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Post by woodenwonders on Aug 20, 2012 6:17:28 GMT -8
While driving through Nebraska a couple of years ago on US 30 we saw dozens of UP coal unit trains with two units on the head end and one pushing. Being a PRR fan all modern diesels look alike to me so I'm not sure what the power was. Can anyone help me with the usual models of the units on those trains? Also would all the units, including the one one the back end, be the same model to make servicing easier?
The photos I took are all in computer limbo at the moment so I can't check.
Thanks,
Werner
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Post by SantaFeJim on Aug 20, 2012 7:10:04 GMT -8
My advice?Get the pics out of computer limbo, post them here and you will get lots of answers.
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Post by calzephyr on Aug 20, 2012 7:57:15 GMT -8
While driving through Nebraska a couple of years ago on US 30 we saw dozens of UP coal unit trains with two units on the head end and one pushing. Being a PRR fan all modern diesels look alike to me so I'm not sure what the power was. Can anyone help me with the usual models of the units on those trains? Also would all the units, including the one one the back end, be the same model to make servicing easier? The photos I took are all in computer limbo at the moment so I can't check. Thanks, Werner The Union Pacific uses many of the older AC4400's on coal trains and you will find some of the newer GE's also. At one time, the SD90/43macs were used but most of those are now replaced in recent years by the GE's. I was in Denver recently and noticed all of the coal trains on the KP line were older GE AC models. There are exceptions but in general, that is what they are using now. Larry |
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Post by fr8kar on Aug 20, 2012 14:19:44 GMT -8
I don't believe UP has considered any advantage or disadvantage of having the same type of locomotive in terms of its effect on maintenance cost. It is my experience they don't spend any money on maintenance at all.
In all seriousness, it makes no difference what the engine types are so long as the head end and rear end are equipped for DP operation.
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Hergy
Full Member
Posts: 117
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Post by Hergy on Aug 21, 2012 9:51:49 GMT -8
Here's some info on the coal train power taken from Don Strack's Utah Rails.net site:
"Union Pacific keeps a large portion of their Dash 8s operating on their Nebraska to West Coast mainlines, moving the railroad's high priority traffic. Until the delivery of the newer Dash 9 and A.C. locomotives, the Dash 8s were also the primary power on coal trains, with over 135 units dedicated to this service. GE traction motors hold up well to the occasional overloads much better than do EMD's motors. Some railroads prefer their Dash 8s in coal service; the UP also likes them on hotshots, a complete switch of direction from the 1980s, when SD40-2s were hotshot power and C30-7s coal power. As more Dash 8-40CWs and SD60Ms arrived on the property, some of the original standard-cab Dash 8s were reassigned to coal and general freight service. With 460 units on its current roster the UP has the largest fleet of Dash 8s in the world."
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Post by atsfan on Aug 22, 2012 15:53:46 GMT -8
UP runs many engines on coal trains. Figure some sort of GEVO, or SD70widecab or AC4400 is a good bet. After that it could be most anything they own.
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Post by calzephyr on Aug 22, 2012 17:19:07 GMT -8
I don't believe UP has considered any advantage or disadvantage of having the same type of locomotive in terms of its effect on maintenance cost. It is my experience they don't spend any money on maintenance at all. In all seriousness, it makes no difference what the engine types are so long as the head end and rear end are equipped for DP operation. True, but the Union Pacific only had DPU capabilities on the SD90/43macs and the AC4400 on the older units for many years. The new SD70Ace and all of the new GE's have DPU software now, but none of the SD70M have it. You will see the SD70M's being used with a DPU loco at the rear, but 90% of the time, it is a GE they are working with and the GE unit is the DPU loco. The SD70M is just MUed with the DPU. The AC models handle heavy low speed trains very well and do not burn out the traction motors as often as the DC units. I watched coal trains out of North Platte last month and saw many of the coal trains on the KP line around Denver also while working there in July. On the KP line, all were using the older GE's including the version that was going to be converted to the 6000hp engine. Of course, that was cancelled but many of those units were working the KP line at least last month along with the old AC4400 units. Many of those were purchased new and some came from the C&NW and SP merger or buyout. Larry |
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