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Neat topic of discussion!
I would say that "modern" in terms of motive power and rolling stock is based on technology. The SD90mac is more modern than the SD40-2 because of it's technological advances. So when new technology comes out, the old generation of power becomes just that, "old". That doesn't make it less reliable but it doesn't have the safety features or horsepower or bells and whistles that the new stuff has.
G'day , The SD90 might be more modern due to technology BUT.....I doubt if any SD90s will still be buzzing around after 50 plus years like the SD40s do though to this day..
I fully get your well made point though , that technology may well determine 'modern'...but not necessarily 'better' in every way....Cheers Rod..
The SD90 might be more modern due to technology BUT.....I doubt if any SD90s will still be buzzing around after 50 plus years like the SD40s do though to this day.
I agree with that statement but not for the same reason. I think the SD90s will become extinct because they were a much more specialized locomotive and so few of them were made. A small short line or branch type railroad will never need a long haul high capacity unit. They probably couldn't fit the massiveness of an SD90 on their lines anyway. So no small railroads will ever buy them on the 2nd or 3rd hand market, so instead of to market they go to scrap. Unlike the SD40s that can run anywhere down to curves of 10 degrees, where small railroads can use them to replace their older and smaller units.
It also is a common sense that a unit with thousands of instances will last longer than a unit with only hundreds. That's just probability in play. BNSF is using sets of two SD40s for switchers in the Denver 23rd avenue yard. They have also converted many of them to remote. I guarantee that even if they had ever had an SD90 they would not be trying to use it for a switcher.
The road switcher/switcher market as far as new locos is concerned, seems to have gone into non existence, only a few are experimenting with alternate fuel technologies and the gap is being filled by rebuilders who are using older GP's and updating power and control units to bring them into the 21st century. I think we'll still be seeing SD40-2's for a while yet. If it ain't broke, why change it.
It seems a few of you guys may have missed my point. I was just using the sd90 example for the sake of conversation. Take any new engine and that would be the "modern" one compared to a sd40-2 or geep 9. Will the dash 2 ever go away, probably not. No matter how old they become because they're practical and service multiple purposes.
G'day all.....I definitely get your point that the SD90 was used as an example only , not specifically....I also think that need to look at this great subject a bit like jet fighters as strange as that may sound...Most air forces have aircraft that have been in service for a long time...for us the FA 18 Hornet is a great example...maybe the F15 Eagle or F16 Falcon for the USA...These aircraft have been front line jets for a good long period but due to avionics/ weapons systems/ detection technology upgrades time after time , these aircraft remain very modern compared to the originals...yet they still look outwardly like those original aircraft..I suspect many locomotives are systematically upgraded and improved over years of service in certain instances...and a loco like the SD40-2 is likely to be like this for some operators..We have a massive mining company in Australia called BHP Billiton , who run contemporary EMD locos like the SD70ACe GE locos like the ES44s , Dash 8s and Dash 9s and some AC6000s too but they also run upgraded EMD SD40-2s too...with the big modern prime movers...for real ..Check out You Tube and you'll see many vids shot very recently that you'll spot numerous dear old 40s...For that reason alone , despite a 50 year history I'd list the SD40-2 as a modern locomotive...still being used for it's original purpose...Cheers Rod...
We have a massive mining company in Australia called BHP Billiton , who run contemporary EMD locos like the SD70ACe GE locos like the ES44s , Dash 8s and Dash 9s and some AC6000s too but they also run upgraded EMD SD40-2s too...with the big modern prime movers...for real ...For that reason alone , despite a 50 year history I'd list the SD40-2 as a modern locomotive...still being used for it's original purpose...
I would argue that doesn't make it a modern locomotive, that makes it a modernized locomotive. When railroads do this they usually change the designation, one shop re-did a bunch of GP9s and called them GP9M. Some were rebuilt with Caterpillar prime movers and called GP9C.
I would not include an SD40 or even an SD40-2 on a list of modern locomotives. If one has not been able to buy one new from the manufacturer for over 20 years it can't be "modern". Modern is relentless in its obsolescence of perfectly good things.
G'day Iron Horseman , and all...WELL MADE AND FAIR POINT....I will agree with the modernised terminology...as opposed to modern.I think modernised in this instance on reflection is more apt.Thanks for correcting me..I also have to modernise my description on BHP Billiton...The updated (modernised now) SD40-2s were bought from the US..by BHP to add motive power in the interim whilst they were waiting for delivery of brand new SD70 ACe's...They bought 105 of them...(SD70 ACe's) that is....so the 23 or so SD40-2s.....ex Ferromex , ICE etc were bought to help out for a couple of years .Now that the SD70s are working the info source relayed that the SD40s were retired from main duty in December 2013...about 6 months ago but they are still used in track maintenance/ballast trains etc..and no doubt the occasional helper unit and switching duties...I STILL LOVE THE SD40-2s THOUGH.....Great locomotive....Cheers Rod...
It was the backbone of most railroads from 1970 until 1995 or so. Very hard not to like them. When I was in Wichita KS (not on the main line) I remember driving by the round house and and thinking just a bunch of dumb F units. I wanted to see the big power. I wish I would have gotten photos of the Fs..... Fast forward 35 years, I remember the last string of them that came off the coal train in Denver. Regrettably I had no camera. They took off the set of 4 SD40s and 1 U36C (Cascade Green) and put on 3 SD70s in the new Executive color scheme on the point.
G'day Iron Horseman , Thanks for the info...That would have been awesome to see the consists...as you described. four SD40s and a U Boat and the three SD70ACe's wow....RE BHP Billiton...There's some great 1-2 minute videos on the Railnet site....If you type in BHP Billiton SD40-2 videos.... either on Railnet or on your normal search engine..you'll see several SD40-2s on the main ore drag..working mid train with the big boys ...ie SD70s , GE's etc....Also if you visit Broadway Limited you'll see they do both the "bubble" and 'blue" paint schemes of the BHP Billiton locomotives in HO...or on EBAY if you type in SD40-2 BHP Billiton on the worldwide search option..Cheers Rod....
My thoughts if it still in use it modern outdated and cursed about. by crews but if the railroad still use them why not put them on the layouts unless your a person thats wants new and shiny only
I have seen some pretty wild stuff up here on one of our BNSF tracks, took this shot today. These babies were pulling what looked like empties Frac Sand cars also a group of new gas/oil tankers, I think the mixed bag to make a worthwhile load. These were travelling east towards Superior, Wisconsin.
Here are the same two in Lacrosse, Wisconsin on 7/6.
The CP was manufactured in 10/ 1980 and appears to be in steady service today, a SD-40-2. Not much worse for the wear.
