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First EMD Tier 4 Test Locomotive Released

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First EMD Tier 4 Test Locomotive Released
Posted by beaulieu on Saturday, November 12, 2011 9:05 AM

The first EMD Tier 4 test locomotive has been released for field testing. This is a SD59MX, a SD60M with the 12-cylinder ECO upgrade.

SD59MX Tier 4 Test Locomotive

A UP SD70ACe with similar modifications has been spotted at EMD LaGrange, IL.

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Posted by Modelcar on Saturday, November 12, 2011 9:44 AM

I noted several remarks of it being "ugly"....??  Simply looks like something of brute strength to me as appearance.  From the photo, it certainly looks long...Perhaps it's the photo doing it to me.

Quentin

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:54 PM

Engine is being transported as a revenue move from Patterson, GA to Blue Island, IL

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Posted by gsrrmn on Saturday, November 12, 2011 1:30 PM

I think it does look "UGLY", with those 2 big humps  in the middle.  I think they Dr Frankestein aka Gene Wilder to operate and remove them.

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, November 12, 2011 1:31 PM

Modelcar

I noted several remarks of it being "ugly"....??  Simply looks like something of brute strength to me as appearance.  From the photo, it certainly looks long...Perhaps it's the photo doing it to me.

 

Looks like someone tried to run it under a bridge that was too low...

  

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Posted by edbenton on Saturday, November 12, 2011 3:03 PM

That huge aftercooler on the engine section is what happens when you add EGR to Heavy Diesel Engines.  That is the EGR cooling system needed to meet tier 4 requirements for the EPA.  OTR engines had to add another smaller radiatior in with EG when they got them.  Now what happenes to metals when exposed to Extrmely Hot corrisve gasses like Sulphric Acid or others like them.  They Corrode and BLOW apart.  Then what happens to oil mixed with water turns into Mayonasse and plugs every oil passage in the block and BOOM.  EMD and GE will not be wanting to add EGR in about oh 6 months after they startblowing up sky high in regular service.  If the OTR boys are eliminating them on the NEW MODELS maybe the Locomotive guys need to take a closer look at what they are doing.  Sorry this is time they have to make a redusction that requires anykind of aftertreatment look at an industry that has been doing it for 7 years now THEY have it figured out. 

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Saturday, November 12, 2011 3:45 PM

The most glaring clue as to the Tier 4 model is that no railroad will be able to put its name on it.  Look at all those engine door louvers!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.

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Posted by Modelcar on Saturday, November 12, 2011 4:37 PM

zugmann

 Modelcar:

I noted several remarks of it being "ugly"....??  Simply looks like something of brute strength to me as appearance.  From the photo, it certainly looks long...Perhaps it's the photo doing it to me.

 

 

Looks like someone tried to run it under a bridge that was too low...

........Picky.....Picky

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, November 12, 2011 5:28 PM

Well, at least I have a decent chance at ID'ing the model correctly, after many years of confusion . . .

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Posted by edbenton on Saturday, November 12, 2011 5:52 PM

Or as we say in the OTR side how can you tell when someone is running EGR look at teh SHOPS they are always THERE getting repaired.

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Posted by cat992c on Monday, November 14, 2011 7:58 PM

Looks good.That thing in the middle sticks out  like a sore thumb.

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Posted by carnej1 on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 7:59 PM

edbenton

That huge aftercooler on the engine section is what happens when you add EGR to Heavy Diesel Engines.  That is the EGR cooling system needed to meet tier 4 requirements for the EPA.  OTR engines had to add another smaller radiatior in with EG when they got them.  Now what happenes to metals when exposed to Extrmely Hot corrisve gasses like Sulphric Acid or others like them.  They Corrode and BLOW apart.  Then what happens to oil mixed with water turns into Mayonasse and plugs every oil passage in the block and BOOM.  EMD and GE will not be wanting to add EGR in about oh 6 months after they startblowing up sky high in regular service.  If the OTR boys are eliminating them on the NEW MODELS maybe the Locomotive guys need to take a closer look at what they are doing.  Sorry this is time they have to make a redusction that requires anykind of aftertreatment look at an industry that has been doing it for 7 years now THEY have it figured out. 

Ed, wouldn't the alternative be SCR(Urea)? I thought the locomotive builders wanted to steer clear of that?

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Posted by cat992c on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:05 PM

On farm equipment scr requires an extra tank. is added to carry the urea

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Posted by edbenton on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 6:25 AM

SCR in the OTR industry has been a GODSEND to meet the EPA regs.  Why has it been that MPG has gone back trhu the roof 2010 models the last models before SCR was mandated were lucky to get 5 MPG.  Now with SCR the same speced trucks without EGR are getting 7 MPG and the RELIABILITY of the same engines is back to what they had in 1999.  Now hard to belive we dumped one system off an engine EGR and got back all that reliabity and Fuel Mileage we lost when the EPA  did the Emissions reductions.  Cummins tried something and it worked got rid of the EGR system for 2012 with their SCR system.  Or as the drivers are saying now I fill it up with the Hog Pee I stay out of the SHOP.  The biggest tell is the Large Fleets the ones that had REFUSED to order new trucks are going back to order new trucks with NEW SCR equipped engines.  Schineder JB Hunt Swift all of them are REplacing their EGR equipped engines with SCR non EGR as fast as possible that should tell you something.  SCR with DPF is the way to go to lower Emissions in Diesels.  BTW that is how they have been doing it in Europe for 20 years. 

 

Europe tried EGR also on Diesels and FAILED if teh Germans can not make it work right aka MAN Mercedes Benz and Dutez diesels no one can.  So the EGR system is going to be the Death bell for EMD they are just to stubborn to see it. 

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Posted by cat992c on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 8:00 PM

In their own equipment John Deere has gone excluslively with the  superior EGR

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Posted by edbenton on Thursday, November 17, 2011 6:25 AM

Cat I asked a simple question at both my Local Case Fealer and my Local John Deere dealership how long the EPA has mandated Emission controls on Farm Equipment I was told that this was the First YEAR that they required reductions in Emissions from it.  There is a Huge Farmer that all he has bought is John deere for YEARS farms around 3000 acres between what he owns and rents around here.  I am friends with this man and he also OWNS a trucking company.  He heard John Deere was going to go with EGR and CASE is not he was due to replace 3 tractors and his Combine NEXT Year guess what he is ordering RED because of John Deere going with EGR. 

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Posted by Ulrich on Thursday, November 17, 2011 7:47 AM

Rugged looking locomotive. Looking forward to seeing one in HO scale.

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Posted by tatans on Thursday, November 17, 2011 5:22 PM

Hmmmm, looks just like every diesel locomotive made since 1961, a long square metal box on wheels, how can you possibly tell one from another.

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, November 17, 2011 8:07 PM

tatans

Hmmmm, looks just like every diesel locomotive made since 1961, a long square metal box on wheels, how can you possibly tell one from another.

 

I ask the same question about diesel locomotives built before 1961.

  

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Posted by adrianspeeder on Saturday, November 26, 2011 10:23 PM

Oh wow, that's cluttered.  My new truck ran horribly bad mileage with EGR and a DPF filter.  Got a tuner and ripped that junk out with a quickness.  Mileage went up, power went up, and now I can smoke like an Alco.

 

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Posted by narig01 on Monday, November 28, 2011 2:52 AM

Anybody care to speculate on how big a tank would be for this to use DEF(Diesel Exhaust Fluid)?

Thx IGN

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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, November 28, 2011 3:46 AM

Hey!  Maybe the big six will take another look at electrification!

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Posted by edbenton on Monday, November 28, 2011 5:44 AM

On OTR trucks they carry 1 Gallon of DEF fluid per 8 gallons of Diesel Fuel they carry so on a Locomotive they would need about 600 gallons. 

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Posted by switch7frg on Monday, November 28, 2011 8:15 PM

The fuel tank looks very close to the rail.  If it happends to touch the track due to "wobble" of the rail and engine , that would not be good

                                                               Jim

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Posted by Modelcar on Monday, November 28, 2011 10:01 PM

....Jim, I've been thinking about that too.  In fact, I've wondered for some time, when a derailment does happen to an engine that fuel tank is certainly down in the danger zone as far as clearance.

I wonder if that is figured in and if the tank structure is designed with strong enough metal to be able to take quite a bit of punishment when something happens.

On these new engines though, they really do look closer than what we're used to seeing.  Might just be the photograph.

4000 / 5000 gal of fuel oil out of control would produce an out of control fire in seconds.

Quentin

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