While rail fanning in my home town of Monroe NC I noticed that the local trains are using AC44s locomotives. I do not know where the GP38 and GP40s have gone. Its just plain weird to me to see big main line power in charge of small local trains. On the up side I have seen what I call the classic mixed freight. Mixed freight with container mixed in. Reminds me of trains I saw when I was a kid.
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It's an evolution that's been a long time coming. Jobs that used to use Geeps and other 4-axle power are now using CW44s in several places. Some jobs switched over years ago (like the local rock runner trains). Between the large number of engines with self-steering trucks, and the recent mass retirements and stored units, not too many places left exclusively the domain of 4-axle power.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both, but for right now I'm more than happy to have two back to back GP40-2s on my job this week.
I was in WA state a couple of weeks ago. I saw some 4-axel power power on trains . One train had power still painted BN black and green but with the BNSF logo. I speculate that 4-axel power will be around on the big railroads as long as they have customers with light rail and sharp curves. Short lines will probably be running 4-axel power for years to come. NH Joe
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