The alternating ditch lights are an optional feature that must be specified when the locomotive is ordered. FRA does not require the alternating ditch lights (I believe the practice actually originated in Canada). UP and BNSF in general do not use alternating ditch lights. However, the SP did use them on some of their later GE units, and so you will sometimes find them on ex-SP GE units placed on the point of UP trains.
That's because they're selling them cheaper than EMD can build them according to our local EMD/Siemens rep.
GE is also masterful in it's maintenance agreement programs. They have the good money-guys / salesman that just blow EMD out of the water. I work for CSX, and they bought one brand new unit and had probably around $500,000 in repairs on it before it pulled a single train. Brand new...directly from Erie.
I don't know about you, but to me that's absolutely unacceptable.
These failures have become commonplace with all our new GEs. Turbos, main alts...junk, pure junk. All the recently purchased locos are all (or have already) undergone complete truck rebuilds and redesigns. Ever-changing software needs loaded at every Q. When they run they do pull harder and have quieter cabs. Ge claims huge fuel savings, that's cuz they are all in our shop getting rebuilt. Yeah, they save lots of fuel.
CSX followed BNSF last May, or perhaps the May before (I forget), when they froze their orders. CSX approached EMD concerning new orders and was told "no way", backlogged (at the time) until 2011. UP and BN had purchased EVOs earlier and had already discovered what CSX was now learning. GE's (while nice) are too costly to operate from a maintenance standpoint. I want GE to do well, they are an American Co., but they gotta do alot better.
I'm not a power coordinater, but I just don't know how CSX or GE can afford all the re-work they are doing to these things. I'd take a Alstom rebuilt SD40-2 with added fuel injection ANY DAY. Cheaper, FAR more reliable and fuel injection should make the fuel consumption more palatable. Occasionally they need to add an extra motor for power, or likely for added braking, but so what? Increased profit is really what it's all about. BTW..they are now rebuilding SD50-2's. Why you ask?
Train #1. Nice! We had that #7605 the GE Demo GEVO in the lead of a train on a line I don't film on, would have been great to see something that is rare to see in NC.
Train #2. Nice on that SP unit, i'd say it is rare to see one of units Unpatched, some of them i've been seeing these days are with UP Writing.
Train #3. I Wish NS Had that availiable for use to head Northbound towards me with enough Horsepower, nice as 4 KCSM GEVOs that have been by here recently and never got the chance to film them.
nice chuck, to see some titling and effects on your videos. Though if you could follow the engines and zoom out at an equal rate it would make the videos more exciting. i read on other site that you shoot photos as well thats why you don't. a word of advice my friend, it's better to choose one or the other and do it right rather then compromising your video to do both. I don't have to worry about this problem as I'm too poor to by another camera, i only have one LOL!!!! ;)
what i do is shoot photos some days and shoot videos other days. of course out of town places makes a tough decision of what to shoot. I've shot photos for many years and am excited to get back into video again so i've been shooting more videos lately. Keeps things from getting boring. Of course when a train stops then i can get both.
Awesome catch! I too caught an Ex- SP yesterday on my railfanning trip, But it was patched, still a nice catch considering that he was here in PA. GOod job man
u in a grave yard
duxberry1958 1 year ago
Notice the ditchlights aren't working properly...they should alternately flash upon blowing the horn.
All the GE stuff is pure junk.
74VDC 3 years ago
i wondered why UP and BNSF didn't do that while NS and CSX did. that must explain it. GE locos.
Jurgy631 3 years ago
The alternating ditch lights are an optional feature that must be specified when the locomotive is ordered. FRA does not require the alternating ditch lights (I believe the practice actually originated in Canada). UP and BNSF in general do not use alternating ditch lights. However, the SP did use them on some of their later GE units, and so you will sometimes find them on ex-SP GE units placed on the point of UP trains.
theup3985 2 years ago
Comment removed
twinimaging 2 years ago
That's because they're selling them cheaper than EMD can build them according to our local EMD/Siemens rep.
GE is also masterful in it's maintenance agreement programs. They have the good money-guys / salesman that just blow EMD out of the water. I work for CSX, and they bought one brand new unit and had probably around $500,000 in repairs on it before it pulled a single train. Brand new...directly from Erie.
I don't know about you, but to me that's absolutely unacceptable.
74VDC 2 years ago
Comment removed
twinimaging 2 years ago
Read my recent post...they DO NOT have the EMD option. They tried.
74VDC 2 years ago
These failures have become commonplace with all our new GEs. Turbos, main alts...junk, pure junk. All the recently purchased locos are all (or have already) undergone complete truck rebuilds and redesigns. Ever-changing software needs loaded at every Q. When they run they do pull harder and have quieter cabs. Ge claims huge fuel savings, that's cuz they are all in our shop getting rebuilt. Yeah, they save lots of fuel.
74VDC 2 years ago
CSX followed BNSF last May, or perhaps the May before (I forget), when they froze their orders. CSX approached EMD concerning new orders and was told "no way", backlogged (at the time) until 2011. UP and BN had purchased EVOs earlier and had already discovered what CSX was now learning. GE's (while nice) are too costly to operate from a maintenance standpoint. I want GE to do well, they are an American Co., but they gotta do alot better.
74VDC 2 years ago
I'm not a power coordinater, but I just don't know how CSX or GE can afford all the re-work they are doing to these things. I'd take a Alstom rebuilt SD40-2 with added fuel injection ANY DAY. Cheaper, FAR more reliable and fuel injection should make the fuel consumption more palatable. Occasionally they need to add an extra motor for power, or likely for added braking, but so what? Increased profit is really what it's all about. BTW..they are now rebuilding SD50-2's. Why you ask?
74VDC 2 years ago
Looks like you caught a wave on train 1.
kskcsfan 4 years ago
5 stars!!!!!!!!! i loved it man!
BNSF9250 4 years ago
I have seen 8391 before.
meyer8400 4 years ago
Train #1. Nice! We had that #7605 the GE Demo GEVO in the lead of a train on a line I don't film on, would have been great to see something that is rare to see in NC.
Train #2. Nice on that SP unit, i'd say it is rare to see one of units Unpatched, some of them i've been seeing these days are with UP Writing.
NSNCRailfan 4 years ago
Train #3. I Wish NS Had that availiable for use to head Northbound towards me with enough Horsepower, nice as 4 KCSM GEVOs that have been by here recently and never got the chance to film them.
NSNCRailfan 4 years ago
nice chuck, to see some titling and effects on your videos. Though if you could follow the engines and zoom out at an equal rate it would make the videos more exciting. i read on other site that you shoot photos as well thats why you don't. a word of advice my friend, it's better to choose one or the other and do it right rather then compromising your video to do both. I don't have to worry about this problem as I'm too poor to by another camera, i only have one LOL!!!! ;)
eccentriceric 4 years ago
LOL, thanks for those tips Eric, but I love both my pictures, and videos, and as time goes on I will get better at them both.
Treyvs 4 years ago
what i do is shoot photos some days and shoot videos other days. of course out of town places makes a tough decision of what to shoot. I've shot photos for many years and am excited to get back into video again so i've been shooting more videos lately. Keeps things from getting boring. Of course when a train stops then i can get both.
eccentriceric 4 years ago
Nice catch!
mafarnz 4 years ago
Awesome catch! I too caught an Ex- SP yesterday on my railfanning trip, But it was patched, still a nice catch considering that he was here in PA. GOod job man
Hickler90 4 years ago
lol well still
rhsballa3344 4 years ago
i think the SP 187 is a AC4400CW. not a C44-9W
rhsballa3344 4 years ago
they are all the same patrick lol...
Treyvs 4 years ago
not quite...the C44-9W is a DC unit whereas an AC4400CW is an AC unit
EWM27 4 years ago
Great Video!! Keep them coming!!
UPTurner 4 years ago
Awesome!!!!!!!!!
dutchtrainmanserie22 4 years ago