BNSF has released their first Dash-9(DC motor) to AC motored with A1A truck conversion. BNSF 616(nee- Santa Fe) was spotted on KCS northbound through Heavener, OK today. There is a video on You Tube showing the converted locomotive.
BNSF 616 conversion
Observations-
-Appears conversion took place in Mexico.
-No rear ditch lights? Why?
-New trucks with lifting apparatus.
-I'd call it a "Dash 9-44C4" (could see no model name on cab side).
BNSF doesn't have ditchlights at both ends. Probably better off calling it a CW44C4.
inb4 THAT'S WHAT NS WILL DO SEE!!!!!
ML
True, it is much closer to an AC4400CW now. "AC4400C4"?
Interesting...I had no idea BNSF had such a program. I know NS is considering a similar conversion.
I'm not a good enough locomotive spotter; can anyone tell if the converted unit has the air actuated weight transfer system of the ES44c-4 on the middle (unpowered) axle of each truck?
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
Who got the first conversion out ? NS or BNSF ? Any idea how much percentage load increase that this will translate into ? Can we expect these conversions of suitable units will continue for as long as there is a power shortage ? Will BNSF stay with A -1 - A, A-1-A s and NS C - C s ?.
Does anyone know the starting aand continuous tractive effort ratings for this engine?
Thanks In Advance
Ira
NorthWest True, it is much closer to an AC4400CW now. "AC4400C4"?
That's what I'd go with (At least for a railfan designation, I doubt their computer system would support a 8 letter model designation so I wouldn't be surprised if they go with AC44C4).
No need to keep the W tag that it carried as a C44-9W since there ended up being no standard cab AC4400C's, making that differentiation superfluous.
blue streak 1 Who got the first conversion out ? NS or BNSF ?
Who got the first conversion out ? NS or BNSF ?
Are you talking about their Dash 8.5 rebuild program? The first one was well underway quite a while ago but I haven't seen anything about it being outshopped yet and on the road undergoing tests.
Norfolk Southern has yet to commit to converting any Dash 9's to AC, they're only considering such a program. So they've definitely beat them if that's what you're asking about.
carnej1 I'm not a good enough locomotive spotter; can anyone tell if the converted unit has the air actuated weight transfer system of the ES44C4 on the middle (unpowered) axle of each truck
Yep! Look for the things that look like brake cylinders at the top left and bottom right truck frame areas next to the middle axle. They are connected by bars.
caldreamer Does anyone know the starting and continuous tractive effort ratings for this engine?
No, but I'd expect it to be rather close to the ES44C4.
I think BNSF's program is probably experimental at this point, so we'll see. These locomotives are reaching about the halfway marker of a traditional locomotive life span. I suspect Tier IV has something to do with this.
EDIT: Looks like it was a Warbonnet before conversion. Get your pictures of Warbonnet, Heritage I (and maybe even Heritage II) Dash 9-44CWs soon!
carnej1 Interesting...I had no idea BNSF had such a program. I know NS is considering a similar conversion. I'm not a good enough locomotive spotter; can anyone tell if the converted unit has the air actuated weight transfer system of the ES44c-4 on the middle (unpowered) axle of each truck?
Look for this, it would appear as a extra brake cylinder mounted over the middle axle, it is used to lift the axle up off the rail. And yes, from the video it does.
Look for this, it would appear as a extra brake cylinder mounted over the middle axle, it is used to lift the axle up off the rail.
And yes, from the video it does.
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Looking at the video, they have moved the air conditioner to below the cab where the DC switchgear used to be and the inverters are in the AC4400 location (where the air conditioner used to be).
So it really is an AC4400 with four motors, except for presumably more modern electronics.
It probably has a new engine as well, or at least a new crankcase casting.
M636C
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