Present day diesels in service???

I was surprised when I saw a MU of GP38-2 in use locally by CSX. The 4-6 thousand hp range seems sufficient for the modern freights. The engines are reliable and relatively efficient.

Someone posted that a group of SD's are in trial for natural gas conversion from diesel.

 

It seems to me the development will be targeting fuel efficiency. Retrofitting and repairing seem to be the plan for the next ten years.

 

A visit to the EMD site shows new innovations in engines, a radial six-wheel truck and control systems. There is a new F125 passenger diesel  .

Or just send them off for rebuilding as Gensets. 

 

Rusty

 The NS seems to like the older GP-38's and 40's and the SD-40's.

 

 I've been on quite a few rebuilt units lately.I like the newer cabs on the SD-40's other than the way the height of the seat is in relation to the side windows.

 

 But the Gensets are the new switcher units for when GP's and SD's run out of service life.

There will be SD40-2s running five hundred years from now....and I'll put money on it!

I think both EMD and GE have developed plans over the last ten years for small road switchers but never went forward. Apparently the various rebuilding companies are doing a better job of it than the big 2. Lets see now, how diesel switcher hybrid/genset locomotives has EMD or GE produced? Oh yeah, zero! (the GE evo hybrid doesn't count)