Yes, but a big carrier is constantly crunching numbers for operating costs per mile and when the numbers say chuck these; it's cheaper to buy or lease these other units then that's what they do. I'm sure Ross has crunched some numbers too and determined that it was a good deal based on buying the engines for a song. Perhaps he came to the conclusion that even though some other used locomotives were more reliable he still wasn't going to risk running just one unit per train anyway, so the potential to cut in half their costs wasn't really an option.

People should accept the fact that this has all been given careful consideration by the parties involved. If in the end they start having double engine breakdowns and delays then you naysayers can say 'I told you so.' But that doesn't seem likely with two engines per train not being worked all that hard and plenty of time between runs to baby them as needed. Does that mean they would be a good buy for Railroad X which wants used power to work hard, give them minimal maintenance and expect high availability? Maybe not. But that's not the case here.

Steve

Don't forget that pulling the GBX will be pretty light duty for these units; two of them on a 2000-ton train running 500 miles a week, maybe 5 or 6 hours running time each way. It's not as if they'll be slogging uphill in run 8 pulling 10,000 tons of coal day in and day out.

Walt L.

Less wear and tear is how that's coming across. That's why six axle units are perfect for passenger service: because they can take more punishment and last longer. I wish a certain Mass commuter agency would try and pick up on that one... But the four axles, while they have better rate of pickup, lack the traction that a six axle would have, so they would wear out quicker on the GBX, or at least thats my theory.

If six axle units are perfect for passenger service, then why hasn't any commuter or passenger agency in North America purchased any over the past decade or two? Other than a few odballs here or there, almost every new passenger locomotive built since the SDP40F has been 4 axles.

The whole reason passenger carriers buy 4 axle units, is because they don't need the increased tractive effort required for heavy haul freight service. The lighter trains require high horsepower per axle to accelerate quickly and maintain a schedule. Even NJT's new dual mode locomotives, while pushing the limits of axle loadings, look to be 4 axle units.

Granted, the GBX may operate at a more leisurely schedule where rapid acceleration isn't required, but having run my share of the C39's, I can tell you firsthand that they are DOGS. They take forever to get up to speed, even with a modest train.

Considering their age, and how GE's hold up over time, about the only thing they are suitable for is a new life as razor blades. :-)

I keep thinking about the times when Amtrak has engine failure and they put a freight road engine on the head end...the result is a slow train because they are freight engines and as such are not designed to haul fast passneger trains.
Typical Amtrak speeds (in the East) is 79 mph...typical freight train speed is?

T7

Anywhere from 45 to 60 MPH. (Well atleast here in Michigan...)

I've noticed that over time GE's seem to have a propensity for engine room fires, especially GE passenger units. In-fact there is a photo gallery on one passenger train fan site of Amtrak P40/42 "crispy critters", and there are probably close to 20 different GE units shown that have had engine fires. I have passed trains where the dynamic brake grid on a GE was totally on fire, and seen older GE's you could make flame at the stack by goosing the throttle under the right circumstances. I remember that one of the major problems with the old P30's in their last few years was that they would burn down on a regular basis. Just an observation. I've never heard of a similar continuing problem with EMD's.

This is particularly true of the early Dash 8's. If the injector settings are off even a bit, they will billow thick clouds of black smoke under load. Likewise, upon initial prime mover startup, shoving in the layshaft would cause a thick, nasty smoke screen that would linger for 15 minutes or more. As they aged, it was possible to get a 10 foot flame out the stack of nearly any C39, just by notching out from throttle 5 to 8 under any sort of load. Some engineers had this down to almost a science, and could time it just right if they saw photographers or unsuspecting bystanders along the right of way. This was particularly effective at night, approaching grade crossings where drivers tend to run the lights. :-)

The newer stuff, such as the Dash 9's, don't seem as prone to exhaust smoke, as they are engine room fires. I've lost count of the number of Dash 9's that I've seen with scorched engine room paint on the carbody, from such a fire.

I have been told that this situation is cause by faulty fuel lines and or seals the fuel leaks, sprays out drips onto something hot and eventually you will have fire, all amtrak engine crews have a new proceedure to hopefully curve this from happening , upon inspection of the fuel rack are they to accept the engine for service, there has been a lack of preventive maintance for these units wich would probably elliminate the problem a fuel fire is "no Joke"

the fuel rail on our u23b is at " I think I was told me 55 psi", I know My twin performance Mercury Marine 250HP's have 2 mitsubishi 13psi fuel pumps

if i am wrong about this someone can correct me, regaurdless the fuel pressure substantial the fuel lines are at least 3/4 of an inch in dia

Are you sure the fuel feed lines are what are prone to leaks? I would have thought it would be the lines connecting the injector pumps with the injectors which have to withstand enormous pressures (and are eliminated with EMD's unit injector design where pump and injector are one). I always thought those were the troublespots.

Steve

On note to the steam side of GBX, the 614 is on the move to Clifton Forge, WV
Here's my source:
http://railfan.com/rf_railnews.php

Good luck Ross. Hope she gets there in one piece.