Union Pacific SD70AH No. 8948 leads EMDX SD70ACe-T4 Nos. 1502 and 1503 along with three other UP units on a test train from Denver to Tabernash, Colo., up the two-percent grade in Coal Creek Canyon on March 7.
John Crisanti
DENVER — New Electro-Motive Tier 4 SD70ACe-T4s are roaming the rails of Union Pacific’s Moffat Tunnel Subdivision west of Denver. A special test train departed the Mile High City on March 7 with Union Pacific SD70ACe No. 8948, EMDX SD70ACe-T4 No. 1502, EMDX research car No. 820, EMDX SD70ACe-T4 No. 1503, and three additional UP locomotives. Local sources tell Trains News Wire the last three UP locomotives were placed in dynamics to simulate a load while one of the demonstrators was online and running.
The test train operated as UP SDVTN-07 west from Denver along the former Rio Grande main line to Tabernash, Colo., on Monday. Local sources tell Trains News Wire that the EMDX Tier 4 demonstrators are expected to operate on their own power between the towns of Tabernash, Colo., and Winter Park, Colo., later this week before returning to Denver by weekend.
The two green, blue, and silver demonstrators had been at the Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo, Colo., since November 2015.
See video of Trains‘ first-hand look at EMD No. 1501 last fall.
EMD/Progressrail/CAT is doing just fine. pumping out good equipment,Tier 4 SD70ace’s, SD70AH’s. quality rebuilds. the F125 do count when you have and order for 40 of them. and a two orders for 200 SD70Ace-Tier4s from UP and BNSF.
The Metrolink order does not count. Forgot to add that. For the purposes of my last comment, it's restricted to freight units.
If railroads are happy with the SD70ACe, then how come GE is still beating them with their ES and ET models? How come GE came out with a Tier 4 loco way ahead of EMD? GE now essentially has a monopoly on new units for domestic service. Not rebuilt units, like the ECO, new units. EMD had the chance, they didn't do it. I'm sure it's hitting them below the belt with a sledgehammer. Export models are not enough to have the company survive into next year without some sort of layoffs.
One must wonder.
Mr. Berg, many of the stored units are of the older, less efficient variety. When and if rail traffic returns, they'll only bring back these units as a last resort. The replacement of these units with newer, more reliable, more fuel efficient ones will continue apace.
With the big downturn in coal and oil shipments, resulting in a parade of stored units, I seriously doubt that sales of these new units will get off the ground any time soon.
Perhaps EMD wants to emphasize that the horsepower and performance of the new model are similar (not identical) and wants the railroads to view the new model as more similar than different, especially if the railroads are generally happy with their SD70ACEs.
Technically there are five members of the SD70 family in this photo. The new locos are such a radical departure for EMD perhaps the model number should reflect this?
EPA won't be happy until steam returns which I guess is the answer to the future "tier 9".