Are the EMD SD70Mac's, GE gevo's and similar locos ever used in switching and local runs or are they confined to long haul running. Are four axle geeps basically used for local switching and jobs now?
Bruce
The answer would be borne of necessity. As is always the case in the prototype, where the need is real, the reality requires expediency. If it were expedient, the rails would do it.
When your local(s) are otherwise engaged, and you need to get a cut of cars somewhere...really soon... and you have an unused road engine standing by, why not use it? We assume the roadbed and tracks will support the heavier locomotives, and that the switches and other curves will accommodate the perhaps longer frames...sure. Get the job(s) done.
I find in Youtube, Flickr and some facebook groups at least ones per week an example with a big road engine running a local. It is used if no other power is available and weight and curve radius fit.
Reinhard
I've used plenty of road power on locals and yard jobs. Dash-9s, Gevos, 70aces, ES44ACs, sd80/90macs. As long as it fits - it can be used.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Short answer: Yes and, yes. As other posters have said, high horsepower "road" power such as SD this or Dash that, are commonly used on locals. Todays locals, made up of cars with capacities of up to 125 tons frequently outweigh mainline freights that required a four unit set of cab units in the 1950s or 1960s. Also, the number of four axle units on the major railroads is greatly diminished if, there are any at all. This makes the use of six axle power as switchers and local power, a necessity. The demise of single car, boxcar railroading as practiced up to the mid 1970s led to plant rationalization and the removal of most marginally maintained track that made the low horsepower, four axle, end cab switcher a necessity, especially in older industrial areas. Most trackage serving today's industries has been rebuilt to standards that would rival those of some mainlines, to handle freight cars grossing 143 tons--or more. The remaining four axle power on today's railroads, includes GP-60s and Dash Eights approaching 30 years of age with no new four axles in sight so, expect to see six axle power on switchers, locals, work trains, any job the railroad needs done. If the track can't handle them it will be upgraded or, simply abandoned if the traffic is insufficient.
NHTX The remaining four axle power on today's railroads, includes GP-60s and Dash Eights approaching 30 years of age with no new four axles in sight so, expect to see six axle power on switchers, locals, work trains, any job the railroad needs done. If the track can't handle them it will be upgraded or, simply abandoned if the traffic is insufficient.
Plenty of rebuilt 4 axles still coming around, but I suspect we will eventually see someone make a decent new 4 axle again (Genset tried). There are still plenty of places 6 axles can't tread.
The only 4-axle locomotives still in mass production these days are passenger locos...
From my own railfanning experience; UP currently runs most locals in my area with SD70M's, SD40N's and SD60 variants. From time to time, I see a GP60 or GP38 run a mainline local, but its pretty rare. As previously mentioned, passenger engines are the only really common four axle power currently being made in large production batches in North America. A few small companies such as Republic Locomotive are still making switcher units (two axle units in Republic's case), but those are mostly being bought up by industrial plants that are looking to replace their aging EMD SW, GP or other early generation locomotives, and none have been bought by any major Class 1 lines. Of course, the big railroads are rebuilding many four axles units to meet Tier 4 and other environmental standards, but those are not new units; and when finished are still assigned to work local and yard jobs like their other four axle brethren on the railroad.
Here in Baton Rouge at the KCS and CN yard theres a good bit of four axle power, Geeps, SWs, and MPs.
Far as SDs and stuff well yeah somewhat.
A long while back on the old Gloster Southern RR I saw a ex-CR SW1500 which is the usual power on the local but then I saw a pair of NS Gevos or Dash series idling away in the siding, I wish I would've hung around to watch them things roll out!
Here ya go, enjoy!
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!