Hey guys, here's what the new order of CSX SD-70AC's look like! They are classified SD-70AC's but are uprated to 4300 HP, which technically makes them SD-75MAC, But CSX choose to keep it simple, an roster them as SD-70AC's for rostering simplication, not having to make up a new number serious, which they just added on the same loco's in their existing roster.... YES, these SD-70AC's were ordered with "Winged" radiators, that noone thought they were going to get, an keep the sleek body style as the pre-existing SD-70ACs have that CSX has on their roster.....
Looks good, John. IS CSX retiring units and replacing them with SD70/SD75's? The oldest Road engines I can think of would be the SD40-2's?
I'm not sure what CSX is doing with older unit Pat! I kmnow they have been retiring the older dash 7's tho! As for the SD-40's. I'm not sure if they will be retiring them any time soon..... being overall good loco's .... but who knows.. If I find anything on this, I'll be sure to let everyone know! BUT I will say, they been retiring alot of the dash 7 line, an in Cumberland I've noticed alot of SD-50's lately, setting on the *gulp* dead line! So..... What to expect next is a mystery.....
Spark? Naa..... It's just clean right now. Give it three months in service without a bath and then you'll be longing for the days of "Bright Future" again...
Brian, I never took those pictures! I seen them online an all an thought I'd post them for everyone to see that was wondering on CSX's new order of SD-70AC's that was a topic a few months back when the order was made an the word got around! As for those pictures, they're builders photo's not in service photo's these were taken by someone at the GM plant when built an once the loco went out the door of the building..... So, all in all, I take no credit for taking these pictures, I merely found them while in another site an posted them here for all to see....
Peirce, I hear ya! The paint is starting to "grow" on me too. when it first came out I litterally hated it being its a mix between old B&O an old C&O paint schemes with the replacement "CSX" lettering..... But like then with everyone else, It reminds me of the old B&O an C&O in the diesel days so.... I guess, CSX is actually showing some signs of their heritage! Which they need too.... BUT, as Brian said, give it some road time an that fresh new paint won't be looking so good! The ole "Bright Future" paint was the best in any case.. it didn't get as "dark" colored when the road grime was on the loco's.. As this Dark Future paint seems to do....
JP, I loved the Christmas card! Check your mail in the next day or two. Our's went out a little later than usual. -JT
JT, I spent years looking for Christmas cards like those! I mean they're hard to find, an I got 10 cards total for $9.00! And I just bought 'em! BUT Now I know where to get them so..... Which makes it nice! I'll keep my eye out on the mail (I have a bunch of things comming in the mail for the shop, plus Christmas) So.... The crazy thing with me is, I got my cards out late as well! I usually have them in the mail within the first week of December, which was the weekdays between the Train Show I done at the station....Which this past weekend was the last of it, BUT I have to open it one more day for a few friends stopping by thats into steamers so....Thats a special opening I asked to be able to do tho, nothing for the general public. The first 2 weekends of December was the general public open house.... All turned out well even tho we all cancelled the last Sunday from bad weather....
Those macs look nice, but I have been seeing that the paint scheme doesn't appear to be weathering that well. They look pretty shabby when they get dirty. They look worse then the "bright future" YN3 paint schemes. It may be my imagination, but the CSX initials on the nose looks smaller than on the other models.
A.J., Yes the "CSX" lettering is smaller on those units compared to the rest, so your right. The older lettering was at least 1/4th the size bigger then whats seen..... As for a dirty YN3 "Dip" they look nasty to the older YN2 "Bright Future" scheme. The "Dip" as pictured above is the YN3 scheme as the "Bright Future" scheme is the YN2 scheme.
4730 and 712 passed by a couple days with a train of HMJX hoppers. From a distance, one could kistake the new SD70 for an SD80.
Pat, I have to say tho, even tho the possible mistake of the SD-70 to be an SD-80 is nice, I like the "winged" look to the body style! Makes them look mean, an not all sleek! Gives the body alittle dimention....
True True true, but that also makes them look more and more like GE's. Rare enough to see non-winged 6 axle engines. I haven't seen n SD40-2 in about 3 years everythign through here are SD70's, AC's and an occasional GP38-2 for local service. For the last week there has been a B36-7 #5903 used for switching duties. Change isn't a bad thing.
Pat, Your right! Change isn't a bad thing! All I ever see are SD-50's, GE C44-9's or some C44AC's, an a occasional C60AC... I have seen the SD-80MAC's pass through 3 times... And then the SD-40-2's, an SD-40-3 (rebuilts).. So. Alittle change here, surely would be nice, however the SD-50's I think were stationed as "Sand Patch helpers.... Alot of them arounf, on the rear of trains heading west, 2 an 3 at a time.....
Not sure I like the new look on GM's. They have lost the nice sleek look, and now look like a poor attempt to be GE's
These SD70MACs needed the flared radiators to maintain their Tier II emissions compliance, and they look similar to the SD70Ms the UP has been getting in terms of the flares. I would like to note that these have 4300HP (as has been mentioned) as well as increased ballast to improve pulling performance and adhesion (similar to the "Magnum" AC4400s CSX was buying). In most respects they are the SD70ACe, but are not classified as such since they do not have certain new enhancements. CSX classifies them as SD70ACs still.
I would like to point out that in the Old thread I said they'd be getting ACes and everybody told me I was crazy and Wrong. I am now doing my I was right and I don't even live near their Internet happy dance. well, mostly right anyway.
Well, you were wrong. In a lot of ways these are similar to the ACes, but they are also similar to the regular SD70MACs. They are about a half breed. Still an SD70MAC, NOT an SD70ACe (which is still in testing).
