Western Railroad Discussion > My Prophecy Came True - 5 Years Early

Back in 2006, I posted an image here of a dirty UP SD70M, remarking that nobody cared about SD70M's on a train -- yet.
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1176780,1176780#msg-1176780
The point was that we took motive power that was common back then for granted, but that by 2026, SD70M's would be uncommon.
Little did I know back then that my prediction would come true 5 years early.

As you may know, UP stored the vast majority of its SD70M's about 18 months ago and it's uncommon to see one, much less leading
as they're not DPU equipped. So it was quite the pleasant surprise to catch UP SD70M 4254 leading the IHOSA 03 last night across the
San Bernard River in East Bernard, TX.

Yes, it's fairly grimy, but still a sight for sore eyes amid the flood of ACe's and GEVO's that power the vast majority of UP trains in 2021.

 

Robert Pierce
Sugar Land, TX
SWRails.com

---

Your prophecy was certainly more cogent than UP's thinking on those 1000 or so units which are now pretty much obsolete.

Out 

It does look somewhat abused but it's still a great shot!

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

I remember making a truck delivery in UP's West Oakland year, when 3 new SD-70's throttled up, right next to the shop buildings.  The reverb sound was amazing--the sheet metal siding was rattling.  Those new engines sounded fantastic.

Killer shot and yes, a pretty rare catch on the SD70m leader!

Incredible shot Tex!

For the ignorant uninformed--SD 70s  not DPU equipped--so how is #2654 trailing engine (s?) controlled?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/21 17:37 by dougd.

dougd Wrote:
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> For the ignorant uninformed--SD 70s  not DPU
> equipped--so how is #2654 trailing engine (s?)
> controlled?

Units coupled together can be controlled thru the 26 pin MU cable.   Same thing as Distributed Power Units (DPU).


SP8100

SP8100   thanks for the clarification.  Am I correct in assuming that  a trailing unit could be controlled by the SD70, but that would not be possible with a mid-train or  a unit bring up the rear?

dougd Wrote:
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> SP8100   thanks for the clarification.  Am I
> correct in assuming that  a trailing unit could
> be controlled by the SD70, but that would not be
> possible with a mid-train or  a unit bring up the
> rear?

Correct. Mid and rear end units are controlled via remote control from a lead unit equipped with locotrol a.k.a distributed power " radio remote control. Another locomotive so equipped in the middle or rear can pick the radio link from the head end. Any locomotives coupled to the mid or rear receiving unit are connected by a "MU" or multiple unit cable. Most if not all mu cables these days have 26 pins. Union Pacific SD70M locomotives did not come with Locotrol thus cannot control mid and rear end remote helpers (dpu).

SantaFeRuss



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/21 19:49 by SantaFeRuss.

Probably the most interesting part of this is the SD70M as they purchased it with analog gauges and mechanical fuel injection were meant to be a "modern SD40-2" for the UP, yet look how many actual SD40s they still run in duties the 70s were meant to be cascaded to. Amazing what 20 years of thinking can do....

Can you tell what the graffiti says fingered in the dirt on the nose? "UP" something...
Great photo.

It seems railfans are drawn to the rare and unusual. When a new locomotive comes out it gets a lot of attention. Once there are a lot of them railfans lose interest and regain interest in what it is replacing. Finally once there are only a few left railfans are interested in them again.

EricSP Wrote:
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> It seems railfans are drawn to the rare and
> unusual. When a new locomotive comes out it gets a
> lot of attention. Once there are a lot of them
> railfans lose interest and regain interest in what
> it is replacing. Finally once there are only a few
> left railfans are interested in them again.


Well, when all you see anymore is the endless parade of GEs that to the untrained eye/not an employee look alike.....

Posted from Android

        Not uncommon here, I see the SD70M units in the 4000 series daily and many times leading. Obviously they cannot control a DPU or recieve radio signals to be a DPU 'leader' but they wil naturally MU with all other units.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/21 04:22 by dcfbalcoS1.

SantaFe Russ and SP8100  Thanks for the info..Perhaps I am not the only one who didnt differentiate between MU and DPU  We are now  armed with that piece of info   
Thanks
Doug

I'd be curious as to how many are PTC equipped. Lack of PTC, DPU and electronic injection is the Class 1 equivalent to 3 strikes. 

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
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> I'd be curious as to how many are PTC equipped.
> Lack of PTC, DPU and electronic injection is the
> Class 1 equivalent to 3 strikes. 

The UP SD70M fleet has PTC and electronic fuel injection. The strikes against them are they are DC and lack DP equipment.

MitchGDRMCo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Probably the most interesting part of this is the
> SD70M as they purchased it with analog gauges and
> mechanical fuel injection were meant to be a
> "modern SD40-2" for the UP, yet look how many
> actual SD40s they still run in duties the 70s were
> meant to be cascaded to. Amazing what 20 years of
> thinking can do....

The SD40N's were completely rebuilt after the arrival of the SD70M's and have been used more as heavy duty local power. Hardly the same duty cycle the SD70M's have seen.

Posted from Android

ns1000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> EricSP Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It seems railfans are drawn to the rare and
> > unusual. When a new locomotive comes out it gets
> a
> > lot of attention. Once there are a lot of them
> > railfans lose interest and regain interest in
> what
> > it is replacing. Finally once there are only a
> few
> > left railfans are interested in them again.
>
>
> Well, when all you see anymore is the endless
> parade of GEs that to the untrained eye/not an
> employee look alike.....
>
> Posted from Android

I agree there is much less variety than there used to be. My point was the same cycle happens with every common locomotive model. One of these days ES44EC (or whatever the latest Webtec locomotives are called) and SD70ACes will be getting rare and railfans will be seeking them out.