Norfolk Southern unveils first publicly funded, emissions-friendly locomotives...
Nice looking engine! Be seeing these in Atlanta and Chicago soon. Looks like
the State Georgia on the back end of the Engine but hard to tell. If so, I assume
they will have engines that will be used in the Chicago area with the State of IL on them too.
Here is a link to the article and photo from their web page.
http://www.nscorp.com/content/...nsfriendlylocom.html
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I like it!
Thanks for sharing!
Looks like the State Georgia on the back end of the Engine but hard to tell. If so, I assume they will have engines that will be used in the Chicago area with the State of IL on them too.
You are correct (on both things)!
Interesting to note they will not have cab signals which means they will not be able to lead between Cleveland and Harrisburg.
Interesting to note they will not have cab signals which means they will not be able to lead between Cleveland and Harrisburg.
Since they won't be used outside of the Chicago and Atlanta areas cab signalling wasn't needed.
From the original article:
Funding for the locomotive to be used in the Chicago area was awarded by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency, sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Funding for the locomotive to be used in Georgia (on Norfolk Southern’s Atlanta Terminal) was awarded by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division.
So someone's got to ask it: who's going to p*mp it first? Lionel or MTH 
The only way this Locomotive will be replicated exactly in O Scale is as a 2-rail model.
Lionel most likely just put the scheme on their Traditional O gauge GP38-2 loco.
Does anyone know if this is a completely new engine from the ground up, or a remanufacturing/retrofitting of an existing GP?
Reason: The railroads are hurting for EMD GP power. None being made, haven't been for a long time. Used serviceable GP's go for ridiculous amounts on the secondary market.
No. These Locomotives are rebuilt from existing frames. Everything is completely reconditioned from the ground up from there. They do this to get around EPA regulations for Tier 4 emissions. These are being rebuilt from GP50 high hoods.
That's what I figured. No new product, just a rehash of existing product.
Basically the railroad industry is stuck in a situation of not being able to replace any 4-axle GP power, which is driving the cost of used power upward on the used market. At this point, the RR's only recourse is to rebuild and keep rebuilding. Bad situation over the long term.
IMHO, what we desperately need in the US: A "common sense" approach to environmental concerns. We certainly do not need the EPA as it is currently being administered. The EPA has WAY too much power with no oversight, or recourse for those adversely affected by bad legislature coming from the EPA.
That's what I figured. No new product, just a rehash of existing product.
Basically the railroad industry is stuck in a situation of not being able to replace any 4-axle GP power, which is driving the cost of used power upward on the used market. At this point, the RR's only recourse is to rebuild and keep rebuilding. Bad situation over the long term.
IMHO, what we desperately need in the US: A "common sense" approach to environmental concerns. We certainly do not need the EPA as it is currently being administered. The EPA has WAY too much power with no oversight, or recourse for those adversely affected by bad legislature coming from the EPA.
Andre:
Here is a link to the Altoona page with info about the GP33ECO. Lots of new equipment on there, so it is about as close to new as one can get without a whole new locomotive.
http://www.altoonaworks.info/rebuilds/ns_gp33eco.html
Regards,
Jerry
The railroads could buy new four axle power any time they want to IF they were willing to pay the NEW price for locomotives that generally don't get very good utilization. They have decided instead to spend their money buying six axle units that bring a higher return on investment. In the case of Norfolk Southern, they feel they have more than enough four axle units on the property to meet their present and future needs to the point that they sold off the 80 perfectly good 5500 series GP38-2 rebuilds recently. (correction, they did not renew the lease) NS will simply keep rebuilding the remaining GP38/40/50/59/60 units they still have as needed to fill their needs. These ECO units are likely ONLY being done because they got the government to pay for a large chunk of the project. Otherwise, these units would likely have been rebuilt similar to NS's other GP rebuilds. One more point about "NEW" four axles. The GP ECO units that EMD have done for Canadian Pacific contain so many NEW parts (including frame) that they are "rebuilds' in name ONLY, just enough to meet the legal requirements for such. As for what this purchasing strategy has done to the second hand four axle unit market, why should the Class One railroads care about that?
Copy of the Link posted. No notes about natural gas operation???
Rebuilt From Rebuilt As Rbld Frame No. Notes
NS 7004 GP50 NS 4700 GP33ECO 1/15 796321-2 Equipped with Remote Control
NS 7055 GP50 NS 4715 GP33ECO 1/15 786251-39 Equipped with Remote Control
Former numbers for units not yet frame checked and especially for those not completed are always 'suspect' and are listed for entertainment only.
NS 7061 GP50 NS 4701 GP33ECO In progress 11/13; equipped with Remote Control
NS 7091 GP50 NS 4702 GP33ECO In progress 8/14
NS 7007 GP50 NS 4703 GP33ECO In progress 10/14
NS 7021 GP50 NS 4716 GP33ECO In progress 7/14
NS 7065 GP50 NS 4717 GP33ECO In progress 8/14
NS 7079 GP50 NS 4718 GP33ECO In progress 8/14
NS 7016 GP50 NS 4719 GP33ECO In progress 12/14
This is apparently an insourcing program from EMD and the units will be leased back to NS for a period of time.
Work Done:
- EM2000 microprocessor installed, including all new electrical cabinet, SmartStart auto start/stop, and layover equipment
- 16-645 engine replaced with a 12N-710G3B-T3 (tier 3)
- AR15CA6-D14 main alternator and companion generator installed with D87B traction motors
- Original long hood retained with addition of flared radiator similar to phase 2 SD70M
- Changed from long hood forward to short hood forward with Admiral cab
- Setup to operate with RP-M4C road slugs
- EMDEC Electronic Unit Injection (EUI) system
- CCB26 electronic air brake and 6 cylinder WLAGA9A air compressor
- Not equipped with cab signaling
Notes:
- 3300 horsepower
- 64,200 lbs tractive effort
I agree with Dieselbob on the EMD rebuilt GP20C-ECO having new frames. When I was at the new EMD plant last year they were assembling & testing many of these Canadian Pacific locomotives & according to my host, except for the trucks & one other major component (can’t remember which) everything else including the frame were new.
These are just my opinion,
Thanks,
Naveen Rajan
The railroads could buy new four axle power any time they want to IF they were willing to pay the NEW price for locomotives that generally don't get very good utilization. They have decided instead to spend their money buying six axle units that bring a higher return on investment. In the case of Norfolk Southern, they feel they have more than enough four axle units on the property to meet their present and future needs to the point that they sold off the 80 perfectly good 5500 series GP38-2 rebuilds recently. NS will simply keep rebuilding these cores as needed to fill their needs. These ECO units are likely ONLY being done because they got the government to pay for a large chunk of the project. Otherwise, these units would likely have been rebuilt similar to NS's other GP rebuilds. One more point about "NEW" four axles. The GP ECO units that EMD have done for Canadian Pacific contain so many NEW parts (including frame) that they are "rebuilds' in name ONLY, just enough to meet the legal requirements for such. As for what this purchasing strategy has done to the second hand four axle unit market, why should the Class One railroads care about that?
Here's an update link with a interesting 26 minute video explaining the various locomotive systems 
Cool paint scheme... simple but eye-catching! Now when will we see it catalog'd? And by whom first?
David
Cool paint scheme... simple but eye-catching! Now when will we see it catalog'd? And by whom first?
David
That will probably be a difficult model for one of the two big manufacturers. Note the big "flared radiator" section on the long hood.
At a glance, it looks very similar to a GP40X.
At a glance, it looks very similar to a GP40X.
Right, and how many of those have been modeled by the "big two"?
Cool paint scheme... simple but eye-catching! Now when will we see it catalog'd? And by whom first?
David
I asked Ken when Mike was at Trainworld about these engines and he replied to Ken that we would see them in a future catalog. Now whether it is April or October of next year who knows, but my wallet would prefer October after these last 2 MTH catalogs.
The railroads could buy new four axle power any time they want to IF they were willing to pay the NEW price for locomotives that generally don't get very good utilization. They have decided instead to spend their money buying six axle units that bring a higher return on investment. In the case of Norfolk Southern, they feel they have more than enough four axle units on the property to meet their present and future needs to the point that they sold off the 80 perfectly good 5500 series GP38-2 rebuilds recently. (correction, they did not renew the lease) NS will simply keep rebuilding the remaining GP38/40/50/59/60 units they still have as needed to fill their needs. These ECO units are likely ONLY being done because they got the government to pay for a large chunk of the project. Otherwise, these units would likely have been rebuilt similar to NS's other GP rebuilds. One more point about "NEW" four axles. The GP ECO units that EMD have done for Canadian Pacific contain so many NEW parts (including frame) that they are "rebuilds' in name ONLY, just enough to meet the legal requirements for such. As for what this purchasing strategy has done to the second hand four axle unit market, why should the Class One railroads care about that?
I believe that BNSF with ET/ES44C4's are pretty much doing just that. Reading comments about how daylight can be seen under the middle wheel sets essentially makes them B-B units rather than AIA-AIA. My understanding with new B-B units is that all the stuff can't be fit in and get the weight down to below restrictions.
I do not quite understand the comments on the flared radiator section. Zero units have been designed by Lionel and MTH. However, MTH makes a SD45 with a similar flared radiator section. Technically, a flared radiator section is no more difficult to tool up for than any other type of body. Also, both MTH and Lionel make a SD70ACe with flared radiator sections just fine as well as a wide variety of GE units just fine.
Perhaps the argument is that such a unit cannot be done profitably. However, if "Santa Fe" can be plastered onto the side such tooling immediately becomes profitable. Sorry, "Santa Fe" sells.
Check out these comments from Trainworld at 2:07 concerning the Santa Fe ES44AC's (which have flared radiators) from Lionel's Catalog:
Check this out...............http://www.nsdash9.com/rosters/4700.html
Check this out...............http://www.nsdash9.com/rosters/4700.html
I love this NS stuff..hope it never sees merger red
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