What is next for the 6000hp. AC units?

imported_Art Dec 4, 2001

  1. ConrailHaulic

    ConrailHaulic TrainBoard Member

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    On EMD's the axles are the only thing to move, The entire truck and sideframe assembly is rigid, On GE's the Sideframes and Axles move, but not the internal framework
     
  2. watash

    watash Passed away March 7, 2010 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Does the stearable truck design have some sort of sensing device that makes the wheels actually turn like the front wheels of a wagon to prevent slip on curves?
     
  3. SP 8299

    SP 8299 TrainBoard Member

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    <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by chessie:


    I think GE tried steerable trucks on the 44's as well as the 60's. I don't have any reference materials at hand to check.

    Harold
    <hr></blockquote>

    IIRC, CSX's CW60AC's were equipped with at least two different versions of GE's self-steering truck design, Generation I and II. I think all of UP's 6000hp GE's have them as well. As for the AC4400, UP had 3 units equipped with self-steering trucks as a test, but re-equipped them with GE's standard Hi-Ad "rollerblade" trucks. KCS and TFM also have AC4400's equipped with Generation II self-steering trucks. I *think* some of CP's may be equipped with them, but I'm not positive.

    On the EMD side of things, all new 6-axle units from the 70-series on up come with the Radial truck as standard (Radial is EMD's trademarked name for their patented self-steering truck design). There is one EMD Demonstrator SD60, EMD #3, that was equipped with Radials as a test; last I heard, it is still equipped with them. There was a bit of underframe modification involved in that conversion, since the bolsterless Radials aren't interchangeable with the HT-C trucks SD60's and older EMD 6-axle units are equipped with. As for how they work, take a look at EMD/GMDD's Radial Truck page: http://www.gmemd.com/en/locomotive/innovations/radial_bogie/index.htm
     
  4. ConrailHaulic

    ConrailHaulic TrainBoard Member

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    The only units to have ever been equiped with GE's Second Generation Steerable are the BHP-Iron units in Austrailia, and CSX 602 (converted to the Phase 1)

    ALL AC4400CW's that have GE's steerable trucks use the Phase 1 truck, The only exceptions will likely be the Cartier Railway AC4400CW's that will be delevered in the next few years. UP's first 3 AC4400CW's were equiped with Steerable trucks, but 2 of the 3 have since been converted back to GE's Hi-Ad design. (one had its truck's replaced after a accedent), UP didn't find the cost of increased maintance for the increased traction worthwhile. Current users of AC4400CW's with steerables are, CSX, KCS, TFM, CP (CSX and CP are also retrofiting older AC44's with radials) UP, BNSF, are the only AC4400CW owners that insist on Hi-Ad's still.

    On to the AC6000CW,CSX was the only road in the world to own AC6K's with all 3 of GE's modern Truck Designs. 600-601 came delivered with Hi-Ad's, 602' came Delevered with the Generation 2 truck, everything since has come with the Generation 1 truck. Why Generation 1 you ask? The Generation 2 cost twice as much Is far more complex and MUCH more heavier than the Generation 1. This did not make it a worth while investment to CSX who planed to use em on intermodels. UP went one step further, All of UP's AC6000CW are equiped with Hi-Ad trucks, Including the AC6044CW convertables that they have. BHP-Iron was the only company to order AC6000CW with the generation 2 truck, Since BHP huals Iron Ore, the added traction was a must for there AC6000CW,s (I beleve they also are the only owners of C44-9W's with steerable trucks too, someone correct me if I m wrong.)

    CSX' latest few batches of "optimiszed" AC4400CW could be a death nail to the Generation 2 truck, They are boosted to 432000LBs, which is just below a AC6000CW, Feture slightly modifyed Generation 1 trucks, And have software to Increase the tractive effort and adheasion they produce. They pack more punch on a Coal train than a AC6000CW can, and can come close to them on other trains,
     
  5. BC Rail King

    BC Rail King E-Mail Bounces

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    CPR has already made it fairly clear that they don't care for 6000HP, at the moment. Its just too much power! The locomtoives also have such a kick that they are having probelms having one or two of them on the train becuase they are having trouble with excessive force leading to broken knuckles. I can't remember where I read this (I think it was Trains) but the 6000HP is so duty specific that there may not be a future for it in the SHORT term. I am very curious to see where these type of locos go in the future.

    Dane [​IMG]
     
  6. ConrailHaulic

    ConrailHaulic TrainBoard Member

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    Well if reliablity can be increased and traction/adheasion problems can be overcome. We will see more 6000HP units. In the mean time expect more SD70MAC, SD89MAC, and AC4400CW's

    CSX seems to be the only read even remotely intrested in 6000HP anymore. As they continue to work with GE on enhancements and upgrades for there AC6000CW's
     
  7. drolsen

    drolsen TrainBoard Member

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    <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ConrailHaulic:
    On to the AC6000CW,CSX was the only road in the world to own AC6K's with all 3 of GE's modern Truck Designs. 600-601 came delivered with Hi-Ad's, 602' came Delevered with the Generation 2 truck, everything since has come with the Generation 1 truck.<hr></blockquote>

    Good info - just a small correction. CSX 602 was also delivered with Hi-Ad trucks. I photographed the unit just after the unveiling ceremony at the B&O Railroad Museum, when it was presented with the "Spirit of Maryland" logo. Here's a photo of the unit from the CSX Photo Archives - hard to see, but it shows the Hi-Ad trucks:

    [​IMG]

    I haven't seen any photos yet to show that the trucks have been replaced with steerables, but that would seem likely since all the other units have them. As I mentioned in an earlier post, one of the first two units, CSX 601, I believe, was equipped with Gen II trucks, while the other had Gen Is installed, and 600 and 601 were used together between Grafton and Cumberland to compare their performance in coal hauling service. I believe this was about 2 years ago - it appeared in an article in Diesel Era, I think...
     
  8. ConrailHaulic

    ConrailHaulic TrainBoard Member

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    Damn! I knew I got those numbers wrong, Thanks for the correction [​IMG]
     

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