Eastern Railroad Discussion > Can NS SD70Ms lead on the NEC?

On recent deliveries of both SD70Ms and SD70M-2s, Ive noticed that these motors lack the the little external cab signal/LSL light common on all the C40-8Ws, SD60M/Is, and the C40-9Ws. Even the most recent primered units in 9900s have the lights. Why not the same with the new SD70s?

The NS SD70M and SD70M-2 units all have cab signals and LSL--the LSL indicator lights are just located at frame level.

On SD70M units 2581-2590, the lights are located below the frame, just behind the cab on both sides. On SD70M units 2591-2648, the lights are located below the frame, under the center of the cab on both sides. On the new SD70M-2 units, the lights are located below the frame, just ahead of the cab on both sides.


Chris Toth

To add to that, it should be noted that none of the recent orders of SD70Ms have come 'ready' to lead on the NEC with their LSL. For some reason its not been cut in or properly functioning, and past units have had to be cycled through Enola to get them ready for leading on Amtrak. For the first months of their lives, you'll commonly see them trailing or in the middle of consists on the NEC.

I'm unsure why that's the case, as the primer dash nines out of GE have led many times on the NEC on their first long revenue trip. Seems like months, many months, sometimes before the new 70Ms are spotted leading. Hopefully its different with this batch...


SH

NSDash9 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The NS SD70M and SD70M-2 units all have cab
> signals and LSL--the LSL indicator lights are just
> located at frame level.
>
> On SD70M units 2581-2590, the lights are located
> below the frame, just behind the cab on both
> sides. On SD70M units 2591-2648, the lights are
> located below the frame, under the center of the
> cab on both sides. On the new SD70M-2 units, the
> lights are located below the frame, just ahead of
> the cab on both sides.
>
>
> Chris Toth


Chris,

Has NS retro-fitted the first 31 regular cab SD70's as well? If this is the case, is it true that all but 25 of the SD70/70M's/70M-2 can lead on the NEC?

Yes, NS 2501-2531 have had cab signals and LSL equipment added.


Chris Toth

Is this why the original SD70s now have a box under the ICE bulge?

NSDash9 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, NS 2501-2531 have had cab signals and LSL
> equipment added.
>
>
> Chris Toth


Any reason they have not added this equipment to 2532-2556?