Engine CEFX 1010

[Chris30]

Last night I heard the UP dispatcher refer to a "CEFX 1010". About 10 minutes later two dark colored (blue/black) units glided by my front door in Elmhurst, IL with eastbound coal train CAT?? (Antelope Mine to who knows where because my scanner cut out). It was strange to see anything other than a UP or a CNW unit in the lead because of cab signals. I could not tell if CEFX 1010 had cab signals, or if the crew was operating on track warrants. I didn't get a good look because it was dark. Does anybody have any information on this engine... what type? demonstrator? lease unit?

Thanks,
Chris

[CShaveRR]

I saw the same train last night. CEFX 1010 and its companion are GE units (AC4400CW? not in the DPA 2002 edition); they're blue with white striping. I was surprised to see those two as sole power on a train here because of the ATC requirement; they were moving slowly, so I don't know whether or not they have the ATC or had a positive block ahead of their movement.
CEFX is a leasing company, CIT Group (lots of freight cars; locomotives are a recent development).

[favuprailroadfan]

I think that the units that you saw were SD90MAC's. CIT received I believe 25 of these units to put into a lease fleet. They could have been AC4400CW's. I cannot be positive. I am also suprised about the was they were. I am not sure that they had the ATC equipment on board. Well I hope that this helps.

Dru

[Anonymous]

UP has a handfull of these blue&white stripe locos on hand. I belive they are on lease by the UP for a power shortage. Also I think CSX and CP have a few of these loco's too. Im pretty sure these units have ATC cab singals installed.

[CShaveRR]

CEFX 1000-1024 are definitely GE AC4400CWs, built in or around 5/01. I read something about a "free lease" from GE, whatever that means.

[Anonymous]

These units do have Automatic Train Control. The Union Pacific and the FRA do have a rule that says, NO train is allowed to enter ATC territory unless the unit is equipped with ATC and the ATC is in working condition. Now once in a great while you could see a CSX or NS unit leading a train in ACT territory and that is because the ATC unit they had on the point went bad order in route and they had no choice to put another leader on to fini***he trip. Dave

[Chris30]

Thanks for everyones help. I haven't seen these two units again. I'm not sure what a "free lease" is either... but I'll bet the UP didn't hesitate to take the offer. I'm not familiar with the specifics on the ATC rules, but usually when I hear a UP crew is having trouble with the ATC they stop and try to reset it. If that doesn't fix the problem, then the dispatcher usually issues track warrants & the train can only do 30mph. Then, I guess somebody has a decision to make. Change the lead unit, or a nice Sunday drive at 30!

[Anonymous]

hey Dru
what's up, long time no see...i've been pretty busy lately. Hear the siding at Goodwell (i think..might be a different one) will be soon powered up and dispatcher controlled. Good to hear..means they are still working this way. It seems those units were GE's, probably AC's as UP almost never uses anything but AC power on coal trains. I've had a couple of these CEFX wide bodies and they had ATC. CEFX also has a bunch of other types of lease units, older GE's (-7's,-8's) and SD40-2's (actually all the 40's I've had were -3's (rebuilds with computer controls)). I believe those 90mac's you were mentioning were assigned to CP for long term lease. Anyway, hope everything's going well for 'ya.
later
D

[favuprailroadfan]

Derek, Me and Tonya have gotton back together and are going to give it another try. We are back in McPherson, staying with some friends for right now. I haven't heard anything on the siding at Goodwell, but I know the siding at Joy is already signaled and ready to go for the new switches. They already have the approuch signals up on either side, and the siding signals in too. the siding at Bloom is true CTC, the signals are continusaly lit on the east side. Most of the time they display Red over Red. I'm not for sure but the entire block is CTC. I think they are doing ever other siding in CTC. That is just the way that it seems because that is way it is going. I haven't seen much activity through here. Why is that? I heard about the big derailment up there in Herington, is this a factor in the drop in traffic. Or is it the work that is going on the line? I went up to Salina the other day, and I saw a SD39. Don't see them much any more. This was a KYLE engine, so maybe that is why. Well I guess I had better go for now. I'll keep my eyes out for ya, and hopefully talk to ya soon. Oh one more thing, the other day I was talking with this guy from Hutch. And I guess he is wanting to do a story on the line. He asked me if I would help him out and I said Let me think about it. I was wondering if you be interested in this also. Well right me back and let me know.

Laters, Dru