Western Railroad Discussion > EMDX "Bananas" Over Rich Mountain

On the 17th we decided to spend the day around Heavener and Rich Mountain as we have never been there before. Traffic was slow as expected, but KCS put through a few neat trains over the course of the day. We started with a loaded coal train heading up the hill with 2 KCS SD70ACe's shoving on the rear. Later on the local headed to Hatfield with one car and 3 GP38-2's and met a northbound grain train. Once we were back at Heavener 2 seperate trains had new EMDX Tier 4 SD70ACe's in their consist. While waiting for one to leave we heard the KCS Dispatcher give EMDX 7205 permission to proceed north from Hatton. We headed down to Mena and waited and waited and after about 90 minutes and thinking we lost our mind the train showed up with a pair of new EMDX Demos. The local nickname for these units are Bananas. EMDX 7205 and 7207 were in charge of a loaded ballast train. These units look great, but have almost no sound to them. Enjoy!

Coal train at Page

EMDX 7211 at Heavener

---

---

---

KCS 2004 at Mena and Potter Junction

Northbound empty grain train

---

---

---

EMDX 7206 on a coal train at Heavener

KCS 5011 north at Howe

The EMDX pair at Mena

---

---

---

Various shots over the Rich Mountain area

---

---

---

.

---

---

---

Once the train got to Page the lead unit shut down and would not start back up thus ending our chase

---

---

Some very nice shots there. Those T4 ACes sure are bright!

Would be nice to know where Rich Mountain is... 

Hard to lose those in a yard.  Nice pics.

Bright is right! Nice catch. We’ve asked a few times here, but how would u describe the sound those T4 EMD’s make while on the pull?

exhaustED Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Would be nice to know where Rich Mountain is... 

On the KCS, border between Oklahoma and Arkansas. Spent a very productive weekend back in March 2008.

86235 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> exhaustED Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Would be nice to know where Rich Mountain
> is... 
>
> On the KCS, border between Oklahoma and Arkansas.
> Spent a very productive weekend back in March
> 2008.

It looks very interesting, thanks... I had no idea there was such significant 'hillage' in that area.

That yellow really stands out.

I like the look of the last one...

Would sure be nice to see those banana's in KCS belle paint! My question is: IS KCS that power short that they really need those lease units when everybody else and there dog has half there fleet in a dead line?

Thanks for an interesting series! I also like the last shot.

Larry 

mmmmmmmm
The intake on these unit maybe to small, starving the unit off air...
do they have tunnel  trouble   ??

Don't think intake capacity is the issue with these (intakes are the grills below the first radiator grid).

Nice shots!  Pretty good coverage for your first trip there.

Randy Lundgren
Elgin, TX

Txtrainman60 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Would sure be nice to see those banana's in KCS
> belle paint! My question is: IS KCS that power
> short that they really need those lease units when
> everybody else and there dog has half there fleet
> in a dead line?

I think I read on another forum that these units are on a 6 month lease to test them.  Come spring we may have our answer.

Bill G.

mmmmmmmmm
I think that those grills are for the traction motors ?
The in takes are up front next to the cab not the ac in-converter vent
on the side off cab