http://www.flickr.com/photos/8226029@N06/3282827761/
After reading the link above, it left me thinking. If an American railroad was to purchase an export EMD or GE locomotive outside the country (or those stored at the NREX shops), is it possible that it can be operated here in the United States?
"Look away...look south"
It should be able to, but may some changes like couplers and such. I think a few such engines were returned to the US for museums and fantrip service. I don't know that a railroad would want such an engine however, since generally the problem is the standard US product is too large for the foreign railroad, so GE or GM or whoever made a smaller version for export.
There were some steam engines - most famously the 2-10-0 "Russian Decapods" that were built for the Russian Imperial Ry. during WW1, but were never shipped overseas because of the Bolshevik revolution and Russians subsequent withdrawal from the war. These engines were converted to US standard gauge (Russia uses 5' gauge) and a few other modifications and were sold to US railroads.
Hi wjstix!
Thanks for your reply! Well to simplify it, I would say an example would be a EMD G12 or G22W stored at the NREX shops.
Another thing is that would such locomotives not have to go through emission regulations?
As long as they are not rebuilt, they can be operated with their (lack of) emission controls as-is. During a rebuild, however, they would be subject to the same rules as any other American operated locomotive pertaining to 1030.
They would, however, be required to meet all US regulations that were in effect at the time of their manufacture.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD "...They would, however, be required to meet all US regulations that were in effect at the time of their manufacture..."
"...They would, however, be required to meet all US regulations that were in effect at the time of their manufacture..."
This has been a rule for a very long time. Before European Autos were manufactured in Europe for export, specifically, to the USA.
Individuals who imported autos (essentially, noncompliant to USA standards) went through an ordeal of having their imported auto brought into compliance with then current regulations, it was a time consuming, and a veritable ordeal to get their car through customs.
Importation of locomotives would be a similarly, potential ordeal as well, to satisfy Federal Regulations.
You have to wonder how those folks who are going to export the two British A-4 Pacific Steam Locomotives back to Britain for their Celebration (Next Year? 2013(?) how will their importation go? Of course, both Locomotives are not in running order presently, but only cosmetically prepared for museum showing.
link: http://www.nrm.org.uk/AboutUs/PressOffice/PressReleases/2012/January/Repatriatinga4s.aspx
Several SD50-type locos from Australia were exported to the US a decade ago and are now part of the Utah Railway's roster. IIRC, those SD50s were built in Australia and not at London or La Grange.
BaltACD They would, however, be required to meet all US regulations that were in effect at the time of their manufacture.
So let's say an exported EMD G12 from 1954 is purchased and brought back from Brazil, the regulations would have to be updated as of the present day standards and not of 1954?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9WgXlRo5fVM/TbM66NH17PI/AAAAAAAAAbY/qBivt0SegIk/s1600/G12_7064_FEPASA.jpg
wjstix It should be able to, but may some changes like couplers and such. I think a few such engines were returned to the US for museums and fantrip service. I don't know that a railroad would want such an engine however, since generally the problem is the standard US product is too large for the foreign railroad, so GE or GM or whoever made a smaller version for export. There were some steam engines - most famously the 2-10-0 "Russian Decapods" that were built for the Russian Imperial Ry. during WW1, but were never shipped overseas because of the Bolshevik revolution and Russians subsequent withdrawal from the war. These engines were converted to US standard gauge (Russia uses 5' gauge) and a few other modifications and were sold to US railroads.
The same thing happened with the "Little Joe" EF-4 and EP-4 electric locomotives in the late 1940s. Originally intended for export to the Soviet Union, they instead were sold domestically to MILW and South Shore.
Whatever regulations that would apply to a 1954 US manufactured and used locomotive being used in the US in 2012....That would include any mandated structural upgrades and/or emission regulations that would be applied to the 1954 US locomotive.
In revenue railroading there is no thing such as a 'Vintage' class
Evergreen24 BaltACD: They would, however, be required to meet all US regulations that were in effect at the time of their manufacture. So let's say an exported EMD G12 from 1954 is purchased and brought back from Brazil, the regulations would have to be updated as of the present day standards and not of 1954? http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9WgXlRo5fVM/TbM66NH17PI/AAAAAAAAAbY/qBivt0SegIk/s1600/G12_7064_FEPASA.jpg
BaltACD: They would, however, be required to meet all US regulations that were in effect at the time of their manufacture.
An Alco ran on the Wabash when it couldn't be exported, financing,export/import regulations, who knows? But to answer the question it ran trailing 'cause the gages were were metric and the signs and labels were Spanish.
That introduces the engines GE sent to the NAFTA KCS combined railroads. They were export engines.
Comes to mind that since EMD stopped assembling at McCook-La Grange, all EMD engines are export engines and answer the question affirmatively.
By the way, I've run U.S. owned engines on a Mexican railroad, not a cross-the-border interchange. Which and where? Regular service---not excursion.
If an export design: G12, GA8, or whatever, was built at La Grange, exported, and was purchased from overseas and returned to the United States, Customs would treat it as US goods returned. I'm not sure of environmental regulations, though. Export designs, be it EMD, GE, Alco, etc., are usually much smaller in size than North American designs and might not work too well in this country.
CSSHEGEWISCH If an export design: G12, GA8, or whatever, was built at La Grange, exported, and was purchased from overseas and returned to the United States, Customs would treat it as US goods returned. I'm not sure of environmental regulations, though. Export designs, be it EMD, GE, Alco, etc., are usually much smaller in size than North American designs and might not work too well in this country.
Alrighty, but what if it was a simiar product built outside the US?
For example: A MACOSA SD40-2.
Built in Spain but exported to Brazil, they were built between 1979/1980 around the time Q-Fans and Exhaust Silencers came into standard production by EMD. These SD40-2's did not have either and were built for Irish Gauge (5' 3") specifications.
If a MACOSA SD40-2 was purchased from Brazil and brought to the US, could it be allowed for daily use on US Rails?
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