Short answer : whatever is cheapest and the lessor has on hand. It's not going to be something purchased, it will be leased. So depends what the lessor has available. I've seen wide cab GP60's working as plant switchers at a sand plant.
It doesn't matter whether its a couple cars or 20 cars. Its the supply of engines. If you are modeling a "modern" operation, pretty much all the 4 axle units are in the 30-50 year old range. Alco's and even GP7's a now pretty rare and maintenance problems because there aren't that many parts around. Gensets are new, but pricey. Now in another 5-10 years they may be cast off and be available.
Pretty much now, a GP38, GP38-2, GP50 or GP60, maybe a U23B or B23-7 if you are really hard up. Event the CF-7's are rare now. Maybe an MP15 or SW1500.
Heck even an SD40-2, SD40T-2 or SD40M (converted SD45) isn't out of the question, there are a gazillion of them out there and they are really cheap to lease.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Dave,
There is a Youtube video titled: Locomotive Graveyard-Lordstown Ohio(Drone View). At 1:09 of the video, several obviously former Union Pacific gensets are rusting away with the other hulks. What went wrong? They were touted as the best thing in railroading since flush toilets!
dehusman Short answer : whatever is cheapest and the lessor has on hand. It's not going to be something purchased, it will be leased. So depends what the lessor has available. I've seen wide cab GP60's working as plant switchers at a sand plant. It doesn't matter whether its a couple cars or 20 cars. Its the supply of engines. If you are modeling a "modern" operation, pretty much all the 4 axle units are in the 30-50 year old range. Alco's and even GP7's a now pretty rare and maintenance problems because there aren't that many parts around. Gensets are new, but pricey. Now in another 5-10 years they may be cast off and be available. Pretty much now, a GP38, GP38-2, GP50 or GP60, maybe a U23B or B23-7 if you are really hard up. Event the CF-7's are rare now. Maybe an MP15 or SW1500. Heck even an SD40-2, SD40T-2 or SD40M (converted SD45) isn't out of the question, there are a gazillion of them out there and they are really cheap to lease.
I agree. This what I was tryng to convey earlier. With the push down of power to replace the GP38s and SD40s, there is generally an abundance of horsepower for what a shortline or branch line truly needs to replace the worn out 1st Gen GPs.
A railroad is going to favor lease terms, purchase price, and maintenance and repair availability more than they are going to try to find the perfect fuel consumption needs.
I see shortlines use double headed GP40s to pull 10 cars. Railroads don't seem to want to do long hood forward moves anymore, or they tag along a spare loco in case the active loco breaks down. After all, they are used and cheap to acquire.
- Douglas
I forgot about lease fleets.
The ALCO RS3 is the biggest build run for Alco. right up to Alco's end. So they have both 244 and 251 powerplants. the 251's being bullet proof and still in production today for marine and power applications. so parts can be obtained for 251's
What is going on with the gensets? parts arent a problem they were suppossed to b e off the shelf autoparts store engines. for cheaper maintanance. or is it a part failing to much proble?
Shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
NVSRRThe ALCO RS3 is the biggest build run for Alco. right up to Alco's end. So they have both 244 and 251 powerplants.
Forgive me for being pedantic, but I don't believe the 251 ever made it into the RS-3, at least not when new -- despite the "51" in its name, it took a while longer for the engine to start appearing in road switchers. I believe the RS-11/RSD-12 were the first Alco road switchers to use V12 251, and of course those were 1800 hp locos. That was 1955 or '56. I did read about Alco rebuilding a couple of RS-3s with 251s. Seeing as how these locos had RS11 hoods, I have to wonder if the 251 would fit under the RS3's lower hood.
You're right, the 251 was a much better engine than the 244... of course that wasn't a high bar to get over! :)
Aaron
NVSRR What is going on with the gensets?
What is going on with the gensets?
For an industrial customer or a shoe-string shortline, a new engine like that would be a lot more expensive to purchase than a 50 year old unit from the secondhand market.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog