but just thought the idea was worth broaching. There's probably an N&W unit that could be "restored" out there somewhere, too, which would complete the trifecta of major NS components.

That's a great suggestion.

Along the same lines, I was thinking that NS might consider painting some of its new units to celebrate the safety results etc of major yards and divisions. A "Bellevue" unit for example, or an "Enola" unit. Perhaps in colors meaningful to the area's heritage or college football teams etc.

A marker of pride and thanks for the men and women who make NS such a great company.

Sounds like a great idea to me!

Chris

Saw a photo on Facebook that one was already painted black and it kept its marker lights....

Posted from iPhone

cjvrr Wrote:
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> Saw a photo on Facebook that one was already
> painted black and it kept its marker lights....
>
> Posted from iPhone

Fans shouldn't get their hopes too high.  The paint shop wouldn't be the people to remove them.  They just paint what is given to them.  Wait for a shop cycle or two, before seeing if they're going to last.  Chances are, they won't.

It took a couple years of behind the scenes effort and convincing from a few ex Southern guys to get the 3170 preserved and painted. It also helps that Wick is open minded enough to make it happen. I'd like to see the same happen to an 80MAC but I don't think its going to happen.

With Wick Moorman stepping down in a few months, it will be interesting to see if his successor follows in his footsteps in regard to advocating or supporting railfan friendly projects such as Heritage painted units...etc.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/15 06:58 by dwi189.

dwi189 Wrote:
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> With Wick Moorman stepping down in a few months,
> it will be interesting to see if his successor
> follows in his footsteps in regard to advocating
> or supporting railfan friendly projects such as
> Heritage painted units...etc.

If the person succeeding him is the same one reported to be next up in the plan-of-succession, the previous reports suggest this is unlikely unless Wick indoctrinates him first.

The SD80MAC class unit would be a logical choice.  The original SD80MAC numbering series (4100-4129) is also still wide open on NS as far as I know.  Fingers crossed!

bioyans Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cjvrr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Saw a photo on Facebook that one was already
> > painted black and it kept its marker lights....
>
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> Fans shouldn't get their hopes too high.  The
> paint shop wouldn't be the people to remove
> them.  They just paint what is given to them. 
> Wait for a shop cycle or two, before seeing if
> they're going to last.  Chances are, they won't.


What would be the benefit of getting rid of them?

Posted from Android

NSClevelandLine Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bioyans Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > cjvrr Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Saw a photo on Facebook that one was already
> > > painted black and it kept its marker
> lights....
> >
> > >
> > > Posted from iPhone
> >
> > Fans shouldn't get their hopes too high.  The
> > paint shop wouldn't be the people to remove
> > them.  They just paint what is given to
> them. 
> > Wait for a shop cycle or two, before seeing if
> > they're going to last.  Chances are, they
> won't.
>
>
> What would be the benefit of getting rid of them?

It's one more thing that needs to be maintained. Both NS and CSX have been removing marker and class lights from locomotives that have them on a seemingly ad-hoc basis.

strench707 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The SD80MAC class unit would be a logical choice.
>  The original SD80MAC numbering series
> (4100-4129) is also still wide open on NS as far
> as I know.  Fingers crossed!

Perhaps they'll renumber them as they rebuild them.

Posted from Android

the reason for removal is VERY specific--even though how and when seems very ad hoc.  QUite simply, if an appliance is on a locomotive, be it a headlight or strobe light or even a disco ball, is MUST be in operating condition per the Code of Federal regulations.  SO, if you have a marker light in this case, if it doesn't work, either you must replace the bulb or the wiring to it to make the locomotive compliant.  Now, a lot of these marker lights fall into minor categories and don't get written up, but when they do, or you have a FRA inspector on a tear, you get the engine shopped for this minor problem, and now the companies decided it's easier to remove the light instead of fixing it.  That's also why oscillating headlights are not used that much anymore--it's cheaper to just install steady ditch lights instead of repairing the motor for a 60 year old Mars Light.

The only reason the CFR exists is so that the carriers are Forced to actually fix things on locomotives.  And even with the threat of refusal (by an engineer like me for example) they don't tend to fix things unless they are really bad or the unit is in the shop for an inspection.  I was once given an SD40 with a shock absorber(on the middle truck) that was snapped off on it's mount.  I refused the engine, obviously.  But it goes to show how "thorough" a job they do sometimes.

Now with the current power shortage going on, I'm seeing more and more "tiny" (for lack of a better word) defects on power that is rushed through service centers or bypassed entirely and direct-handed off to the next crew in the yards...Yesterday I had a locomotive with a cracked windshield.  I reported it to the Mechanical desk...I'm sure they'll get right on that.  
It's bad out here..and they can't fix engines fast enough...

I would like to see one repainted in the Conrail blue and white scheme.  Those were good looking engines.

---

RFandPFan Wrote:
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> I would like to see one repainted in the Conrail
> blue and white scheme.  Those were good looking
> engines.

The SD80MAC was the only class painted in that scheme, wasn't it?

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RFandPFan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I would like to see one repainted in the
> Conrail
> > blue and white scheme.  Those were good
> looking
> > engines.
>
> The SD80MAC was the only class painted in that
> scheme, wasn't it?

SD70MAC's wore it as well.

Posted from iPhone

The CSX SD70ACs  that CSX Got just before the merger # 4130 to 4144 were in that CRQ with white racoone band on the nose too, the same as the 80MACs had ! 

Thanks. I had forgotten that

I'm more worried about a freshly overhauled 611 going back to the museum.

Bill Miller
Galt, ON

DrLoco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> the reason for removal is VERY specific--even
> though how and when seems very ad hoc.  QUite
> simply, if an appliance is on a locomotive, be it
> a headlight or strobe light or even a disco ball,
> is MUST be in operating condition per the Code of
> Federal regulations.  SO, if you have a marker
> light in this case, if it doesn't work, either you
> must replace the bulb or the wiring to it to make
> the locomotive compliant.  Now, a lot of these
> marker lights fall into minor categories and don't
> get written up, but when they do, or you have a
> FRA inspector on a tear, you get the engine
> shopped for this minor problem, and now the
> companies decided it's easier to remove the light
> instead of fixing it.  That's also why
> oscillating headlights are not used that much
> anymore--it's cheaper to just install steady ditch
> lights instead of repairing the motor for a 60
> year old Mars Light.
>
> The only reason the CFR exists is so that the
> carriers are Forced to actually fix things on
> locomotives.  And even with the threat of refusal
> (by an engineer like me for example) they don't
> tend to fix things unless they are really bad or
> the unit is in the shop for an inspection.  I was
> once given an SD40 with a shock absorber(on the
> middle truck) that was snapped off on it's mount.
>  I refused the engine, obviously.  But it goes
> to show how "thorough" a job they do sometimes.
>
> Now with the current power shortage going on, I'm
> seeing more and more "tiny" (for lack of a better
> word) defects on power that is rushed through
> service centers or bypassed entirely and
> direct-handed off to the next crew in the
> yards...Yesterday I had a locomotive with a
> cracked windshield.  I reported it to the
> Mechanical desk...I'm sure they'll get right on
> that.  
> It's bad out here..and they can't fix engines fast
> enough...

I recrewed a train from a crew one that had a 3 engine consist, lead unit was bad due to a passing train having something sticking out rip something out related to the fuel and it wouldn't start, engine 2 wouldn't load and engine 3 was the only working engine of the bunch on 7500ft of stacks, almost as heavy as long. When I recrewed it, dispatcher gives us the light and it took us 30 minutes in 8 notch to knock the signal down that we were only 10 car lengths away from due to being on a hill with the train strung out through a couple of curves and dips. That 3rd engine was SCREAMING and those traction motors were so hot you could have lit a cigarette off them. Road crew was ordered to take the train that way from one of the managers, that's terrible!!

Posted from Android