Has anybody heard any feedback about how the Progress Rail testbeds are performing? These would be the PR30C's (PRLX 3002-3006) on UP and the PR43C's (PRLX 4300 and NS 4000-4001) on NS.
NS has received 4 more PR43Cs so I think that model can be considered to be beyond the demonstrator stage and into production. The second NS order are built from SD60 cores and have wide cabs:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2337657
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It was noted on another forum that UP has returned its PR30C testbeds/demos to Progress Rail.
Any reason or is it the end of a one year lease?
I did some research and these units were built to test tier 2 diesels with aftertreament catalysts. Probably paid for by the taxpayers of California where they were tested and I assume the state got all the data. So now that everyone is satisfied they return them to Progress Rail and let them worry about it. They were operated by Union Pacific not leased or owned by them.
I don't think that the State of California had anything to do with these locomotives beyond the regulations promulgated by CARB. Progress Rail is developing its own line of Tier 2 compliant locomotives and probably used these testbeds to acquire some real-world data.
Progress Rail did keep one for a demonstrator but why would they be tested only in California if they didn't get a grant to do so. By the way the diesels are already Tier 2 the difference is the added after-treatment stuff to get the package to Tier 4.
I wont tell you what most of us think of the F40PH's coming out of there now and back to Metra. As engineers, most of us are less than impressed, to say the least, other than the fact that they are warm, and will pull (when not in the shop that is).
I would think that the PR30C's were tested in California since that's the area where they would be most likely be used and to which they would be marketed. It's easier to make a sales pitch when your data is based on testing in the same market. UP may have also picked up some practical experience in the care and maintenance of these locomotives.
Altafest I wont tell you what most of us think of the F40PH's coming out of there now and back to Metra. As engineers, most of us are less than impressed, to say the least, other than the fact that they are warm, and will pull (when not in the shop that is).
There may be another reason why Cat bought EMD? Behind the scene they are all Cat employees now.
The last word I heard was the 4 new PR43C's were in Georgia for painting, maybe not delivered to NS yet? They did have wide cabs different from the first 3. Haven't seen any new pictures of the 3 running on NS lines in IL.
I think those widecab versions are pretty neat looking. Or at least unique :-P
-Gabe
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