CSX and EMD diesels

Like many of the other Railroad companies, CSX has been rebuilding/refitting a lot of their locomotives to save money. They cosider it to be more cost efficient than buying new locomotive contracts. Unfortunately, it also means that even with older locomotives being rebuilt, they still require longer and more extensive maintanence checks, increasing the maintanence costs making the cost efficiency of this process vanish.

 

Also, it has been known that when it comes to EMD AC units CSX is not the biggest fans of them (primarily their SD70MAC's, SD70ACe's, and SD8MAC's). And even though EMD makes DC units (SD70M-2's) I hardly believe that CSX would buy them based on their experience with the 70ACe's. I'm not really sure what the main reason is that CSX does not buy EMD as much, but my guess is because they feel that they get better operation, longer production life, or even a better deal with GE locomotive. That is probrably why CSX has been known to buy more GE units than EMD, giving CSX the moniker of being "the BNSF of the east."

 This is interesting to me. I have heard something like that in the past. I had guessed that it maybe also due to availability?

 I also believe I've read that CSX tested many GE models and got good results. I've never been able to tell because I've also read of problems with certain designs and didn't know how that affected future purchases.

 I would like to learn more about CSX and all the big operators. I've bought books of their past, current modern diesel books, and Trains magazine. I can't always get the inside info like the type that seems well known to the RR guys here.

I only know a fraction of what's going on here, but if I have to guess as to the reason why , it would be pricing first, and personalities second !

What kind of problems has CSX had with its EMD AC units?

Simply put, the soundness of the design and reliability of the product makes the rehabilitation of these EMD units an attractive option from a financial and operational perspective for CSX and other roads.      

 

Bob 

Canadian Pacific has not purchased an EMD locomotive for several years.

 

The last CP EMD most likely was the SD90MAC.

 

Has there ever been a new Canadian Pacific SD70MAC or SD70ACe?

 

 

Andrew

CSX does not buy off the shelf GE's.  GE build "heavy" variation of AC units for CSX.

Well the main thing I have heard is that the SD80MAC has a lot of vibration problems in the cab, making CSX not use them as much as they would like to. I also heard that the SD70MAC might also be doing the same thing and are due for an overhaul, but don't quote me on that. As for the SD70ACe, I heard that CSX just doesn't give them the "tender loving care" they need when it comes to service/maintenance and a lot of engineers predict they will eventually begin to fall apart. If you ever notice the CSX SD70ACe's look a little more "run-down" when compared to some of the GE units, even in the yard (pics below). This is why I think CSX does not like EMD AC units that much. I don't know if it is a maintenance thing or just pure neglect, either way I hope that they take care of these locomotives and soon, because the SD70ACe and SD80MAC are my favorite locomotives or all time along with the AC6000.

 

I have seen sd70s match with dash wc8 or 9.And I havw seen the csx sd40 rebuild not to bad looking.I once saw a single csx sd70 pulling a far sized freight train coming out of charottle nc toward monroe nc.Which happens to be my hometown.

For some reason both CSX and Canadian Pacific are only having EMD rebuild old locomotives into compliant locomotives for switching.

 

Andrew