Today I got word that two new Alaska SD70MAC units where on the UP. Well. Thank God it was a very slow day at work. I rushed home ASAP and just started my bath water when over a sudden UP 5481 west calls over the Scanner Radio at west Mo valley. I didn't even have enough time to take my bath yet. So I had to make a mad dash out the door grabbing my Camera. Trying to get the truck warmed up was a joke because it takes for ever when it gets this cold out. Anyways here is the UP 5481 west coming through Blair with two new Alaska SD70MAC's. UP 5481. Alaska 4327. Alaska 4328.
Most likely like before they are off to the Seattle area to be loaded on a barge and then boated up to AK
To heck with a bath when Alaska units are coming through town. Excellent catch, thanks for sharing. Greg
Just curious, but how did you get word about them coming thru? I seem to never know anything in advance.
What were these doing in the lower 48? They look new, as you say, but SD70MACs aren't being made anymore.
Trust me I know these are MAC's as well. Just not the standard looking MAC's we are use to. They look more like a mix of Ace and M engines. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1074/1450066794_ee221e3d53_o.jpg If you just look under the road number to the left you'll see the SD70MAC designation.
SD70MAC-T1, ARR and other regionals can buy them because they dont have to conform to Teir 2 standards yet, only Teir 1 which the SD70MAC has been modified to do.
I can tell an SD70M/AC flared from an SD70M-2/ACe easily. That was what confused me. I think flared SD70Ms were delivered to Brazil after the Tier 2 engines were introduced, but I hadn't known that non-Class 1 US railroads were still allowed to buy Tier 1.
Hemi, I believe the 4300 series all have HEP. These last four the ARR recieved are paid for by all of us faithful tax payers according to my understanding! Since we own them, think we could get a ride!? =-)
since there's at least one atsf gondola on arr tracks...... so why shouldn't arr locos run in the lower 48 ? ;-)
HEP on ARRs SD70MACs is provided by routing power from one of the inverters... basically disabling the middle traction motor on both trucks. As an aside, the only exemption for 'small' roads is from having to rebuild older locomotives to Teir 0 standards... 'small' being defined as line-haul having fewer than 1500 employess, and switch fewer than 500, including any parent companies. AAR was able to get a waiver from the EPA from buying Teir 2 locomotives, in part by disposing of older locomotives which were not required to be Teir 0 (the five GP49s).
