How far along is NS on their GP38-3 program? Today, I caught # 5817, which is the first one that I have seen. (For those of you who aren't familiar with the program, NS is rebuilding and de-turboing GP50's and classifies them as GP38-3's. Harold
What about the GP38-2 rebuild program that was supposed to be in the 56xx series... how's that coming along? I haven't seen any of those units yet... Harold
5603 last I heard... note that this program is basically the same as the 5500 program, just that FURX doesn't own the locomotives... this will probably get any remaining GP38ACs as well (those are the easiest to convert to -2 standards)
wasn't most of the gp50's high hooded? if so, is NS chopping the hood or replacing the cab altogether?? very nice pic esp!!
All of their GP50's were high hoods.... I don't know the details of whether they "chop" or "replace" the cabs. Harold
Not really... so far, only one low-nose GP38/38AC has been rebuilt in the 5500-5600 rebuild programs... All of CR GP38s (former PC and PRSL units) were retired before the NS-CSX-CR merger... NS received four low-nose GP38ACs from the CR merger (former LV units), three were retired in 2003, and one was rebuilt in the 5500 series GP38-2 rebuild program (5516 is former 2882, nee CR 7657, nee LV 311) All other NS GP38 and GP38ACs are high-hooded...
Welcome aboard, Rust101! Yes, if NS had inherited and saved all of the former CR GP38's, they have quite a few low nosed units to work with. Harold
I thought that was the case, but I saw one today! It was NS # 2912, still in CR paint. According to the Withers' roster book, it was retired in November 2003 but was in the Raleigh yard this afternoon when I went by coupled to an SW1500! Harold
Consider yourself lucky... 2912 and 2918 are the only active former CR GP38 not in storage... It also appears more than just 2882 got rebuilt... two other former CR GP38s were part of the 5500 program... Perhaps rust101 was on to something... maybe this new 5600 program will get some of the retired units...
It is interesting.... we had the SD9M's down here for the ECBU... recently, most of them were shipped out with some sort of failure.... Very odd power seen in the past year for the ECBU: GP15's, SW1500's and SD9M's. Harold
geep 15's, sd-9's, sw1500's.... I hope you aren't complaining.... I'd kill to see a 4 axle lokey of any type on the peoria sub. A pair of 6 axle everything on every train. Oh well
Today, in addition to seeing 3 GE's (including BNSF 5070 on train 349), I saw SW1500 # 2211, 2212, 2212, SD9M # 50, 50, 56, and GP38 2912. Harold
Those are a thing of beauty. I've been seeing them in Northern Va sometimes. I saw one today, running long hood forward, all of things.