Western Railroad Discussion > Regarding the SD70ACe T-4

I think a lot of us on this board (myself included) would really like to know what's going on with these units. Are they being stored for mechanical issues or a business downturn? From what little feedback we have gotten since this model came out seems to say there fairly decent units. Now all of a sudden there being sidelined. If it is mechanical problems, is it the Cat engine, electrical or computer issues etc? Needless to say, these units have been out running long enough now that most (if not ALL bugs) should have been worked out. I don't know how many of you feel, but I see shades of the ole EMD SD90/43 fiasco all over again! Yes, I've read that the Tier-4 standards are just to hard to deal with for railroads. That may or may NOT be the issue here. At some point a decision will have to be made on just WHAT to do with them. That just far too much money tied up sitting in a deadline! With all this rebuilding going on, I think it,s pretty safe to say we can kiss off ever seeing an SD70ACe T-4 in any other paint scheme besides U.P.

I certainly don't have any answers. However, the 3029 sat live at La Grande, OR for nearly 1 week recently. It was spotted on the depot track for easy access. I don't know where it went finally.Odd that a new unit would sit unused for such a long time.

I'm still seeing them on the sunset route. I talked to a U P engineer who told me that it's a very good locomotive and the ones he ran had been trouble free. Who knows...

Txtrainman43 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> With all
> this rebuilding going on, I think it,s pretty safe
> to say we can kiss off ever seeing an SD70ACe T-4
> in any other paint scheme besides U.P.

Both CSX and NS have them on order as well. NS has a token 10 unit order, which are slated for 1Q 2019 delivery, plus 40 Tier IV credit SD70ACe's on order as well. I believe CSX has the same qty or EMD/PR T4's on order as well. That being said, NS does not have any ET44AH's from GE on order either, however they are rebuilding D9's and SD70's into AC units as quickly as possible.

Russ

Txtrainman43 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> units. Now all of a sudden there being sidelined.
> If it is mechanical problems, is it the Cat
> engine, electrical or computer issues etc?

First, technically, these do not have a Caterpillar engine in them.  The prime mover is, as I understand it, basically the same one that was used in the actual SD90MAC, 6000hp units, with modifications.  Others on here can elaborate more on that.

As for how they are performing, I too have been very curious as well.  I haven't heard about very many issues, except for what has sounded like teething issues for a new locomotive (like software issues).  I've seen a number of them working the grueling grades of Oregon's Blue Mtns without any issues.  However, someone posted this on a thread that was actually about something else, so this could be your answer.  


Date: 12/09/18 18:19
Re: UP PSR Kills Another Train
Author: DD40 > It's sure seems like a big secret on how these
> units are operating.  There's been very little
> posted on here about problems, and I've seen a
> number of them out operating and haven't heard of
> any major issues (not that that would be a good
> scientific poll)...

The one thing I have heard is that one cylinder, number 5 I think it was, has been a failure issue. Cooling issues I believe it was? Anyway, most have been or will be through North Platte to correct this. Other than that the main things the units have faced are teething type issues and computer reprogram.
 

If they think Tier 4 was rough to meet wait 'till the EPA mandates Tier 5 by 2025 ( the class 8 trucks achieved Tier 5 in 2011) . The only practical way to get a 4,000 hp engine to Tier 5 is to burn natural gas.

   California and 7 other states have petioned the EPA to implement Tier 5 on the railroads asap and I'd guess its only a question of when not if.

    IMHO-Ross Rowland 

California is hellbent on driving the Class 1s to electrify and the shortlines into some type of flexfuel
hybrid design, heard it more than once lately.

Out

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> California is hellbent on driving the Class 1s to
> electrify and the shortlines into some type of
> flexfuel
> hybrid design, heard it more than once lately.
>
> Out

California is hellbent on banning all internal combustion engines.

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> California is hellbent on driving the Class 1s to
> electrify and the shortlines into some type of
> flexfuel
> hybrid design, heard it more than once lately.
>
> Out

As a life long resident California his hellbent driving a lot of things these days and not in good directions. Its only going to get worse here... IMHO Sit back and watch the train wreck.

As to the T4's I haven't seen anymore of them DIC due mechanical problems then any other locomotive on the roster. They pull very good and are super quiet in the cab from what I understand.

CS



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/18 12:57 by CaliforniaSteam.

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they think Tier 4 was rough to meet wait 'till
> the EPA mandates Tier 5 by 2025 ( the class 8
> trucks achieved Tier 5 in 2011) . The only
> practical way to get a 4,000 hp engine to Tier 5
> is to burn natural gas.
>
>    California and 7 other states have petioned
> the EPA to implement Tier 5 on the railroads asap
> and I'd guess its only a question of when not if.
>
>     IMHO-Ross Rowland 

Do the EPA mandates still exist? Thought the current administration had rolled back much of the previous administration's EPA rules.

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they think Tier 4 was rough to meet wait 'till
> the EPA mandates Tier 5 by 2025 ( the class 8
> trucks achieved Tier 5 in 2011) . The only
> practical way to get a 4,000 hp engine to Tier 5
> is to burn natural gas.
>
>    California and 7 other states have petioned
> the EPA to implement Tier 5 on the railroads asap
> and I'd guess its only a question of when not if.
>
>     IMHO-Ross Rowland 

EPA surely would would not implement Tier 5 based on the petion of only 7 states.  If they did that I would have to wonder what kind of country we live in where the minority can force their will on the majority.

Actually, given the number of rebuildable cores available, the railroads could avoid the purchase of new units for many years if they were determined to do so.

ALLEN 

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/18 13:58 by krm152.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do the EPA mandates still exist?

For locomotives? Yes.

I just saw two at the head of a UP Eastbound on the Benicia Bridge last Thursday.  

jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> callum_out Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > California is hellbent on driving the Class 1s
> to
> > electrify and the shortlines into some type of
> > flexfuel
> > hybrid design, heard it more than once lately.
> >
> > Out
>
> California is hellbent on banning all internal
> combustion engines.

Which is why a coalition of people made up mostly of minorities is suing the California Air Research Board. They are claiming that these iniatives disproportionately impact lower income people in the state.

America's own Yellow Vests.

Posted from Android

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they think Tier 4 was rough to meet wait 'till
> the EPA mandates Tier 5 by 2025 ( the class 8
> trucks achieved Tier 5 in 2011) . The only
> practical way to get a 4,000 hp engine to Tier 5
> is to burn natural gas.
>
>    California and 7 other states have petioned
> the EPA to implement Tier 5 on the railroads asap
> and I'd guess its only a question of when not if.
>
>     IMHO-Ross Rowland 

Actually Cummins, Bosch, BMW and others are showcasing technology that cuts emmissions to 1/6 of the present levels. Since in California, it has become a political movement, I doubt this will satisfy them but the world has not seen the last advancement in emmission technology.

Posted from Android

Also, do we know if this is even true? This is not the first time this was reported and proved to be false.

Posted from Android

And are we talking gas engine or diesel? There have been ethanol blend experiments that have cut emissions
by over 50% but under very controlled conditions. California won't be happy until the number is zero and the
whole Lower Mohave (and Mojave) are covered in solar panels.

Out

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And are we talking gas engine or diesel? There
> have been ethanol blend experiments that have cut
> emissions
> by over 50% but under very controlled conditions.
> California won't be happy until the number is zero
> and the
> whole Lower Mohave (and Mojave) are covered in
> solar panels.
>
> Out

My comments were diesel. Also, new diesel refining is showing promise.

Posted from Android

SD9043acs ran good too untill they would have computer problem every other trip. Nearly every TierIV SD70ace I have seen come into Denver stops for some sort of repair before it leaves.....

Posted from iPhone

jc76 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SD9043acs ran good too untill they would have
> computer problem every other trip. Nearly every
> TierIV SD70ace I have seen come into Denver stops
> for some sort of repair before it leaves.....
>
> Posted from iPhone

So what would those repairs be?

Posted from Android