Eastern Railroad Discussion > NS 8520

This locomotive, with a red short hood and cab, was parked on a siding at North Driftwood, PA on the WNY&P when I visited in early September. Does anyone know why it was there? The friend I was traveling with told me Norfolk Southern had arranged for WNY&P to conduct tests with it but that WNY&P would not accept the locomotive when they inspected it. What were the reasons for the tests and the tests to be performed? Why would WNY&P refuse to accept the locomotive? Thanks to anyone with answers.

See:

http://www.nsdash9.com/rosters/8520.html

Gerry

It was there to test the new electrical components produced by CAF USA. Long story short it was an utter failure. 

Thank you for the link. I was surprised to learn the loco retained 6 powered axles. Bob Kaplan

Thanks for the info. Bob Kaplan

SO what will NS do with this one now? Turn it into a true AC44C6M>?

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI

The AC44C6M project works.  Idk why they think they need to re-invent the wheel.

Eng.Shadetree

This whole experiment appeared to be an attempt to qualify a second source to the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for costly component parts.  I've seen similar things several times during my career. Sometimes it works ..... sometimes it doesn't.  The markup on GE parts when I was in the industry was outrageous so you can't fault NS for trying.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/19 12:26 by cr2581.

bath_wildcat Wrote:
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> SO what will NS do with this one now? Turn it into
> a true AC44C6M>?


After a year or two in Precision Storage, I'd say that's its most likely fate...

When was it removed from North Driftwood?
 

toledopatch Wrote:
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> When was it removed from North Driftwood?

Late September.


Chris Toth
NSDash9.com

If CAF said they could rebuild a unit for $10,000 less that GE offered, GE would have met that offer, Just a way to keep GE honest with there pricing

It is my understanding that the point of the test, was to be able to retain the original trucks the Dash 9's came with. Supposedly, the AC traction motors used in the 6M's require a different configuration that is incompatible with the older truck. This means each rebuild is outfitted with a new pair of trucks. The CAF version used motors compatible with the old trucks, so they could simply be rebuilt and reused.

Posted from Android

This is correct.


bioyans Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It is my understanding that the point of the test,
> was to be able to retain the original trucks the
> Dash 9's came with. Supposedly, the AC traction
> motors used in the 6M's require a different
> configuration that is incompatible with the older
> truck. This means each rebuild is outfitted with a
> new pair of trucks. The CAF version used motors
> compatible with the old trucks, so they could
> simply be rebuilt and reused.
>
> Posted from Android

Posted from iPhone