GEVO for NS??

[SCrails]

I don't believe this question has been answered either. I know that the release of MSTS 2 is about a year away, and alot can happen during that time. On the Stevens Pass, you have created a GEVO for BNSF. Will you be making a GEVO for the NS as well on the Horseshoe curve as it is different? I read a little bit about how NS is using ECP (electronically controlled pneumatic) brakes for unit trains now. It is supposed to activate all the brakes from back to front I believe to make the train stop in a much shorter time.

[Richard]

Hello Timothy,
We do have the ES40DC EVO's and yes they do have the ECP plug used for unit train operation. There is also an order in for the ES44AC GEVO's and when they arrive they will be in the 8000 number series. I've not seen one yet, so I cannot tell you if they also have the ECP plug.

[BNSF4723]

NS buying AC power? Amazing.

[TrainMan_112]

CP is also testing the ECP.

[CRQ5508]

NS buying AC power? Amazing.
If it's true, then, well, it's about time. The only other A/C power on NS right now is the ex Conrail SD80MACs... It'd be nice to see what else is coming for Horse-shoe curve... Mostly, I'm hoping for SD40-2s since they are still the normal power for helpers over "the curve" although other power, including the SD80MACs are starting to find their way on the hill.

[mword77]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=253728

[SCrails]

Hello Timothy,
We do have the ES40DC EVO's and yes they do have the ECP plug used for unit train operation. There is also an order in for the ES44AC GEVO's and when they arrive they will be in the 8000 number series. I've not seen one yet, so I cannot tell you if they also have the ECP plug.

That's right, I do remember they were supposed to get an order of AC GEVOs. 4400 is supposed to be the standard horsepower for NS orders now, and the numberboards for CSX at the head is standard too, but I just need to know if it will be included in the sim or not is all.

[Conrail Tweety]

NS sure held onto DC a long time before the switch to AC.

N&W also held onto steam a long time before the switch to diesel.

I think I see a pattern....

[chucksc]

NS sure held onto DC a long time before the switch to AC.

N&W also held onto steam a long time before the switch to diesel.

I think I see a pattern....
Same 200 year old guys still running the engineering department?? LOL!

Actually the 4k hp setting made sense in that a 10% reduction in HP actually gave them about a 12% increase in fuel milage and reduction in maintenance....

Also the original costs to switching to AC was high - it is now getting more manageable and there is REAL as opposed to theoretical data about increased reliability - so they now see a probability of recovering the costs AND actually getting a little more profit...

[Andy J]

I saw a pair of new "8000"s in Bluefield yard last Friday.

They are "breaking them in" in pusher service on the Pokey :D

"From an email I got last week about the units"

They are going to be used on pushers towards Bluefield.
Our bulletins made notice of it today (Thursday) to be sure to cut one axle of power out,because we are to only have 8 axles of power on freight pusher service,these are rated at nine.


And I read this in another email...

It's all part of the general change in philosophy toward scheduled coal trains that has already brought DPU and ECP into use. With Georgia Power and Clover coal trains running from mine to Georgia and back with 5 units all the way there and back, the ability to achive unit reduction via AC units is finally enough to overcome the cost difference.

I would expect the ultimate use of these AC units to be in dedicated utility coal train service where trains currently using five DC units will be able to run with only three or four AC units.

With export coal trains usually just needing two DC units most of the trip, they couldn't achieve any unit reduction to offset the additional cost.

[CJ]

I seen one of the photos of the front of the NS ES44AC's and they have the ECP plug .

[CRQ5508]

I seen one of the photos of the front of the NS ES44AC's and they have the ECP plug .
Where about exactly? The big red one is the live connection for the MU. The two jacks the MU connection is plugged into in that shot, are dummy connections. Maybe I'm staring right at it, but don't notice it...

[Richard]

Hello Tom,
If they have put them in the same place as on the ES40DC's, then they are located on the Conductors side between the train line and the knuckle. They're not very big, if you zoom the RailPictures up to about 400% you can just about see the small cable for the ECP connection beside the train line.

[CJ]

Right above the train line hose . http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/3/4/0/3340.1223254078.jpg
Photo not mine .