Leo_Ames That said, Norfolk Southern for months has had around 10% of this recently rebuilt fleet stored. Anyone know if it's the same units that have been sitting for months now, or if they've been slowly cycling the fleet through for updating to the latest SD70ACU standards (It took them 3 years or so to rebuild all 110, so I'm sure adjustments and changes happened here and there as experience was gained with these in the field)?
That said, Norfolk Southern for months has had around 10% of this recently rebuilt fleet stored.
Anyone know if it's the same units that have been sitting for months now, or if they've been slowly cycling the fleet through for updating to the latest SD70ACU standards (It took them 3 years or so to rebuild all 110, so I'm sure adjustments and changes happened here and there as experience was gained with these in the field)?
One of the stored SD70ACU's, NS 7243, was seen recently at the Juniata Shops receiving a Helperlink box and other modifications for helper service. Rumor has it that NS will replace the pairs of 6300-series SD40E helpers with single SD70ACU's. Here's a link to a photo of the unit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lrmyers/48729019997
Also, a good comparison of original CP tuscan/grey paint schemes:
http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=38957
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
I imagine NS's storing of locomotives is related to the PSR craze. If there were major problems with their SD70ACU's they would probably all be in storage now, not just 10%.
With NS doing the rebuild work in house (Juniata) I wonder what kind of warranty the rebuilds have, if any.
The Norfolk Southern units seem to be doing well. They are seen on a variety of trains all over the system, often leading, and there have been no reports of major issues so far. It is my understanding that electronically and mechanically the ACU conversion essesentially makes them an SD70ACe.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the future with the remaining UP, CEFX, and Indiana Railroad SD9043MACs, especially if CP experiences the same positive reliability from their conversions as NS seems to be getting from theirs.
Looking great!
Glad to see there will be a small fleet of these, spread them around for more people to see.
Hopefully these rebuilds will turn out to be reliable units, unlike their original form.
Nice. Very nice. Classy too! This will make NDG happy.
Eight additional locomotives are planned through the end of 2019
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2019/09/16-canadian-pacific-releases-two-sd70acu-heritage-units
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
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