SD70ACE-P4

I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I believe that BNSF is the only buyer of the ES44C4 and has about 700 of them. Thus, it is probably safe to assume that only BNSF would be in the market for more AIA type units. 

The SD70ACe P4 seems to be more than a little late to the game. With owning already 700 ES44C4's how many more AIA units could BNSF need? Somehow I think not too many will make it into service. 

Actually, the P4 is a B1-1B arrangement instead of an A1A-A1A used on the GE C4 units.

Stuart

With owning already 700 ES44C4's how many more AIA units could BNSF need?

If the BN is replacing the DC Dash-9s at the end of their 15 year leases it will take a bunch.

According to a book I have from 2012, BNSF had 6,037 locomotives as of May of that year. Over 1,600 of those were c44-9w, if my counting and addition is correct. I think only the UP has more locomotives, but I have no books on them.

BNSF is testing SD70ACe-P4 at least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Cxyb3PdzI

http://transpressnz.blogspot.c...er-emd-sd70-ace.html From transpress nz

BNSF Railway announced in January that it is ordering ten SD70ACe-P4 diesels this year, a new Electro-Motive Diesel model with a B1-1B axle arrangement, the first time locomotives with this truck (bogie) arrangement have been used in America. The 10 units are to be part of 250 locomotives BNSF plans to order this year. The others are 65 x SD70-ACE's and 175 x ES44C4's (from General Electric).

 BNSF began receiving ES44C4's in 2009. The model is intended to match the performance of a six-powered-axle DC-traction locomotive with just four AC-traction-powered axles. The effect, in theory, is lower maintenance costs by having fewer traction motors and increase standardization, since all new units can come with AC motors.

 Prior to taking delivery of the P4s from EMD, BNSF plans to convert four of its existing SD70-ACes to the new design.

If these "P4's" have a jacking system to get the weight off the unpowered axle, then will there be too much weight on the powered units in relationship to the track?

Can you spell GP 70 ACE ????    Hopefully all parties will come back to their senses, and fairly soon !

Not going to happen! There would be way too much weight involved with an AC traction unit, to have ONLY 4 axles. Plus, the radial, high traction truck design never really worked out for the two axle truck configuration.

Hadn't thought about the A/C weight...good point. OTOH, if a third axle per truck is needed, it's gonna have a motor....because tractive effort is your friend !

Good Day,

This is what I think a GP70ACe might look like. Several years ago I created my idea of a GP70ACe. This is a greatly modified GP40-2 Michael Eby drawing.

Regards,

Swafford

Giving up a 3rd of your traction and braking footprint, when, basically, that is what a locomotive is all about. Somebody's going to be selling shoes, pretty soon.

Rick

Keep in mind that the SD70ACE-P4 was built on BNSF's request.

Regards,

Swafford

There already is a market for 4-Axle diesel freight units, but don't count on either EMD nor GE entering THAT business! Why? Believe it or not, but a 6-Axle 4400 HP unit doesn't really cost THAT much to manufacture than a 4-Axle 3000 HP unit. So,,,,why would any U.S. or Canadian railroad customer what to spend within, say $200,000 of a 4400 HP, main line freight unit, for some 4-Axle "branch line" unit????

The current 4-Axle diesel unit market is VERY WELL served by the remanufactured from older GP types, into 1500 to 2000 HP "Gen Set" units, which then do NOT need to a complete new under frame manufactured. Problem solved.

Wyhog,

Is that 49,000 lbs per wheel or per axle??

ChipR

Wyhog,

Thanks for the correction to my misreading.

ChipR