should be in the conrail shops in altoona now i think getting finished. should be on the rails by thie end of the month or early next. i can wait i dont like the desktop controls. ------------------ fly with route of the eagles.rock n roll all night and railroad everyday!
NS has 10 SD70M units on order. These units were supposed to be built to the same specs as the 1000-unit UP order and are to be numbered NS 2581-2590. Chris
Only 10?!?! Sounds like a condolence order to EMD after the number of Dash 9s that are now wearing black and white.
Not that we'll see any of them on the Tier, but it sure would be nice to run an EMD newer than the 1970's vintage stuff thats kicking around here now. They don't have high noses do they?
they will have the emd widecab and emd was going to charge alot extra to put spartan cabs on and the control stand because they have standardized the wide cab and desktop control. it will be intersting to see if this might lead to some 70 macs. we've got some 80 macs for the gonrail but they stay out east in the coal fields. we do see alot of dash 9's. i just wish they would figure out that 4 axles are for yard service and not the road now. we seem to keep getting gp38's on freight in and out of chicago now. those are fun when dragging 8 to 10,000 tons behind you. ------------------ fly with route of the eagles.rock n roll all night and railroad everyday!
Does NS have any AC power besides those SD80MACs they inherited? A GP38AC or two? It appears to me, an outside viewer of NS, that they have shyed away from AC...
The only AC Propulsion units NS has,SD80MAC or AC6000 are the SD80MAC`s. NS does have plenty of GP38AC`s but they are not "AC" propulsion, they are totally differnt animals. NS`s GP38AC`s are from the SOU 54 units, and N&W 56 units. Michael
I know the GP38AC is not an AC propulsion unit but i don't recall the difference between it and the GP38. Was it something to do with how the current was delivered? Refresh my memory please...
The GP38AC was the forerunner to the Dash 2 line, and externally resembles a early Dash 2 unit. The traction motors were AC rather than DC, as this had been standard on all units up until the delivery of the GP38s. Also note following this all new units ordered by N&W were equipped with this feature (namely the SD40-2s, and I believe some of the GP40s). Hope this helps and have a good one, Justin
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tunnel88: I know the GP38AC is not an AC propulsion unit but i don't recall the difference between it and the GP38. Was it something to do with how the current was delivered? Refresh my memory please...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Rather than using a DC generator to provide current for the traction motors it used a brushless AC alternator (one of the first to do so), which has been used ever since. The current was rectified to DC for the control gear. The traction motors are still DC. Which brings up a point. I am under the impression the diesel AC traction locos use an alternator to supply current, then it is rectified to DC for the control side, then inverted to AC for the traction motors. Apparently there has been problems getting the same degree of control as DC from AC based equipment. Am I under the wrong impression? Gary.
Thats gonna be a nice looking locomotive!! ------------------ Craig Martyn Best Looking Models Around Custom detailing AND N scale detail parts. BLMA N Scale Detail Parts
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gats: Apparently there has been problems getting the same degree of control as DC from AC based equipment. Am I under the wrong impression? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Gary, Yes numerous problems have been noted, but to the defense of AC it is a newer technology and will have its fair share of problems in the beginning. Being an NS fan, we do not readily have to worry about such issues as AC, as the NS has denounced by example the use of AC as a primary means of power. Case in point the decision to take DC units such as the SD50/60/70 rather than the SD70MACs from the CR merger. I think AC will eventually become a standard for all RRs to use, but until the problems are solved (SD90MAC-H ) it will remain an isolated technology. Y'all have a good one, Justin
sd40-2's are for yard service.not no stinking gp units ------------------ ed pinkley home of the pinkley taurus
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Justin May: Gary, Yes numerous problems have been noted, but to the defense of AC it is a newer technology /B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yes, it is newer, but it has been around much longer in Europe. The difference here is the Europeans use 25kV AC overhead to drive their AC equipped locos, not a diesel-electic combo. I think the same control problems may exist for them as well. There are quite a few 4-axle 7000 hp units running around. Now Amtrak's AEM-7 is becoming an example of a high HP AC drive electric. So, considering the above, AC traction isn't an isolated technology. The problems with the SD90's has no bearing at all - their's is an electronics/control problem. How many SD70MAC's are out there with minimal problems? AC traction provides greater torque and hence tractive effort I see NS, and it's predecessors, as being conservative in the locomotive choices they have made. That is the reasoning I see behind them taking the ex-Conrail DC locos - they are geared up for them. The shop forces are familiar with those types of locos. Eventually, they will (have to?) bite the bullet and buy AC, even if by default (look at the enforced move to safety cabs from spartans). For an interesting, though partially technical, thesis on AC and DC traction and control, check this - http://www.lexcie.zetnet.co.uk/traction.htm Gary.
