With Vena now at UP, is the SD70M making a comeback?

[croteaudd]

At Rochelle, IL, the TRAINS webcam seems to be showing a whole bunch of SD70M’s, even leading, and solo!  Is the SD70M making a comeback?

[jeffhergert]

I'm seeing more if them on the road, too. There's still quite a few stored at Missouri Valley IA (and elsewhere), but it seems like there aren't as many there once was.

The stored lines of them, at least at Mo Valley, started after Vena returned. The storage line there first began when he first came to the UP. That time there were many different models from both builders. After he got booted out, the stored units gradually thinned until the Mo Valley yard was empty. He comes back and SD70m start showing up.

Some SD70m have been removed from the roster and sold off. There's some up in Alaska on lease to the Alaska RR.

I've just thought there pulling out of storage engines that can be quickly and relatively cheaply be returned to service to replace ones that may have suffered failures that are more costly. Or may mean recalling or hiring shop people. I haven't checked lately, but there was a slight rise in car loadings a couple months back. The last time I checked they seemed getting back to what's been normal the last few years.

I used to like the SD70m when they were new. They haven't aged the best, but at least they don't have energy management systems. 

Jeff 

[ATSFGuy]

UP had 1000+ SD70M's on the roster, I don't know about the first batch, but it's possible that a handful from the second, third, and fourth batches could be overhauled and rebuilt for continued service...

What are energy magangement systems on a locomotive?

[adkrr64]

ATSFGuy

What are energy magangement systems on a locomotive?

They are computer systems that are supposed to reduce fuel usage, and which takes some (most?) of the decision making from the engineer as far as throttle position, acceleration, etc.

LEADER is one of them - link below:

https://www.nyabproducts.com/leader/#:~:text=LEADER%C2%AE%20(Locomotive%20Engineer%20Assist,and%20reduces%20in%2Dtrain%20forces.