Western Railroad Discussion > UP and rear ditch lights

Has Union Pacific started a program to install ditch lights on the rear of units? I have seen both a GE C45 and an EMD SD70Ace with ditch lights permanently mounted to the rear of the unit.

Hadn't noticed that, but hadn't been watching closely, will have to keep an eye out for that.  In the past, I only saw rear ditch lights on SD40Ns for example that were going to be running as single units and needed to have the lights on either end when running out and back for example.  That was to prevent them from having to reduce speed to 20 mph for public grade crossings.  For some routes like the Provo Industrial lead near where I live in Utah, that's not that big a deal, doubt the track is rated for much more than 20pmh.  But on the Provo Sub that hosts both freight and Amtrak between Salt Lake and Provo, and has a local out of Provo a few times a week that is trying to do track speed (45ish) with a single unit and a decent size train, that single locomotive definitely needs ditch lights on both ends.  Wonder if this means the units you are seeing are being prepped for more local than mainline service.  Are the SD40Ns finally going to be retired?  That will be a sad day, I enjoy seeing the old standard cab six axles still earning their keep.  They've been around as long as, or probably longer, than me.

Nathan

I know some SD70Ms got rear ditchlights few years ago.

Looks like UP is getting ready to use newer 6 axles for local and switching duties. I've already caught a handful (documented here on TO) going long hood forward, including an ET44AH.

Almost on topic, Portland & Western's WP Hauler (formerly known as the Eugene Hauler) has frequently been getting a single big GE for power.  As these aren't equipped, UP has provided P&W's crew with ditch lights that plug into the MU receptacle. I spoke to one of my friends who was running that job and he said running long hood fwd wasn't too bad. (The few times I did it years ago, I disliked the diesel exhaust drifting back.)

I have seen one or two SD70m with ditche lights on the rear.
I seen new and rebuild GE engines with rear cameras.
Dennis

Posted from iPhone

roustabout Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Almost on topic, Portland & Western's WP Hauler
> (formerly known as the Eugene Hauler) has
> frequently been getting a single big GE for power.
>  As these aren't equipped, UP has provided P&W's
> crew with ditch lights that plug into the MU
> receptacle. I spoke to one of my friends who was
> running that job and he said running long hood fwd
> wasn't too bad. (The few times I did it years ago,
> I disliked the diesel exhaust drifting back.)


More power to your friend. I strongly dislike LHF....

Posted from Android

Does anybody put a video camera on the long hood end, and a monitor in the cab?  I would think that would provide useful situational awareness.

atsf121 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Are the SD40Ns finally going
> to be retired?  That will be a sad day, I enjoy
> seeing the old standard cab six axles still
> earning their keep.  They've been around as long
> as, or probably longer, than me.
>
> Nathan

I doubt the SD40Ns or any SD40-2 fleet on any Class 1 will be retired anytime soon. There is nothing like it currently in service. 

sf1010 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anybody put a video camera on the long hood
> end, and a monitor in the cab?  I would think
> that would provide useful situational awareness.

Do these units have desktop controls?

Saw this a couple nights ago, they sent a single EMD north from Dunsmuir into the Canyon and then into the abyss on the north side of Shasta, steep pile of rocks on one side and steep slope of nothing on the other. They stopped at the Depot and found a set of temporary ditchlights to plug into the MU socket. Spent all of five minutes and off they went.

Most of the units I see around here (central Texas) running LHF just use the aformentioned temporary ditchlights that plug into the MU receptacles. I know that a few years ago UP equipped a decent chunk of the GP60 fleett with rear ditchlights, as well as some of the SD60s. Most of the SD60s that are still on the active roster have been rebuilt with (among other things) rear ditchlights. I believe UP classifies those units as GP62s and SD62s, respectively.