Are there any EMD 265H-engined locomotives still in regular service in the United States? I would like to see and hear one eventually. Has anyone here heard the H-engine up close? What does it sound like compared to EMD's two-stroke designs? I understand that it had problems and was never very popular with the railroads. (UP having retired/scrapped theirs, and/or converted the locos to other engines) Any info is appreciated!
It sounds like a GE, seriously. I've seen ONE. Now, they're no longer in service in the US, but mark my words that we haven't seen the last of it.
no, there are not any EMD 265H powered locomotives currently in revenue service. EMD does have its 2 SD90MAC-H test units as well as the lone SD89MAC, all of which are powered by the 265H (16 cylinder for the SD90's, 12 cylinder for the SD89) and are used in static testing.
Problems with the 265H prime mover were solved long ago, issues with the electrical system are what doomed the 6000hp SD90MAC-H.
As for sound, the 265H has been compared to the Alco 251 as far as sounding similar. Having had the chance to hear several SD90MAC-H's in service, both at idle and RUN 8 I will say that it is rather quiet, smooth chug. Certainly much quieter than a GE AC6000CW.
Bryan Jones
I seem to remember reading (in Trains?) that one of the regionals (Ohio Central?) was operating a few leased SD90MAC-Hs..this was about a year ago..
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
If I remember correctly, the Wheeling & Lake Erie was leasing a few SD90MAC-Hs from EMD leasing. These were former UP units.
Mike
You read wrong, you read about SD9043MAC's being in lease service for CIT that were tested and returned by Wisconsin & Southern. Indiana Rail Road did lease several from CIT.
It does say Wheeling demonstrated SD90MAC's in 2007, which were perhaps some of the returned H Engine units from Union Pacific that EMLX has (Didn't specify if they were H Engined units, but they referred to the 710 units as SD9043MACs elsewhere in this article so I presume they are). They didn't lease any, they're sticking with their rebuilt GP35s and SD40-2s and is retrofitting their fleet with auxillary power units to make them more efficient by allowing them to be shut down in cold weather.
The article was titled "Big Power for the Little Guys" and appeared in the June 2009 issue. It made it quite clear these were SD9043MAC's that Wisconsin & Southern tested. Indiana Rail Road leased several instead of buying new power. These are the the 4,300hp units using EMD 710 engines which were designed to eventually recieve a H Engine transplant when it was ready, but never did.
I believe some of the EMD lease units are in service, such as on the Buffalo & Pittsburgh. So SD90MAC's aren't quite dead yet.
Which part of the electrical system are you claiming is the reason behind these retirements? Contradicts what I've heard, and it seems like the legions of SD9043MACs that remain in daily service and share many of the same components would say otherwise.
Not sure where the Wisconsin & Southern, Indiana Railroad or the SD9043MAC came into play as they were never mentioned previously in this thread. Either way neither of these railroads operated SD90MAC-H's at any time though the WSOR did test CEFX SD9043MAC's and the INRD already has 8 of the CEFX units on long term lease with more in the works.
Ohio Central never leased any of the EMLX SD90MAC-H's. The only regionals to operate these units were the W&LE for a brief period and the Buffalo & Pittsburgh. The units on the B&P were taken out of service earlier this year and may still be stored on the property, but none are in service and haven't been anytime recently.
Its not just part of the electrical system that has plaugued the SD90MAC-H, its the entire electrical system. It was the weak link in the design ultimately, simply not robust enough. Modifications didn't do much to improve the issue. EMD technicians were continually working on the electrical systems of the units which were on lease to the Buffalo & Pittsburgh. Many have reported that with the mods no 2 units were exactly alike. This is a big reason why the SD90MAC-H's were not simply repowered with 16-710's. The SD9043MAC's have suffered electrical issues but not nearly as badly as the SD90MAC-H. While they may both use some of the same components, the SD9043MAC and SD90MAC-H are two totally different beasts.
Seems like the electrics would all be the same regardless of prime mover as they were made to be upgraded to the H engine at some time. Did the upgrade require electic overhaul if it hade ever taken place? What was the problem with the electrical part?
I thought it rather obvious that I was replying to carnej1.
He recollected that it was reported in Trains that a regional was leasing some form of SD90MAC's, and I clarified it for him.
I have never seen one, but also was curious about the sound. I would guess the comparisons between them and GEs or Alcos would have to do with it being a 4 stroke engine.
Leo_Ames I thought it rather obvious that I was replying to carnej1. He recollected that it was reported in Trains that a regional was leasing some form of SD90MAC's, and I clarified it for him.
Correct....., however Bryan Jones' post documented that there was some use of H engined units by regionals, that is what I was recalling (I was not trying to imply I was certain there were current operators)....So consider your clarification clarified..
I too had mentioned that Buffalo & Pittsburgh had used SD90MAC's in lease service before his post. So consider your clarified clarification as clarified. :)
I'm surprised to hear Wheeling & Lake Erie had leased any, but sure enough they had 5 ex UP units leased short term from EMLX back in 2007. Everything I had heard about this before made it sound they were just being demonstrated, as I said above.
Their numbers of these EMLX units were 8523, 8524, 8529, 8529, and 8549 if anyone is interested in this information and trying to track what has happened to UP's fleet of SD90MAC's.
What's the current status of CPR's units? Last I heard they were retired. Were they just laid up due to their less reliable nature compared to other units pending a traffic increase? Or have they actually been eliminated from the roster and returned to whoever financed them or scrapped?
The 4 Canadian Pacific SD90MAC-H's were formally retired from the roster in November 2008 and were placed for sale earlier this year, never sold, and were once again for sale as of September 2009.
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