Eastern Railroad Discussion > CSX 2493- SD50-2- Renumbering?

Seen at Waycross today headed toward Atlanta. CSX 2493, stenciled SD50-2, Conrail style number boards. Anyone know what's going on with the numbering?

That is former CSX SD50 8670/Conrail 6760. The units are being renumbered when they are derated to 3000 horsepower and given the SD50-2 model designation.


Chris Toth

Are they going to be regulated for yard use only?

That would be a good guess. I think all the rest of the 2400's are yard units. They
certainly aren't renumbering all the SD50's, as there isn't room down there for nearly
200 units ;) All of the SD50's are supposed to be derated to 3000HP though, and classified
SD50-2's.

This unit?

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=364855

2486 is in MOW service on the Henderson Sub for the last week.

My understanding is the ex Conrail units were being derated and will be used for MOW service.

For a railroad that is already power short, these idiots take a decent loco. (when maintained properly) and derate it to use it for yard service or for what ever! Why not use some of the already worn out 8000-8499 series locos for this. At least the 50s have a decent ride with good pulling power. Most of the CSX 40s I've ran had lots of air leaks in the cabs (better have duct tape when it's cold) and excessive lateral motion. I like picking myself and belongings off the floor at 60mph.
Most of this was discussed in a post in the last month or two, but now it would take 4 SD50-2s to do the work of 3. Lets save fuel and run 4 units in notch 8 for the whole trip to make track speed. What a waste. I bet the applehead who thought this up is getting a nice bonus.

Here at CSX...Uphill slow, downhill fast (well just gets you to the next siding quicker), profits first and safety last!! All they want is for the train to move...they dont care bout how fast it goes. Thats what happens when you let a bunch of college edumacated pricks run the show. Thing I hate bout the sd50's is that they are notorious for the damn dynamics cutting out on ya. I like running them cause for some reason..the bulk of them dont have alerters in them!