4 axle locomotives

[ShaunCN]

do any of the class one railroads still use 4 axle power on mainline train. It seems to be all 6 axle ac traction locomotives now.


ShaunCN[:)]

[michaelstevens]

Amtrak certainly does -- they don't have anything with 6 axles !!
But I'm pretty sure that you are correct with respect to the freight railroads -- they are not, by any means all AC traction -- yet.

Mike in Philly.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

BNSF uses B40-8's and GP60's in mainline service, although only rarely on premium trains.

[Anonymous]

Four axle power is rare on mainline freights anymore, although lately NS and CSX are using whatever is in the 'house...

LC

[Anonymous]

The BNSF routinely uses a GP28M (#1530) on their Hinckley Sub-Division local.
That is a single-track "main" between Minneapolis and Superior. The local
operating out of Northtown Yard goes as far as Hinckley I believe.

[Anonymous]

Not too long ago I saw a GP60B on a mainline train on the BNSF River Sub. here in St. Louis, MO.

[espeefoamer]

The Santa Fe runs 4 axle units through Fullerton on a regular basis...Whats that? Its BNSF now?[:0]When did that happen?[?][:(!]

[UPTRAIN]

I saw a GP60 #1953 on the front of a UP train the other day leading a SD60. We use them in local service here. I still see many 4 axle units in mainline service, we use a few B40-8s here on intermodals, usually 4-6 at a time. HEAR THE ALCOS...I MEAN G.E.S RUN!!!!!!!

[TH&B]

Doesn't Triplecrown use 4 axle NS units any more? Sprint trains (ie short light fast trains that run relatively short distances) use 4 axle mainline power. But ya, 4 axle units are in the minority and getting fewer all the time. Wouldn't 3 x 4axle be easier on the track then 2 x 6axle units?

[kenneo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

Wouldn't 3 x 4axle be easier on the track then 2 x 6axle units?

Maybe yes, maybe no. Only on "sharp" curves and where the rail is light enough that the footprint of the locomotive weight would be too concentrated with 6 motor hoods. 4 motor hoods spread the weight out more.

If tractive effort is the deciding factor, 6 motors will win over 4 motors because you will have another fuel eater with the 4 axels than with 6.

[Anonymous]

NS is probably the biggest user of 4 axle power on the mainline. NS is currently in the process of rebuilding their GP38-2's.

Both EMD and GE have 4 axle models for sale, but they are listed as branchline and yard service locos.

[Anonymous]

There are 4 axle units out there, and they are being used by all the major and minor roads. However, they are not buying any new four axle power, the steerable six axle trucks have made them unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

as a matter of fact, NS is utilizing 4-axle emd units on some of it's intermodal runs over the N.E.C. recently, the first train of this run utilized a trio of ex-CR gp40-2's. NS & CSX still use GE & EMD units on a lot of their trains. you will see all the high-nose geeps you want, ex-CR geeps, b40-8's, gp50's, 60's, 40-2's, etc. in some spots, you will see b23-7's. CSX is still using gp40-2/30,35 mother/slug sets on coal trains as leaders, or rear helpers. i've seen them on the "old main line", in point of rocks, md. MARC still uses 4-axle geeps too. these units are more reliable than this faulty AC crap any day. i know a few NS & CSX engineers, and they say they would rather ride the old emd's and ge's over this "new junk", any day, 4 axle or six, they are more reliable.

[Anonymous]

I see a fair amount of 4 axil locos on the CSX main

[Anonymous]

oh.. and Marc as well. I keep forgeting about that.

[Anonymous]

I work for CSXT, we use 4 axles on Cumberland MD, EAST and on the Allegheny Division of the Mountain sub. On the mountain thay use two sets of mother and slugs to load coal on the Gorges Creek sub the former Western Mayland, because 6 axles are to heave for the tracks.

[Anonymous]

New Jersey Transit has no locomotives with 6 axles!!!! (yet)

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Norfolk Southern

New Jersey Transit has no locomotives with 6 axles!!!! (yet)

You mean "(now)" -- they used to have the U34CH's!!!

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[rrnut282]

NS used to assign a GP60 to most Triple Crown trains, then added a GP38 as they got longer. Now it's getting harder to find a 4-axle unit on a Triple Crown train. About a year ago they changed to, as someone stated earlier, 'whatever is ready to go' .

[Anonymous]

I know that both cn and cp use 4 axles on their lines in the Maritimes, not to mention the class 2's here like NBSR. Granted that they use them for short hauls. Hope this can help.

[Anonymous]

In recent days, I have seen CN run a number of four axle locomotives (mainly GTW GP38-2) locomotives on lower priority freights through Valparaiso, IN, and usually in the middle of the day. Even then, those numbers have been dwindling.

CSX, on the other hand, rarely runs its four axle power on the ex-Pennsylvania Railroad line through Valparaiso (acquired from NS as part of the Conrail breakup, with NS retaining operating rights).

[Anonymous]

I think the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) runs four-axle units, at
least on the Manassas-Washington run which I rode several
years ago. The photo on their web-site looks like they still run
them:

http://www.vre.org/

[BaltACD]

Most 4 axle power on CSX has evolved into either mother/slug sets or is used for RCO Yard power on Local Switch runs. About the only times you will see 4 Axles on main line through freights is when it is being moved either to of from the major shops for their quarterly maintenance. It is a continual problem for terminal areas to get enough 4 axles to power thier various local and industry jobs.

[Anonymous]

We see 4 axle power of all Roads here in Montana. It is like the good running junk of the great class one's. MRL has some 4 axel power that gets intregated with their big power and transfer power. All the local hauls are with 4 axel power on all colors and makes. If it runs stamp it MRL over the original road colors and if it keeps running paint it and run it till it quits. If it quits before the new paint MRL just saved some money. When it quits, hide it and scrap it and buy some more.