ES44C4's and a Z Train

BNSF's A1A truck ES44C4's have become more common lately, but it's still difficult to find a train powered purely by them. I caught such a train, a westbound Z through the Cajon Subdivision in Southern California back in October.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BNSF
• GE
• ES44C4
• A1A
• Cajon
• Subdivision
• priority
• intermodal
• train

[manthony1956]

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.

[cchan006]

@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]

How well was that train moving along compared to how it would do with 6-axle (all powered) locomotives?

[cchan006]

@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.

[AndreiTupolev]

That second unit is 6661, isn't it'; is there a 6666?

[MiNameIsNash]

Sooooooo nice!!!

[radoliz2]

Thats alot of train for just them two engines. If ine broke they would be dead on the track, wouldn't they?

[Vanakatherock]

Ahh. The sounds that make me happy to have a subwoofer on my computer speakers!

[NampaSubdivisionAJV]

awesome video!

[trainmanjosair]

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.