Two of the ex-BHP Bilton SD70ACes have been spotted at Progress Rail Tacoma, WA, for conversion to North American standards. Rumor is they are destined for MRL.
NorthWest Two of the ex-BHP Bilton SD70ACes have been spotted at Progress Rail Tacoma, WA, for conversion to North American standards. Rumor is they are destined for MRL.
These are the thirteen without isolated cabs. They arrived as standard units, but had a lot of extra equipment added to the cabs, CD players, refrigerators and microwave ovens (they worked in really isolated areas and this was needed - you could be held in a siding with nothing in any direction for 100 miles).
Otherwise they had marker lights. Not much else non-standard.
Peter
Looks like MRL is likely to get four, and they should be in service by summer. It will be interesting to see whether they get new cabs or not. This does seem like a great opportunity for MRL to pick up new power without getting a new model.
Spotted two at the Tacoma BNSF Yard today (EMDX 3006 AND 3009). Looking at the exhaust fans they seem to have extra equipment probably for added AC, gets kinda warm in Western Australia.
These units were called SD70ACe-LC, the LC standing for low clearance.
The cab was standard, although the illuminated numbers on the nose reduced the overall height by a couple of inches.
The requirement was caused by the No 1 Car Dumper at Nelson point which was that built for the Oroville Dam back in the 1960s. It was designed for U25Cs and made life difficult.
As a compromise, the SD70ACe radiators were lowered about six inches, just enough that they would fit through the old dumper, but the cab wouldn't. I guess someone decided that a new cab was cheaper than a new radiator.
An ATP (Automatic train Protection, a bit like PTC) device was fitted on the track to the dumper which would automatically shut down any consist with an SD70ACe in it as it approached the dumper.
Of course nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently dedicated fool and a crew driving from a low clearance GE decided that they could go through even though the second unit was an SD70ACe, and cancelled the ATP warning.
It apparently got as far as the inverter cabinet moving very slowly when the handrails above the inverters began to come off rather noisily. They stopped short of the cab, saving a couple of thousand dollars in repair. But the radiators had gone into, and came out of the dumper intact.
Apart from no shutters and slightly more open air intakes the radiators were standard, and the ten ex BNSF units went straight into service as trailing units with no cooling system modifications. The EVOs at Rio Tinto, 200 miles to the west had to have AC 6000 style radiators with two fans in place of one.
The old dumper is long gone and any unit can go through any dumper, but I think all units except the ten ex BNSF have the low radiator mounting.
The BHP units were all fitted with really serious fire extinguishing systems with big tanks mounted under the walkway. These may or may not still be used.
Two more apparently are now on their way west.
It will be interesting to see what happens to these units, and the others that remain stored.
I'd be interested to know the identities of the locomotives involved in the sale to MRL. The BHP Billiton numbers were 4301 to 4313. I'm hoping that the EMD 30xx numbers were in the same order.
It's complicated.
First batch:
4302 as EMDX 1001 (was 3006)
4306 (4308?) as EMDX 1002 (was 3009)
Second batch:
4307 as EMDX 1005
4309 as EMDX 3002
NorthWest It's complicated. First batch: 4302 as EMDX 1001 (was 3006) 4306 (4308?) as EMDX 1002 (was 3009) Second batch: 4307 as EMDX 1005 4309 as EMDX 3002
What is the significance of the 10xx numbers compared to the 30xx numbers.
Will the 10xx numbers be used by MRL?
M636CWhat is the significance of the 10xx numbers compared to the 30xx numbers. Will the 10xx numbers be used by MRL? Peter
As for the first question, I have no idea. Both these series have been used to move late model domestic and export EMDs, and have been used on several locomotives.
MRL's ACes are in the 4300 and 4400 series, so I expect these will be included there, or perhaps in the 4500 series.
Don't get flustered with the road numbers used to move the units. Its basically meaningless.
Without pictures it is all just talk.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
OK, I understand that the BHP units have all of that extra equipment on them because of where they worked. How much will it cost and who will pay to turn them into standard north americna SD70ACe's?
Here is a good photo of 4313 showing the exterior changes mentioned by M636C...
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/freight/single-view/view/bhp-billiton-orders-heavy-haul-locomotives.html
Here is 4310 earning its keep in 2006...
http://www.railpictures.net/photo/156506/
caldreamer OK, I understand that the BHP units have all of that extra equipment on them because of where they worked. How much will it cost and who will pay to turn them into standard north american SD70ACe's?
OK, I understand that the BHP units have all of that extra equipment on them because of where they worked. How much will it cost and who will pay to turn them into standard north american SD70ACe's?
I don't have picture but there are several on FB though in closed groups.
As for taking stuff off, anything the FRA doesn't like will be removed (probably the CDs as they are electronic devices) as well as anything uneccesary, as the FRA will require it be maintained in workable condition.
Looks like they will be numbered as an extention of the MRL 4300 series. Saw three of them sitting outside of Progress Rail Tacoma this last week marked as 4316, 4317 and 4318. The 4th one inside most likely.
Also looks like they will retain their original standard cab.
Rumors are that a Canadian mining road might be getting four of these units.
On one of my e-mail lists, someone reported spotting two ex-BHP engines at Marshalltown, IA. The old M&StL shop is used by EMD, or whatever they call themselves now.
Jeff
NorthWest Rumors are that a Canadian mining road might be getting four of these units.
Yes four ex-BHP are at Mayfield for complete rebuilding for CFAQ in Sept-iles, Quebec
Ooh, extra cab comforts! I hope they keep that in for the crews!
Matthew Cheng
Come check out my Youtube channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSlaF4fvDX1brq6YOeODLPw
These units have started to appear in MRL colors. They retain the original non-isolated cabs.
The CFAQ units have also appeared (with their original cabs), and are currently headed north.
Found this on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31385681@N02/30917591638/
jeffhergert On one of my e-mail lists, someone reported spotting two ex-BHP engines at Marshalltown, IA. The old M&StL shop is used by EMD, or whatever they call themselves now. Jeff
Those 2 from Marshalltown are on the way (north)westward. I had them in a train a couple of days ago. I didn't go into the cabs but the conductor did. He said one of them had been completely stripped, including the toilet.
Jeff,
For MRL or CFAQ?
Thanks.
Going to Tacoma as I recall. I think the numbers were EMDX 3004 and 3010, still in BHP colors. I wrote the numbers down in my time book, but it's in my locker at work.
One of the BHP engines had a nice modification I wish the rest of the SD70ACe variants had. One thing, among others, I don't like is the rear end walk way. There's not much footing going around the nose from the side to the rear because of the steps. The one engine had a plate that slides out of a holder and over the steps. They also have or have provisions for safety chains around the steps between the side and back railing.
Thanks. Progress Rail Tacoma is doing the MRL conversions.
I wonder if those modifications will survive the process. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I know it's off-topic, but since it's the only other homeless SD70ACe that I'm aware of, does anyone know if anything has happened to CSX 4839 since being sold?
She was sold to NRE in 2016 with some chronic ailment that CSX shop forces couldn't figure out (I thought it went to LTEX which typically means parting out and scrapping for six axle SD's, but the BullSheet says NRE).
CSX of course retired the rest of the fleet a year or so later, but they went to Progress Rail and are being leased out. 12 of the 19 are on lease to Norfolk Southern right now and presumably all 19 will slowly follow the path of these BHP units in time, being reconditioned, updated, and resold to new owners.
NorthWest Jeff, For MRL or CFAQ? Thanks.
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