Cost of Locomotives?

[favuprailroadfan]

Yesterday, I saw another UPS train through here. It only had 1 3 pack spine car, and 11 5 pack spine cars. They were nothing but UPS trailers. It probably wasn't no more than 3,000 ft. long and weighed maybe 2500 tons. This thing was loaded with power. Once again, it had 4 and I mean 4 AC6000CW's. 2 of these would have been sufficent enough for it, but I guess they want to keep it moving. I mean you are looking at around 8.4hpt. I like what UP is doing with these. I have yet seen one stop, they just move everything out of its way and let it go. But I am starting to wonder how much delay is being added onto the other trains while they are waiting. They have also bumped the speeds up and the auto racks, and stack trains also. They are running 70 or better. I just hope the trackwork holds up with these new higher speeds. I have sata back and watched the track when these come through and it is bouncing around like you wouldn't believe. Personally, if they are going to run at those speeds, they need to come in here and lay down concrete ties, and 136 pound rail. We still have 112 and some 132, but it won't last long. I know concrete ties are laid for heavy haul, high capacity lines. I know it takes alot of work to lay an entire line with concrete ties, but in the long run, its worth it.

Laters, Dru

[favuprailroadfan]

Yesterday, I saw another UPS train through here. It only had 1 3 pack spine car, and 11 5 pack spine cars. They were nothing but UPS trailers. It probably wasn't no more than 3,000 ft. long and weighed maybe 2500 tons. This thing was loaded with power. Once again, it had 4 and I mean 4 AC6000CW's. 2 of these would have been sufficent enough for it, but I guess they want to keep it moving. I mean you are looking at around 8.4hpt. I like what UP is doing with these. I have yet seen one stop, they just move everything out of its way and let it go. But I am starting to wonder how much delay is being added onto the other trains while they are waiting. They have also bumped the speeds up and the auto racks, and stack trains also. They are running 70 or better. I just hope the trackwork holds up with these new higher speeds. I have sata back and watched the track when these come through and it is bouncing around like you wouldn't believe. Personally, if they are going to run at those speeds, they need to come in here and lay down concrete ties, and 136 pound rail. We still have 112 and some 132, but it won't last long. I know concrete ties are laid for heavy haul, high capacity lines. I know it takes alot of work to lay an entire line with concrete ties, but in the long run, its worth it.

Laters, Dru

[Anonymous]

I SAW A PICTURE OF THE SD70 ON EMD'S SITE AND WAS AMAZED AT HOW MUCH IT LOOKS LIKE THE SD90MAC. EMD DOES NOT HAVE A FOREM SECTION SO, SOMEBODY GIVE ME AN ANSWER ASAP!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I SAW A PICTURE OF THE SD70 ON EMD'S SITE AND WAS AMAZED AT HOW MUCH IT LOOKS LIKE THE SD90MAC. EMD DOES NOT HAVE A FOREM SECTION SO, SOMEBODY GIVE ME AN ANSWER ASAP!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Hey this forum thing is cool. uh-oh showing my age by saying cool.
How about neat. oops, age thing again. Anyway it is interesting to
read all the replys. Back in the 60's/70's I use to watch E and F units
of the pennsy and then penn central blast through the small town of
Huntingdon PA . I was only ten back in 1967 and liked watching trains.
I would love to see those days again. Four main tracks through town
A grand old train station and REA trucks picking up packages. Lazy
days of summer and sunny days. 5 cents for a coke at the corner store.
Riding my spider bike around the train station and watching people and trains

[Anonymous]

Hey this forum thing is cool. uh-oh showing my age by saying cool.
How about neat. oops, age thing again. Anyway it is interesting to
read all the replys. Back in the 60's/70's I use to watch E and F units
of the pennsy and then penn central blast through the small town of
Huntingdon PA . I was only ten back in 1967 and liked watching trains.
I would love to see those days again. Four main tracks through town
A grand old train station and REA trucks picking up packages. Lazy
days of summer and sunny days. 5 cents for a coke at the corner store.
Riding my spider bike around the train station and watching people and trains

[Anonymous]

Is there that much of a difference? I would like both if you can get them.
THANKS
Tim A

[Anonymous]

Is there that much of a difference? I would like both if you can get them.
THANKS
Tim A

[Anonymous]

at full throttle, in the mountains or on flat land ?
tim e- mail me

Ican't find my little pocket book but i think an SD40 burns about 150 to 180gals. of fuel per hour. but you have to take in to consideration that Donner Summit has a 3% ruling grade on the west side.

[Anonymous]

at full throttle, in the mountains or on flat land ?
tim e- mail me

Ican't find my little pocket book but i think an SD40 burns about 150 to 180gals. of fuel per hour. but you have to take in to consideration that Donner Summit has a 3% ruling grade on the west side.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me how much it costs per hour to operate a engine? Let say, a SD-40 with about 5000 hours on its last rebuild.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me how much it costs per hour to operate a engine? Let say, a SD-40 with about 5000 hours on its last rebuild.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

4 cw60ac's! wow, thats got to sound great. I've only heard 1 or 2 6000 hp locomotives loading from a dead stop, and it sounded amazing. almost like thunder.

[Anonymous]

4 cw60ac's! wow, thats got to sound great. I've only heard 1 or 2 6000 hp locomotives loading from a dead stop, and it sounded amazing. almost like thunder.

[favuprailroadfan]

The cost is a major thing for the UP. If I remember correctly, I believe the going cost for an C44-9W is around 1.5 million. For the AC version, it costs about 500,000 more. I can see why some railorads are shunting the AC for the DC's. BNSF has always baffled me about this. They ordered all the AC's from EMD. But then in turn, they wouldn't even think about ordering the GE's AC's. Where I am from here in SW Kansas. I don't that many AC's, but UP has now started to run the new UPS trains through here at 74 mph. These trains are onlly about 4,000 ft. long, but they are loaded up power wise. We are talking about 4 AC6000CW's. That is the only units that I have see on them so far. I know the 6000's have a maximum speed of 75 mph. The SD70M's have a max speed of only 70. I live at the top of a grade(if that is what you want to call it). Its only a .8% uphill , so I can still here them AC's whining when they fly through. They are running about 4 of these a day. Plus, there are no stacks on this train. These things remind me of the old SP, and old ATSF days. They are solid piggyback trailers. When I first saw it, it was nostalgic in a since. I just thought I might everyone know that UP has started (as some people call them) the Bullet Train. It just caught me off guard when they told me that UP would be running these things at 74. I don't know if the trackwork is best suited for this speed, but so far everything is running smooth where I live. If anyone wants to reply and drill me on things, let me know. Laters, Dru

[favuprailroadfan]

The cost is a major thing for the UP. If I remember correctly, I believe the going cost for an C44-9W is around 1.5 million. For the AC version, it costs about 500,000 more. I can see why some railorads are shunting the AC for the DC's. BNSF has always baffled me about this. They ordered all the AC's from EMD. But then in turn, they wouldn't even think about ordering the GE's AC's. Where I am from here in SW Kansas. I don't that many AC's, but UP has now started to run the new UPS trains through here at 74 mph. These trains are onlly about 4,000 ft. long, but they are loaded up power wise. We are talking about 4 AC6000CW's. That is the only units that I have see on them so far. I know the 6000's have a maximum speed of 75 mph. The SD70M's have a max speed of only 70. I live at the top of a grade(if that is what you want to call it). Its only a .8% uphill , so I can still here them AC's whining when they fly through. They are running about 4 of these a day. Plus, there are no stacks on this train. These things remind me of the old SP, and old ATSF days. They are solid piggyback trailers. When I first saw it, it was nostalgic in a since. I just thought I might everyone know that UP has started (as some people call them) the Bullet Train. It just caught me off guard when they told me that UP would be running these things at 74. I don't know if the trackwork is best suited for this speed, but so far everything is running smooth where I live. If anyone wants to reply and drill me on things, let me know. Laters, Dru

[Anonymous]

No sir, If I were in managment I would locate my rebuild company in Mexico and hire non-union help. I would purchase my engine parts from a machine company in Poland. I would send my electrical cabinets to the Czech Republic to get rebuilt. Buy my new motors from Yokohomo Motors in Korea. Purchase remote control equipment from Svetlana in St. Petersbrug Russia. Put them all together and sell these remote units to American railroad companies with the promise that they can eliminate 3 Union engineers in a 24 hour time period per unit.
But thats only if I were a member of managment.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

No sir, If I were in managment I would locate my rebuild company in Mexico and hire non-union help. I would purchase my engine parts from a machine company in Poland. I would send my electrical cabinets to the Czech Republic to get rebuilt. Buy my new motors from Yokohomo Motors in Korea. Purchase remote control equipment from Svetlana in St. Petersbrug Russia. Put them all together and sell these remote units to American railroad companies with the promise that they can eliminate 3 Union engineers in a 24 hour time period per unit.
But thats only if I were a member of managment.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

Tim, you sound like management[:0] I hope not [:D]

[Anonymous]

Tim, you sound like management[:0] I hope not [:D]

[Anonymous]

The units that the railroad purchase. They no doubt are maintaned under warranty by the builder. What does that include? What if the railroad purchased there engines without a warranty? How much would a new unit cost? I am agast at the price of these units. I cannot understand why the secound hand unit trade (rebuilders) is at rock bottom. Example: You can purchase a SD-40 for around $85,000. Rebuild the engine, compressor, rewire the electrical cabinet. (I think thats what they call it) for another $100,000. Replace the motors with new ones and bearings for about worst case $200,000. Paint job 1 year warranty another $100,000.
So for around $500,000 you can have yourself a very good unit. Now sell this unit for around $750,000. That is not a bad profit. Am I way out of the ball park?
TIM A
I hope this does'nt sound like babble. I get that way when I smell profit.

[Anonymous]

The units that the railroad purchase. They no doubt are maintaned under warranty by the builder. What does that include? What if the railroad purchased there engines without a warranty? How much would a new unit cost? I am agast at the price of these units. I cannot understand why the secound hand unit trade (rebuilders) is at rock bottom. Example: You can purchase a SD-40 for around $85,000. Rebuild the engine, compressor, rewire the electrical cabinet. (I think thats what they call it) for another $100,000. Replace the motors with new ones and bearings for about worst case $200,000. Paint job 1 year warranty another $100,000.
So for around $500,000 you can have yourself a very good unit. Now sell this unit for around $750,000. That is not a bad profit. Am I way out of the ball park?
TIM A
I hope this does'nt sound like babble. I get that way when I smell profit.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I didnt even know I had received replies! Thanks! I didnt receive an e-mail notification, so I didnt check...

[Anonymous]

Wow, I didnt even know I had received replies! Thanks! I didnt receive an e-mail notification, so I didnt check...

[Anonymous]

we had a lease unit come down off of Donner Pass in Dec. It had no guru valve on the water dump. the entire top of the air comp. was lying there in pieces with the radiators lying on top of that. slap a B.O. tag on it and send it home. what could freeze did.

marty

[Anonymous]

we had a lease unit come down off of Donner Pass in Dec. It had no guru valve on the water dump. the entire top of the air comp. was lying there in pieces with the radiators lying on top of that. slap a B.O. tag on it and send it home. what could freeze did.

marty

[JoeKoh]

Tim
yes they do.Csx uses furx green gatx blue and gray and i've seen an old up c30-7 with a lease company on the side.they also have run through power from both up and bnsf. I still like an sd 40-2 at the point of most trains.
stay safe
joe

[JoeKoh]

Tim
yes they do.Csx uses furx green gatx blue and gray and i've seen an old up c30-7 with a lease company on the side.they also have run through power from both up and bnsf. I still like an sd 40-2 at the point of most trains.
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

I have been doing a bit of reading. Engine purchases and engine maintance are a big portion of a railroads capitol budget. Why not lease? You might not save alot of money but you are garenteed a working engine when you need one. Do the big railroads lease? If they do not, than why don't they?
TIM A