Okay, that makes sense. I didn't see the original version.
Backshop Reading the article, it appears that it is one of the new ones that is being returned and replaced. #1008-1009 are the only new road numbers. #1003-1005 are owned and 1012, 1015 and 1022 have been on the property for years.
Reading the article, it appears that it is one of the new ones that is being returned and replaced. #1008-1009 are the only new road numbers. #1003-1005 are owned and 1012, 1015 and 1022 have been on the property for years.
The article was amended this morning with additional information. It didn't read like this when I first read it.
"While the recent additions are on the property, none have been placed in service yet. One has major mechanical problems and is scheduled to be returned to the lessor and replaced with another AC4400CW, while the other two continue to be set up for service."
Early this morning it read more like one of the earlier CEFX units that hadn't been purchased outright was being returned, making this addition of three extra AC4400CW's an increase by two units to their fleet.
Pickens of SC still runs U18Bs or they did until very recently.
Lake Superior & Ishpeming - RailroadfanWiki
Looks like the addition of three AC4400CW's to the existing roster of six AC4400CW's and the sidelining of the U30C/C30-7 fleet (down to 1 active member each) is now happening.
https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/locomotives/lake-superior-ishpemings-locomotives-greens-to-become-backup-power/
As the article says, it will leave them with a fleet of 8 AC4400CW's since one of the original six units is being returned to the leasor.
There is a very interesting answer 'thread' on Quora where an engineer describes 'how do I hate thee? let me count the ways...' from experience. Interestingly he does not mention turbo lube-oil 'incidents'... surely one of the more interesting times he would have lived in sooner or later, I'd think.
When was that Trains story about spouting lube oil from the stack like a harpooned whale?
It appears that newer GEs are better than newer EMDs but older EMDs are better than older GEs. EMD should step up the quality of there locmotives if they want there share of the market back.
That's not exactly an Earth shattering revelation that you just posted there, lol.
Before the 1960's were out, strong hints were beginning to appear that suggested the longevity wasn't there with GE's early road power. Union Pacific for instance started assigning their small fleet of U25B's as hump power to replace Baldwin AS-616's.
But at the end of the day they did exactly the job that they were built to do. They got GE's foot into the lucrative road switcher marketplace, preserved a major business for GE's electrical gear, and gained control of their destiny in this marketplace.
While there were flaws and long-term durability wasn't the equal of EMD, they were still useful enough to justify purchasing, helped shove their old partner aside in less than a decade, and perhaps most importantly demonstrated a lot of future promise.
As soon as the recession that the 1960's opened with started to wane, they had no shortage of takers that happily bet that GE were on to something. And it's a bet that continues to pay dividends today for Wabtec, GE, and North America's Class 1's that today see their mainlines dominated by GE designs.
I feel like the EMD Geeps were superior to U Boats and I have proof. How rare is it to find a GE U Boat wandering around somwhere, pretty rare right? EMD Geeps work the United States like crazy.
The only good U-Boat is at the bottom of the ocean!
"Create a Reef...Sink a U-Boat!"
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BaltACD Robert - why do you make your posts so difficult to read? Hey I "Fixed" the text to make it easier to read! This is the regular way I have them! Robert Jackson
Robert - why do you make your posts so difficult to read?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
OK, my friend Roger and I had a great trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula in April! We mostly saw "Blues" on the LS&I "Ore Trains!!!!" Saw a lot of stuff, including E&LS switching Wells and Mineral Range RR from Ishpeming! Finally on April 6 (rainy day) we got LS&I "Greens" climbing the grade out of Tilden Mine! It had LS&I U30C #3009 and C30-7 #3073, 60 cars! Then we saw these ex BN locos switching Eagle Mills yard at both ends! They were going back to Tilden Mine with only three loads of Caustic Soda and Bentonite Clay for supplies! I am glad I went on this trip!
I am going again to the U.P. at the end of May with a great old friend I have known since Kindergarten in 1989 (Scott)! I want to capture LS&I "Greens" again! In nicer weather too!
Robert Jackson (Roseville, MI Lower Peninsula)
poop Another thing I may miss is CN operating the old WC lines in the U.P. Looks like WATCO will now be operating very soon! I have witnessed CN operating there in past years! Also, is Watco getting the old Algoma Central? Gee I hope the AC passenger trains will keep running or restored to Hearst, Ontario! Does anyone here know more about?Speaking of AC, check out my RRPIX album of their passenger trains over the years: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx?id=66493 Robert Jackson
Another thing I may miss is CN operating the old WC lines in the U.P. Looks like WATCO will now be operating very soon! I have witnessed CN operating there in past years! Also, is Watco getting the old Algoma Central? Gee I hope the AC passenger trains will keep running or restored to Hearst, Ontario! Does anyone here know more about?Speaking of AC, check out my RRPIX album of their passenger trains over the years: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx?id=66493
Robert Jackson
Yes, Watco got (most of) the former Algoma Central.
There are discusssions about reinstating passenger service - the regular passenger service to Hearst was discontinued in 2015. Only the Agawa Canyon Tour Train has run since then, which is not a proper passenger service (i.e. it makes no stops enroute anywhere), just a day excursion.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
The later Uboats with CHEC excitation and Sentry wheelslip wouldn't be too hard to keep going, I wouldn't think. Lots in common with the Dash 7s.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
To use an old term "don't count your chickens before they're hatched".
Well I am "Officially" coming up to to catch old LS&I U-boats at the beginning of April! This will give time for the barges to make it to Marquette (after Soo Locks open March 25)! Then LSI should be fully operational! I also found out that one (of two) operating C30-7 locos blew its engine a few months ago! It is now for parts! Two U30C locos should be working (3000/3009)! Now, I also found out that the new GEs have been the only engines going to the Marquuette docks since they leased them in 2010. The old GEs run only between Eagle Mills and Tilden Mine, MI! Also (through a worker on Facebook), the three new additional GEs may not be ready until early summer! Well, there are still chances to catch old LS&I U-boats!!!!
Don't get too excited about seeing the old GE's in operation. I've been in Marquette about 4-5 times in the last 2 years and all I've ever seen operating are the new ones. I wasn't railfanning but saw the ore dock crew a few times and two road jobs.
The Poe Lock at the Soo opens on March 25th (The MacArthur Lock is scheduled for April to give extra time for maintenance on the aging lock). That's usually when the iron ore starts to flow again on the Great Lakes, so I imagine the LS&I starts to ramp up operations by mid March.
Edit: First ships to load at the Presque Isle dock last season were on March 25th (The Joseph Thompson, Great Lakes Trader, and Erie Trader). Not sure how much before that the LS&I would've started delivering iron ore to Marquette, but I imagine it's at least several days before hand.
Leo, sounds like if they don't have three additional AC4400CW locos by the start of next season, the "Green" engines will be running! Hope it takes time for these new units! Does anyone here know when they usually start operating? It sounds like it is March! Now I have absolute plans to come here starting in March!!!! Actually two different friends are offering to help take me (I don't drive at this point)! YES!!!! I might as well come twice while there is a chance to catch old LS&I U-boats!!!!
2501 is looking quite faded...
Maybe since they're buying the new GEs, they'll paint them into the company scheme.
That's sad to hear, but at least they've had a long run. Far longer than 99.9% of GE's domestic U-Boat production.
I wonder if they'll see fit to give U25C #2501 a Cascade Green companion in Marquette.
Well Leo! Looks like the Facebook info is correct! An employee mentioned that the old LSI GE locos are now drained! This is the end of the season! Three more AC4400CW engines are on the way! They may have two green locos for next season, but not guaranteed! Well, I still have never seen LS&I!!!!
Can't always believe what you read on Facebook!!!! Seems like Loconotes has more accurate info. I hope it is correct that they aren't getting more AC4400CW locos and that LS&I will retain what they have now! In that case going to the U.P. later this year should still yield the old "Green" GE locos! Right? Another thing I may miss is CN operating the old WC lines in the U.P. Looks like WATCO will now be operating very soon! I have witnessed CN operating there in past years! Also, is Watco getting the old Algoma Central? Gee I hope the AC passenger trains will keep running or restored to Hearst, Ontario! Does anyone here know more about?Speaking of AC, check out my RRPIX album of their passenger trains over the years: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiveThumbs.aspx?id=66493
For what it's worth, all that's been mentioned on Loconotes was the purchase this month of CEFX 1003, 1004, and 1005. No mention of purchasing the other three or of expanding the fleet.
Thanx! This could be better than I thought! Though a guy on Facebook mentioned LSI is getting three more AC400CW locos after buying all six currently leased! He said late "First Quarter!" I don't know what to think! Looks like LS&I currently uses two U30C and two C30-7 locos! I am hoping on coming up here later this year to catch! I shouldn't waste any more time to get these! I also have to check out Escanaba and Lake Superior F7A #600 running!!!!
The U-Boats were largely pushed aside years ago by AC4400CW's after being supplemented by four C30-7's from BNSF. Just three or four U30C's were operating pre-COVID and I've not heard of that ending.
I thought the purchase they just made of three CEFX AC4400CW's would end whatever U-Boat operations that are left, but it appears to be AC4400CW's that they've been leasing for years now rather than an expansion of their AC4400CW roster.
So it doesn't necessarily spell doom for the U-Boats if you were thinking like I was and saw that they were buying three modern GE's. Just a conversion away from leasing to owning outright their AC4400CW's.
I am reading about the green LS&I GE locos a few times! Are they now going to be retired? Is there a definite plan? If so, what are the replacements? How much longer would we have to see them running? Man I have been wanting to catch them for years (live in lower Peninsula)! If I came later in the Summer, would the green GEs still be running? MAN!!!!
On a similar vein, I once saw a photo of a Penn Central U boat that had derailed and plowed deep into the dirt. The caption was of course "Dive, Dive, Dive!"
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