SD90Mac-H2s on the UP Cottonrock

While chasing 1982 to Meade, I saw a long manifest in the siding at Missler,Ks. I noticed there were lots of engines on the train and hoped I'd be able to check it out after catching 1982. On my way back to Liberal, I saw the train moving slowly and caught up with the head end about Plains, Ks. I could see the last three units had EMD winged radiators and then saw the Union Pacific was stricken with a black bar. I knew these were real SD90MAC-H with the 6000 hp engines. They are now marked PRLX - Progress Rail Leasing. No doubt they came with the package when Caterpillar bought EMD earlier this year. All three engines were dead in tow and headed for some location west. How cool that they were being pulled by another almost 6000 hp entry, the GE C60AC. Mistakenly, I thought this was a 6000hp unit, but it was a 4400hp unit, just marked C60AC by UP. When the crew got to Liberal, they started to switch some cars and the conductor found a bad flat spot - as much as 4" - on axle 5 of unit 8551 and they did a bad order and set it out. I've only seen SD90MAC-H engines in videos and it was cool to see them in person, even if they weren't running. It would have been nice to hear them running, but it was still a great day with two surprise catches.

Update: KCKSFAN added info that all remaining C60AC units were repowered to 4400 hp this year. My research tells me that 6923 was never a 6000 hp unit. Oh well, it's cool with its big radiators anyway.

I found that the SD90mac-H2 variant with the phase II cabs were the only models to have the fuel tanks made onto the frame, units 8522 - 61. They also had only two radiator fans rather than 3, and the dynamic brake housing had tapered ends rather than the square box seen on 9043s. Very tricky to spot, but most of the early models are already cut up - so mostly H2s remain.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Union
• Pacific
• Railroad
• Liberal
• Kansas
• trains
• train
• EMD
• SD90MAC-H
• GE
• C60AC
• PRLX
• 8535
• 8551
• 8556
• Canon
• Vixia
• HF
• S200

[MrSd40jk]

Excellent job allround thanks.!

[AJ67901]

@MrSd40jk Thanks, I couldn't believe they were the real deal, honest SD90's. It was a fun video to make. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[cweis127]

The K3LA on that C60AC is magnificant!

[AJ67901]

@cweis127 Thanks! it was a fun day and a great way to close out 2010.

[EMDGM6]

PRLX has 22 SD90MAC on its roster

[AJ67901]

@EMDGM6 that's what's left then. I saw 6 of them headed north in tow on the BNSF mainline in Oklahoma on 4-9-11. Possibly being returned from lease at Ferromex?

[DonGomez007]

Ohh, OK...I did not realize that the EB stack was coming to a stop. Was unclear about grade parameter but now all clear LOL - Keep on shootin"!

[AJ67901]

@DonGomez007 The DPU on the EB stack was so the train could come to a complete stop on the main line. The westbound was so long he was still hanging out. Once the EB cleared the west switch he could take the main behind the EB and clear up for him to continue. It was the first good catch of a GE in dynamics I'd ever gotten on video. The grade in town is flat as a board. There's some grade east of town where the line crosses the Cimarron River, but probably no more than 1.5%

[MrSd40jk]

@AJ67901 A pleasure to watch. Thank you.

[MrSd40jk]

Great catch with the Eastbound DPU in dynamic's. :D

[cweis127]

@AJ67901 Only UP has the best K3LAs!