Great video of a rare consist. I'm curious why they wouldn't want all axles powered. I know that the A1A configuration was popular for light rail, and four motors is less maintenance than six. Why not just use four wheel trucks? It was good enough for Western Pacific.
@manthony1956: Good question. Theoretically, the ES44C4's give the same tractive effort as C44-9W's (DC) so the explanation I hear is that's what they are replacing, but I'm not if that's really the reason.
@wesolint: This one ran a bit slower than usual for a Z. I could have caught it at more locations had I realized this earlier, but I didn't want to take any chances.
The ES44C4's r ok locomotive's, but the reason y BNSF doesn't really put them on is because of ride quality & ability to pull loads @ moderate speeds. Most engineer's do not like them n much rather stick with the ES44AC/DC loco's or C44-9W's. I'm just waiting on a motive builder to build a loco that reduces amperage from one traction motor to the next to build more continuous T.E. Now that would b nice.
That second unit is 6661, isn't it'; is there a 6666?
AndreiTupolev 2 weeks ago
Sooooooo nice!!!
MiNameIsNash 1 month ago
Great video of a rare consist. I'm curious why they wouldn't want all axles powered. I know that the A1A configuration was popular for light rail, and four motors is less maintenance than six. Why not just use four wheel trucks? It was good enough for Western Pacific.
manthony1956 1 month ago
@manthony1956: Good question. Theoretically, the ES44C4's give the same tractive effort as C44-9W's (DC) so the explanation I hear is that's what they are replacing, but I'm not if that's really the reason.
cchan006 1 month ago
Thats alot of train for just them two engines. If ine broke they would be dead on the track, wouldn't they?
radoliz2 1 month ago
Ahh. The sounds that make me happy to have a subwoofer on my computer speakers!
Vanakatherock 1 month ago
How well was that train moving along compared to how it would do with 6-axle (all powered) locomotives?
wesolint 1 month ago
@wesolint: This one ran a bit slower than usual for a Z. I could have caught it at more locations had I realized this earlier, but I didn't want to take any chances.
cchan006 1 month ago
awesome video!
NampaSubdivisionAJV 1 month ago
The ES44C4's r ok locomotive's, but the reason y BNSF doesn't really put them on is because of ride quality & ability to pull loads @ moderate speeds. Most engineer's do not like them n much rather stick with the ES44AC/DC loco's or C44-9W's. I'm just waiting on a motive builder to build a loco that reduces amperage from one traction motor to the next to build more continuous T.E. Now that would b nice.
trainmanjosair 1 month ago
great video! do you notice on cajon lately that groups of trains are going over the pass at once?
studio582 1 month ago
Nice video, and nice catch too, Charles!
kodachrome9319 1 month ago
great video
lmogden1 1 month ago
Nice catch
UPDetector 1 month ago
very tidy layout at Cajon Summit. from that height it looks like a model.
AndreiTupolev 1 month ago
nice. how often do you see ES44C4's in general?
mutanay77 1 month ago