MRL SD70ACe article

chessie Jan 31, 2006

  1. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    AFAIK, MRL is the ONLY Class II to buy ACez.....
    Heck only the Class I's (BNSF, UP, CSX) have ACez, unless KCS and NS has some.
     
  2. grant-sar

    grant-sar E-Mail Bounces

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    KCS have them.....

    grant
     
  3. Matthew Roberts

    Matthew Roberts TrainBoard Member

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    What makes MRL so special that they have to buy ACes?
     
  4. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Good question! They needed more fuel-efficient power for helper service, and these units allow nearly a 2-for-1 unit reduction. That means on a heavy train that would require, say, 4 SD45 units cut intot he train to make the summit of Mullan Pass, 2 ACez and their 4300 HP apiece would get the train over the hill, and burn MUCH less fuel doing so.
     
  5. Colonel

    Colonel Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hemi,

    Awesome shots thanks for sharing
     
  6. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Paul!
    Here's another view of the ACez at Blossburg:

    [​IMG]
     
  7. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Last shot of lite ACez as they head back to Helena:

    [​IMG]
     
  8. MakeChooChooGoNow

    MakeChooChooGoNow New Member

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    FEC has ordered SD70ACe as well.
     
  9. Robbman

    Robbman TrainBoard Member

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    KCS does have SD70ACes. CVG Orinoco (in Brazil), BHP Billiton (in Australia) and Ferromex (in Mexico) also have SD70ACes.
     
  10. Robbman

    Robbman TrainBoard Member

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    FEC ordered SD70M-2s, not SD70ACes...
     
  11. Triplex

    Triplex TrainBoard Member

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    NS has SD70M-2s; they don't like AC traction.
     
  12. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I stand corrected.
    Thanks, Robbman!
    Are they considered, in the US/FRA sense, a class 1 or 2?
     
  13. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like there's nothing behind....An helper set going down?

    Dominique
     
  14. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    The explaination beeing their amazing tractive effort: circa 190000 lbs at start-up, and 160000 lbs continuous....Here in Europe, we see modern locomotives, rating twice as many horsepowers, delivering barely 80000 lbs continuously.....(but that's true here freight hauling is marginal:angry: ).

    I definitively love this SD70ACE! I hope it won't be long we have a Z scale sample, matching the wonderful AZL SD70Ms and '75s!:angel:

    Dominique
     
  15. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Dominique,
    You are correct about the tractive effort. Their astounding pulling power is what allows a 2-for-1 unit reduction. And yes, the Skyline shot was a light helper set drifting back down to Helena.
     
  16. Jeff B

    Jeff B TrainBoard Member

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    KCS also has them. CN and NS have SD70M-2 version. NS had there newest loco-SD70M-2 on display at NC Transportation Museum last Saturday. I hope Kato makes both versions but I might have to take
    out a 2nd mortage.
    Jeff
     
  17. GTRail

    GTRail Permanently dispatched

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    How many of the SD70ACes MRL owns used between Helena and Garrison?
     
  18. Triplex

    Triplex TrainBoard Member

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    Many people say this, failing to realize that there are few common parts, at least externally, between the SD70ACe and SD70M. It doesn't even use the same frame - it's about two feet longer, using the same frame as the SD70MAC. It would be an all-new model, and therefore no likelier than any other engine.
    Wow... that's as much as a Virginian 2-8-8-8-4.
     

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