CSX AC Units in DPU

[CSX FAN]

All,

Just curious......With CSX operating more coal trains on the Blue Ridge and Charlotte Subdivisions with the new ES44CWs, are their other AC units capable of being run in DPU? I have watched, recorded, and taken pictures of them in operation. But just curious as to their other AC power.

Thanks

[jay611]

As far as I know the ES44AC's are DPU, the CW44AC's aren't.

[csxt602]

Like Jason said, the ES44AC's are the only units on the CSX roster capable of DPU operations.

[BNSFfan]

Thats rather strange.. Almost ANY unit on the BNSF can be a DPU as long as it has a Read End Device in it. No, not EOT, its actually called a Rear/Front end device that controls DPU, and can be interchanged. I saw the guys here take a FED out of a CSX C40-8W, so that means they can control DPU's if they have one in there.

[CSX FAN]

One thing that I have noticed while watching the trains with the DPU is that there is an EOT on the last car's coupler. But these trains are going to power plants where they have to stage the coal cars before dumping. I also noticed that at the Duke Power plant in Cliffside, NC, the DPU was cut off and left at the end of the return loop and then used as the head end locomotive once the train was completed with the dumping of coal. Most of the coal trains that I have seen were like this on both subs with the returning empty train with the DPU as either the lead or trailing unit. Just curious on if any other AC units could operate as a DPU.

THANKS

[CRQ5508]

I thought the SD70ACe's could be run in DPU also...

[jay611]

I thought the SD70ACe's could be run in DPU also...

CSX wanted the ACe's for fast intermotel when they first made their order, now they get put on just about anything but i've never seen anything other than the ES44AC's in DPU use. Even then its rare; CSX normally just gets a helper crew to shove the train as far as they need to.

They didn't really want the new motors setup with DPU in the first place. They leased a few UP AC44's to test on the clinchfield to see how the DPU's would work with the standard power on the point (SD70's or CW44's) and one pusher, and im guess liked the outcome?

As said, the only DPU units on roster are the ES44AC's and AH's. Most trains in need of a push get help from a pair of SD40-2's or something similar. Others get an extra motor to get up the hill that is later cut out of the lashup before the train continues to its destination.

[CRQ5508]

Most trains in need of a push get help from a pair of SD40-2's or something similar.

It seems CSX will use anything that's laying around for helpers, although over their infamous Cranberry Grade (maxing at 3% or something close I think) AC44s and SD70 series are most common. Back in the 80s and 90s, 3 unit sets of SD40-2s, SD50s, and pairs or trios of SD60s were mostly used. Now it's mostly pairs of AC4400CHs, and SD70MAC-Is (they are the ones with flared radiators, and are also ballasted to weigh heavy), and recently ES44ACHs have started appearing (as previously stated.) Back in the B&O days F-unit quartets were used, then replaced by trios of GP30s and GP40s in the 70s...

[CSX FAN]

I just talked to a close friend from the railroad and was told that all coal trains will soon be running with DPUs on the Clinchfield (CSX KP and BR Subs). There was a major upgrade at Erwin, TN to accomodate the new change. Plus doing a little more research, the SD80MACs are supposed to be DPU equipped. Can anyone shed some light on that as well. I do appreciate the replies and new info BTW.

Thanks

[CRQ5508]

No the SD80MACs were not ordered with DPU. Conrail never intended them to be helper locomotives, so saw no reason to order them with DPU. In fact, no locomotives on Conrail were equipped with DPU... Plus the SD80MACs didn't spend much of their Conrail lives in heavy drag service. Conrail left that mostly to their SD40-2s, C40-8(W)s and SD60(M[i])s. The SD80MACs spent most of their lives on the Boston line on priority intermodal, trailer, and manifest trains.
EDIT: Then again. They were common on the Pittsburgh lines hauling coal trains, and the infamous PIMO steel train. Probably the heaviest train on Conrail it hauled nothing but gondolas of coil steel, slab steel, sheet steel, and scrap steel. Occasionally though it did have some mixed freight on the head end.