It's been close to a year since Dash 9-44CW 616 was rebuilt into what has been labeled as an AC44C4M with A1A trucks and AC traction motors. Have there been any further developments?
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=521846
Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak
It was still testing as of earlier this year, so I imagine that a decision will be a while yet.
I heard recently they sent 6 more ex ATSF Dash 9's down to the GE Shop in Mexico for rebuilding. I can't recall the numbers.
Anyone else heard anything? I looked around at places like Loconotes and came up empty handed.
I'm most curious about their numbers. If they fall in the 599-699 block, then it's playing out as expected so far and any rebuilds are coming from the early order of C44-9W's that the Santa Fe received in 1994.
I can't attest to its accuracy, but this site makes it sound like this program is a go.
http://locomotive.wikia.com/wiki/GE/BNSF_AC44C4M
It claims that almost all of the class is presently stored and that 8 units are now in Mexico for rebuilding. And it states that it's the 600 class that's slated for this, as suspected (Or should that now be the 599 class? lol).
ML
Are US trains bigger in the world ( in terms of height and long )
I certainly wouldn't trust it, but it seems to be the only place that says anything like what an earlier poster said.
As for the program having been green-lit from the start, perhaps. I suppose they might've just been evaluating the prototype all this time before coming up with a final spec for her sisters.
I interpreted it though more like the GP60B cab conversion prototype, with the actual decision on if it's going to become a production locomotive or remain a species of 1 being dependent on how the rebuilding and subsequent testing pans out with the prototype.
GreatBeach Are US trains bigger in the world ( in terms of height and long )
Yes.
Who would be doing the work on them in Mexico?
The work is being done by GE in their plant in Mexico.
San Luis Potosi?
M636C
Looks like #600 has been rebuilt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCM8pjRfED0
M636C caldreamer wrote the following post 6 hours ago: The work is being done by GE in their plant in Mexico. San Luis Potosi? M636C
Answered by the caption to the video:
Nueva AC44C4M del BNSF en Heritage 3, modificada en los talleres de San Luis Potosí, México.
They do a nice paint job there...
I can verify that BNSF 600 is sitting at the GE plant in Ft. Worth, we are doing some testing before handing it back.
616 is roaming the system in general service just like a regular C4. The plan is to rebuild all of the ATSF dash 9s. The 700, 900 and 1000 series units are also In storage, I'd say they await the same outcome.
The macs are being upgraded too. I believe the plan is to change out some parts of the electrical system to make them reliable for the considerable future. They will remain mostly in unit train service.
I doubt they'll be rebuilding those to these standards. These BNSF purchased units didn't have the older electrical system of the Santa Fe's 600 class and have similar specifications to the 4000's.
Nothing inferior with them that would justify an extensive rebuilding to C4 style specifications. I have little doubt that these useful Dash 9's that are a bit older and stored are under consideration for a rebuilding project, especially given that the earliest non-standard units inherited from the Santa Fe are being extensively rebuilt.
But I'd be surprised to see them come out as A1A C4 machines.
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