PITTSBURGH — Wabtec will modernize 330 locomotives for Norfolk Southern, upgrading D9-44CW units that are more than 20 years old into AC44C6M models, under an agreement announced Wednesday.
It is the third major modernization order by NS, which will give it a fleet of more than 950 such locomotives when the work is completed in 2025.
“Modernizing locomotives in our fleet will improve operational performance and reliability,” Tom Schnautz, NS vice president advanced train control, said in a press release. “Importantly, it will also help us achieve our science-based target of a 42% reduction in emissions intensity by 2034. Wabtec’s proven modernization program allows us to maximize the value of our locomotives, minimize the use of new materials, and reduce the environmental impact of our operations.”
The project will see locomotives receive an FDL Advantage engine upgrade and digital features including Trip Optimizer; SmartHPT, a fuel saver which optimizes train performance to a given horsepower per ton target; and Distributed Power. Wabtec says the locomotives will see improvements of as much as 25% in fuel efficiency, more than 40% in reliability, and up to 55% in haulage ability, while reducing expenses by 20%.
“Our modernization program allows Norfolk Southern to enhance its existing fleet by bringing the aging locomotives’ performance to the latest standards,” said Pascal Schweitzer, president of Wabtec Freight Services. “By customizing these modernizations for Norfolk Southern and installing state-of-the-art technology, we are helping the railroad realize outcomes including increased tractive effort, fuel efficiency, reliability and adhesion, which reduce maintenance costs.”
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Wabtec will hire 100 people at its Fort Worth, Texas, plant for the modernization project.
— Updated at 9:30 p.m. to include report on hirings in Fort Worth.
Anyone have a sense of what it might be costing per unit to convert and rebuild these NS units? has to make economic sense as well as mechanical sense over buying new right?
Close down Altoona move the jobs to Texas….anything new here. Sorta like what is happening in Erie.
Sounds like rebuilding a Y-3a versus building a new Y-6b
It makes me wonder why BNSF & CN aren’t having their Dash 9s rebuilt. I know BNSF had 20 Ex Santa Fe Dash 9s rebuilt into AC44C4Ms in 2015 but they haven’t rebuilt anymore ever since. Even UP hasn’t rebuilt their Dash 9s their just rebuilding their AC4400s. Their must be some kind of negativity on the rebuilds that doesn’t have all Class 1s convinced.
Union Pacific is heavily involved in rebuilding GE’s of this vintage. But it’s the contemporary AC4000CW’s and the FDL powered AC6000CW fleets that they’re focusing their efforts on instead of the UP’s small Dash 9 fleet. They’ve committed to 1,000 rebuilds as I recall and are as much in love with the concept as Norfolk Southern apparently is.
I imagine it’s a cheaper rebuild as well thanks to already being equipped with AC traction. No need to retruck them during rebuilding like NS does with their Dash 9’s to accommodate the larger AC motors, the existing traction motors can be rebuilt, etc.
Make that AC4400CW.
What happened to NS doing the work in-house — at say Juniata?
According to altoonaworks.com, there are 25 on order from Juniata for 2022.
There is no indication if these locos will get AC traction. Bet than NS wishes it had bought AC traction earlier.
The very first sentence confirms that they will get AC traction.
“Wabtec will modernize 330 locomotives for Norfolk Southern, upgrading D9-44CW units that are more than 20 years old into AC44C6M models”
Even without that tidbit as confirmation, it’s obviously talking about continuing their long running AC44C6M program that has turned out hundreds of rebuilt Dash 9’s with overhauled mechanical systems, modernized electronics, new cab, and AC traction.
Has NS passed the halfway point in the Dash 9 to AC44 conversion yet?
And the modernization work will be performed where?
Probably at Wabtec plant in Fort Worth, I believe that is where the previous upgrades have been done.