SD-90's What is Happening?

[Anonymous]

What is going on with the SD-90 Locos?
have they been scrapted?

[therailnut]

they are going to be no more made unless the railroad are going to order anymore. The one that are true SD90MAC-H are going to be the only ones built. There are going to be no more conversions. They are having riding problems are far as know they are suppose to be trailing units now as a lot of the crews were complaining about the ride.

[eolafan]

Definetly not scrapped...I see them often on the UP West line through Rochelle, IL on lots of trains. They are awsome units to look at and hear. They kind of remind me of the Centenials and a bit of the SD45's with their flared radiators. Great units to look at and listen to.

[Anonymous]

What about the GE AC6000? Haven't seen many of those either....

[Anonymous]

Lots of SD90's And GE 6000's on yhe west coast. We see them alot on oil unit trains as well as coke trains

[Anonymous]

I have seen and photographed Canadian Pacific's SD-9043's in the Twin cities and I have also seen the "CEFX" SD90's. The CEFX units are really strange looking from a distance, but they look awesome.

[Anonymous]

Do you have any picks on your computer, that you can send me? As I live in Australia we don't have any here. My Email address is ([e-mail])

[UPTRAIN]

SD90s Scrapped no way. I am a Union Pacific Engineer in Poplar Bluff, MO I was on one two weeks ago. You are welcome to come to http://www.railchat.com hope to see you there!!!

[UPTRAIN]

And they ride GREAT!!!

[Anonymous]

I don't suppose the SD-90's are candidates for the torch yet, but they should be. I don't know if you are old enough to remember when EMD made a good, solid locomotive, but I can tell you first hand, after SD-40-2 production ceased, there was NOTHING in the EMD catalog that was worth fueling up at the racks. The '50's were a disaster, the '60's a disappiontment, and the '70's a curiosity that still has motive power officials spending many sleepless nights. As for the '90's, I can only speculate as to their shortcomings.
Give me a good old SD-40-2 anyday. But what do you expect from corporate "streamlining"? What used to be a "benchmark" in American technology, has become a victim of corporate greed. General Motors has taken the same stance with EMD that they have so boldly taken with their auto divisions. (If we can make it cheaper in another country, let's do it). After all, when you are an executive with a six-figure income, who cares about quality? Just move your production facilities to an area with the lowest labor cost, and "to heck with the customer".

[Jackflash]

Well said, the 40-2 was the last "real"
locomotive EMD made, oh the 60s and 70s
ride good and pull good too but you cant
depend on them, there is to much to go wrong
and put you down, and keep you down

[Anonymous]

AMEN, finally someone who has done their "homework"! You, my friend, must have some experience in these matters, unlike some of the posts......

[Anonymous]

According to a number of recent posts on another railfan site,CSX is working with GE to rebuild at least one of their AC6000CW units with an FDL 16 engine,converting it to an AC4400CW.If this is successful the rest of the fleet may be so modified. One wonders if UP will follow suit............

[Anonymous]

I apologize to the gent in Australia who was inquiring about "picks" on my computer being available. The simple answer is no. I would be willing to send either dupe slides or prints by snail mail, but 1) I don't have a scanner, and 2) I have not figured out how to use all the technology available! (I'm a little slow! like an SD-38)

[Anonymous]

Just saw a phsse 2, 6000hp today at Las Vegas on the lead. Behind it was a 6000hp GE. Both on a manifest train heading north to Salt Lake.

[Anonymous]

The 9043's are seen on the unit coal trains traveling through northeastern Oklahoma. Most coal trains have three units: two on the front and one in distributed power. Some trains are all 9043's, some do not have any.
The true 6000's are hard to see around here. I've seen two in the last year!

[Anonymous]

Last year you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a SD90MAC-H or the AC6000CW. UP seems to alternate the power out here. You will see nothing but C40-8W's then SD60's then you name it. The current vogue is the SD70M.

[Jackflash]

I've never had a "true" 90MAC either in the lead
or trail, lots of 9043s and AC6000,
I'm not impressed with the AC6000, really
couldnt tell the difference between it and a
AC4400...jackflash

[Anonymous]

definately not scrapped on the UP. They had been restricted to 60mph or less for a while, and were primarily assigned to the I-5 corridor in manifest service. Apparently there have been some modifications done to the trucks (I believe they have added another shock, there are now vertical motion shocks on all axles both sides). They are no longer speed restricted and seem to have found a niche with auto racks (I've had 10 or 12 in the last couple months on racks). They can also be found on intermodals, and some manifest trains. These things are beasts now that they have most of the bugs worked out. Phenominal dynamics, especially as the speed gets lower. Really dig in and pull too. Still a little bouncy. The GE's still seem to be having some problems, I get 'em now and again, but they are usually full of faults in the computer. Had one that was only putting out a little over 3000 horsepower. Also, like most GE wide bodies, they have that darn lateral motion above 50 or so.

[UPTRAIN]

AMEN BRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I agree things could be better with EMD. LaGrange has seen better days. However, the SD70M's are running around 95 to 96 % availability. That is tough to beat. Your comment about the SD40-2 is right on the money too. The prefered locomotive of almost all North America railroads. When the 90mac4300's are pulling (working) that is great, lots of troubleshooting sometimes though too. The phase 1 6000hp are running much better than the phase 2's. Still room for improvement.

[Anonymous]

That is no prob, but i don't have a scanner ether.
and i was hopeing to use the picks in a screen saver. but keep in touch i might see if i can get one soon, and i will let you know where to send them. Thanks...

[Anonymous]

Tim, Is there any stand-out wat to tell the difference between the 6000's and the lower Hp locos? if so can you let me know how to tell them apart?
Thanks

[Anonymous]

From what I have seen and read (someone please correct me if I am wrong or use the wrong terminology), the true 6000 macs have a couple of distinguishing marks: the top of the long hood (area where the prime mover is) is slanted inward, towards the top of the hood and the front of the locomotive drops sharply, similar to the GE wide cab locomotives. The only way I can tell a GE 6000 is the radiator section on the rear of the locomotive extends out past the end of the hood and the radiator appears to be thicker or deeper. I hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Your observation on the beveled hood is correct but the 90MAC-H's can have both the old style cab, like the 70M, or the new style cab. The GE unit can be both 4400 and 6000 Hp with the overhanging radiators. They too thought of the need to have a convertable unit because of the developing of the 6000 hp unit. The sure way to tell the difference is the 6000 has two exhaust stacks. At one time I would have told you that the stacks were side by side but I have seen photo's of some CSX units that have them corner to corner. Maybe a fix? Any way, I think only the UP ordered the convertable C6044AC and use them in coal service mainly.

[edbenton]

another way to tell the 2 apart is look at the air tanks on the ac6000 htey are above the tank not cut into it like recent ge products

[Anonymous]

ITS NOT THE RIDE THEY ARE NOT HEAVY NUFF FOR THE POWER SO THEY WHEEL SLIP ALL THE TIME........
SD70 402,000LBS SD90 418,000 THE REASON WHY THERE TRAILING IS THERE LESS LIKELY TO SLIP IN TRAILING 6000 HP UNITS ARE A GOOD RIDE COMPARED TO A B40 OR GP30 NOW THATS A RIDE BABY