What are your likes and dislikes with the 90/43macs?
Is that the SD90/43MAC? If yes, I like all ! It is my favourite north american locomotive.
I dicovered it, when I bought the Roger Pass add-on for train simulator. Since that, I am a fan of american railroad. It's amazing because before train simulator, I liked just french railroad. Now I like both (french and american).
JohnWPowell What are your likes and dislikes with the 90/43macs?
I dunno, 'cause it's been more than five years since running one. Electrically, if something goes wrong with one, you're down to half your powered axles if you have to cut out an inverter. They use one per truck, vs one per axle with comparable GE's. I always liked them as a conductor, because when you were making a joint, the angle cocks are all on the proper side and you don't have to climb over to the other side like with a GE. That electric handbrake is nice, but if it fails it takes a lot of cranking with that little handle. I recall that the ride in them is pretty decent. The road I work for got rid of all its straight 90's (UPRR/the ones with the 265H engines), but I still see many of the 90/43's in service. This answer any of your questions?
uphogger JohnWPowell: What are your likes and dislikes with the 90/43macs? I dunno, 'cause it's been more than five years since running one. Electrically, if something goes wrong with one, you're down to half your powered axles if you have to cut out an inverter. They use one per truck, vs one per axle with comparable GE's. I always liked them as a conductor, because when you were making a joint, the angle cocks are all on the proper side and you don't have to climb over to the other side like with a GE. That electric handbrake is nice, but if it fails it takes a lot of cranking with that little handle. I recall that the ride in them is pretty decent. The road I work for got rid of all its straight 90's (UPRR/the ones with the 265H engines), but I still see many of the 90/43's in service. This answer any of your questions?
JohnWPowell: What are your likes and dislikes with the 90/43macs?
On a different section of the same road, there is a hand written note at our home terminal to turn in all rough riding SD9043 units.
I don't care for them, mainly because of the way the cab and controls are layed out. The center seat sticks out further, making it hard to get your bags around when getting on or off. The desk top control stand isn't flat, but has a slight angle to it. The throttle and brake controls are on a raised portion that has more of an angle to it. I don't care for that extra "lean" to the controls.
They also aren't very good for kicking cars. I caught an extra yard job where we mostly were kicking out cars from through trains that had yarded. The foreman just had us use the road power on each train we worked. They seem to load slower than a GE, although to be fair I've heard that is a characteristic of all AC engines.
Jeff
PS. I thought it was the GE engines that have both angle cocks on the engr's side.
As a railfan I like the SD9043MACs, even though they maybe a pain for those who have to work with them.
http://s866.photobucket.com/albums/ab230/Cajon_92/Tehachapi%20Pass/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ28
Thanks 4 looking,
Cajon
UP 8144 & 8122 leading the AOASP 14 up the western slope of the Tehachapi mountains between Tunnels 3 & 5 (Between Bealville & Cliff). The rear DPU on the AOASP 14 was also a SD9043MAC.
jeffhergert PS. I thought it was the GE engines that have both angle cocks on the engr's side.
That's precisely what I meant.
First as a rail fan also I do so like the SD90s. I have three kato models. Also there is one by where we live in the Toledo area that makes occasional appreances on the NS toledo east west line. it is a UP unit. Took a lot of pics of it. Not sure if it is a lease unit, but there are no lease markings on it. I just like the size of em. if it matters my dad retired from CSX a few yrs back and I got to go aboard the AC6000s a few times. They were cool too. I had two uncles retire from CSX also who started out on Conrail spent time with them at work but never did get to see a SD 80 up close. God BLess
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