Western Railroad Discussion > UP Oregon Heads up - GP38's with Extra Sauce on the way

Just out of Dunsmuir, two trailing B-truck locomotives that look like GP38's with oversized radiators and larger dynamic brake housings. Brand new paint that reflected the new concrete so I didn't get a number.

Railfanning vicariously on the Depot Cam on YT.

+ Happy 250 plus one.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/26 09:10 by TCnR.

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UPY 1005 and UPY 1001. They are moving to Hinkle for repairs.

The UPY 1000 series GP22 units are best described as hangar queens.

ble692 Wrote:
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> UPY 1005 and UPY 1001. They are moving to Hinkle
> for repairs.
>
> The UPY 1000 series GP22 units are best described
> as hangar queens.

Are these some kind of expiremental locomotives?

Former Missouri Pacific and Southern Pacific GP38-2s rebuilt with a Tier-4 CAT prime mover. Hanger queen is an understatement.

CAT engines have never been very reliable in locomotive applications, and that spans decades.  Yet, CAT keeps trying (and failing).  I wonder what EMD did that CAT cannot--even ALCO and F-M had more luck than CAT.  It's really odd, given how big CAT is in diesel manufacture.

PHL has had CAT powered locomotives since 2012.  They work everyday and have been very reliable. 

coach Wrote:
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> CAT engines have never been very reliable in
> locomotive applications, and that spans decades.
>  Yet, CAT keeps trying (and failing).  I wonder
> what EMD did that CAT cannot--even ALCO and F-M
> had more luck than CAT.  It's really odd, given
> how big CAT is in diesel manufacture.

coach Wrote:
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> CAT engines have never been very reliable in
> locomotive applications, and that spans decades.
>  Yet, CAT keeps trying (and failing).  I wonder
> what EMD did that CAT cannot--even ALCO and F-M
> had more luck than CAT.  It's really odd, given
> how big CAT is in diesel manufacture.

CAT prime movers in GE's 44-tonners were very successful, though GE chose Cummins for other switcher models. There was a rebuild outfit in Illinois that apparently did really good builds with CAT engines in the 90s, but there was no market for new 1000HP end-cab switchers at the time.

Didn't BC Rail have a decent size roster of rebuilt units powered with CAT prime movers?

Duncan Wrote:
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> Didn't BC Rail have a decent size roster of
> rebuilt units powered with CAT prime movers?

They did, and those CRS20 units had long careers, primarily working yard switcher, and some short local jobs.