30SD70ACes coming to KCS 4th quarter 2005

[friscobob]

From Progressive Railroading......

1/27/2005
KCS orders 30 SD70ACe locomotives from EMD

Last week, Kansas City Southern ordered 30 SD70ACe locomotives from General Motor Corp.'s Electro-Motive Division (EMD). The Class I expects to take delivery of the 4,300-horsepower units in the fourth quarter.

Last year, KCS tested two SD70ACe locomotives for 75 days in revenue service. EMD will return the demonstration units to KCS, which will use the power at no charge until the new locomotives are delivered.

"The primary benefit of the SD70ACe is that it can pull 9.6 percent more 110-ton coal cars than any of the locomotives currently in [our] fleet," KCS officials said in a prepared statement.

Designed to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Tier 2" emission standards, the SD70ACe features a modified EMD 710 diesel engine, advanced self-diagnostics, predictive health capabilities and an ergonomic cab design.

[BNSF FAN]

Interesting news. Can't wait to see them roaming the rails.

[beast5420]

WWWOOOOOHOOOO!!!!

now, if i can find a reason to get some time off and go sit in heavner or neosho and pray for the timing to be right........ :D :D

[friscobob]

Originally posted by beast5420:
WWWOOOOOHOOOO!!!!

now, if i can find a reason to get some time off and go sit in heavner or neosho ........

Or in my case, Greenville or Plano to see if it gets put on a Transcon freight...........but alas, I'll wager they'll spend a lot of time on the grades between Neosho and Mena, or perhaps on a coal train or two.

[beast5420]

Frisco,
I can only hope so!!!

:D :D :D :D

[halfpint]

now, if i can find a reason to get some time off and go sit in heavner or neosho and pray for the timing to be right........ Beast,another good place is around Carl Junction,Mo.Plenty of spots to park along the highway to get some good pics.

[chessie]

How are these new units going to be painted? Anything new or different? :confused:

Harold

[friscobob]

My guess is that they'll be painted like the AC440Ws.

As for Heavener being a raifan spot, it's just a few miles from where my daughter & grandkid-to-be live, so besides going up to spoil the little critter, I can stop by Heavener on the way (just 6 miles south of where I turn off US59 to go west into Arkansas).

AC4400Ws, TFM and TexMex-lettered engines, ex-Metra F40Cs with NREX markings...... man, I can hardly wait until fall to shoot Rich Mountain north!!!!! graemlins/222.gif graemlins/222.gif graemlins/222.gif graemlins/222.gif

[beast5420]

halfpint,
i'll have to remember that, i grew up se of carthage, but never got up that way a whole lot. my dad helped build the part of the power plant at asbury and he keeps telling me i need to head up there sometime b/c he thinks it would be a good place too......now if i can convince my boss i need to get sent up to that area for work............ :D

beast