Western Railroad Discussion > SD70AH-T4 on my Bucket List

I'm an East coast "motorhead" and railfan.  I wish to experience a SD70AH-T4 locomotive with EMD 1010J prime mover under load.  Where can one go, with reasonable odds, to catch one of these locomotives?  NS cancelled their order, I believe CSX sent their demos back.  UP's roster implies they have a some; however, I'm not aware of their status.  Can someone help me plug my bucket list? 

UP runs them over Donner somewhat regularly, but far from an every other train type of thing. I might see one show up every day or two, at most. Catch one heading east through Gold Run / Dutch Flat / Alta / Casa Loma on the 2%+ grade with significant curvature, and you'll hear it in full throttle operation.

I've seen them on UP Coal trains in Colorado/Wyoming. 

Thanks!  I'm looking for road number 3000-3096 (Y/N)?

Not sure if you saw my post from Thursday: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,6144607.  They come through here on a regular basis.  I see them on coal trains, manifests, intermodals, oil, grain and soda ash unit trains, you name it.  No guarantee that you'll see one on any given day, but to maximize your chances, this is a good spot to start.  And, I don't mean to rain on your parade, but under load they sound like...well, they sound like nothing, really.  The prime mover is pretty well drowned out by equipment blower noises.  Very underwhelming in terms of the sound they make, mostly just a big whooshing noise.  But once the weather warms up a bit, come on out, bring a lawn chair and sit up on the pedestrian bridge at Hershey, which is where I got this shot.

mike woodruff
north platte ne

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Very nice shot in what looks like a very nice spot!

None of the tier 4 locos have much in the way of an exhaust note, due to the exhaust gas recirculation they use. They almost sound like an electric loco because of this. Impressive though!

Quite a distinctive horn sound as others have noted.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/26 09:14 by exhaustED.

Got mine on NS 25A a few years ago through Port Clinton, Ohio under load.  Heard it 2.5 miles away coming.  MY reaction-what the heck was that and it sounded like a vaccum cleaner coming, Thats what the 1010J sounds like-a vaccum cleaner. 

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI

There has been a small number of them running on the Union Pacific I-5 Corridor, roughly between Seattle and Los Angles, with some comments that since California made the requirements that they should be used in California ( the story goes that the State was indeed monitoring the Locomotives entering and leaving the State ). They have an unusual horn and are quite disturbing when on the point, haven't really noticed any other special sounds form them, indeed hearing is impaired for a few moments after they use the horn.

The mountain grades are near Oakridge, Oregon; just north of Dunsmuir; and of course Tehachipi with some attention to the Intermodal trains.

From trackside the EMD's are drowned out by the GE chug, but when they do run a solid set of EMD's it is very noticeable. Haven't noticed a distinctive T-IV sound though.
hth.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/26 10:48 by TCnR.

Thanks to Mike and all others.  And yes... I have heard that exhaust note is surpressed by fans.  Maybe I don't want to travel 3000mi to hear a vacuum cleaner!

A few years ago, I caught a solid set of these climbing UP's 2.20% mountain grade over the Blue Mountains in Oregon in a solid Run 8:  I chased this train and was often at a higher elevation on a hill above it, and I'd say the analogy above is correct, they sound like a giant vacuum cleaner because of the cooling fans.  I could hear a slight "chugging" sound, figured it was from the 4-cycle prime movers, but the sound of the cooling fans pretty much drowned everything else out.  As a whole, and when compared to older 2-cycle EMD products, these engines were pretty quiet even in Run 8.

Should be good to see the CPKC painted version later in the year (70 ordered).

I have no idea if they are yet in service but for a closer option to the east coast, Lake State Railway in Michigan is getting four of these and has already received at least two. I suspect they'll be captive to a particular area/train so this might be more what you're after.

Posted from Android

The 710 and earlier EMD turbo 2-stroke prime movers have a nice whine to them that is fairly distinct sounding. I can usually tell if there is an SD70M/SD70AC on a train on Donner before I even see the train, even over the thumping of the GE prime movers which are by far the most common. (The 645 roots blown prime movers in the snow service GP38s have their own unique sound.)

When I would camp in the Tahachapi Mountains 20ish years ago, I could predict if it was a UP train or BNSF train climbing up from Caliente to Bealeville. The SD70M locomotives were so ubiquitous on UP trains, and the Dash-9 locomotives on BNSF trains, that it was fairly easy to tell based on the distinct sound of the EMD and GE prime movers.

Ticeska Wrote:
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>  As a whole, and when compared to older 2-cycle EMD
> products, these engines were pretty quiet even in
> Run 8.

ShortlinesUSA Wrote:
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> I have no idea if they are yet in service but for
> a closer option to the east coast, Lake State
> Railway in Michigan is getting four of these and
> has already received at least two. I suspect
> they'll be captive to a particular area/train so
> this might be more what you're after.
>

At least one or two are in service.

exhaustED Wrote:
> At least one or two are in service.

Those are up here in Michigan, IIRC it was 4 of them and I think all 4 are now in service.  Tose Tier IVs look good in the Lake States scheme, but I dont see the cost savings for a shortline to have that big of power. 

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI

bath_wildcat Wrote:
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> exhaustED Wrote:
> > At least one or two are in service.
>
> Those are up here in Michigan, IIRC it was 4 of
> them and I think all 4 are now in service.  Tose
> Tier IVs look good in the Lake States scheme, but
> I dont see the cost savings for a shortline to
> have that big of power. 

Interesting, they do look good in that scheme! An emissions grant helped fund them apparently.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/26 14:00 by exhaustED.

And a little "encouragement" from the EPA, along the lines of the mess G&W found themselves in with locomotives not being maintained to their emissions tier.

Posted from Android

Here's one lettered for Progress Rail. Stockton,ca. June 2021.

Valleyman

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Valleyman Wrote:
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> Here's one lettered for Progress Rail.
> Stockton,ca. June 2021.
>
> Valleyman

Nicknamed a banana due to the yellow scheme. CN has a few of these on lease.  

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI