UP unveils six-axle Genset

[friscobob]

From the Trains Railwire, dated March 28:


NORTHLAKE, Ill. - Union Pacific unveiled the first of four Railpower Technologies RP20SD Genset locomotives at its Proviso Yard near Chicago today. The 2,000-hp, six-axle unit will serve as hump power at UP's Roseville, Calif., yard, near Sacramento.

When the four locomotives are delivered, UP will employ them in pairs at the Roseville hump. They'll be remotely controlled from the ground through their Cattron remote control systems.

Gensets use multiple self-contained diesel engines attached to generators to produce electricity for their traction motors, and each turns on and off automatically as it's needed. Because yard service locomotives often sit idling, or need only a small amount of power because they frequently move only a few cars at a time, this design allows for significant fuel savings.

Several companies build Genset locomotives, but most ride on four axles. RP20SDs like UPY 896, the unit on display at Proviso today, ride on six axles, which produces additional adhesion, important when pushing long strings of cars over a hump.

The unit began life as Missouri Pacific SD40-2 No. 3298. It contains three generator sets and has space for a fourth. If it's so equipped, the unit is capable of producing 2,700 hp. It weighs 398,000 pounds and carries a 4,000-gallon impact-resistant fuel tank. It was built on contract for Railpower by Canadian Allied Diesel in Montreal. No. 896 will conduct testing and breaking-in at the Proviso hump for the next two weeks before heading to Roseville

[HemiAdda2d]

Impact-resistant fuel tank? Plastic fuel tanks on locos? Just like our models!

[CHARGER]

a "new" six axle yard goat, interesting, did not see that one coming,


more info and where the pic above came from here.
Union Pacific RP20CD UPY 896

[Triplex]

That page says they were announced back in September, but I didn't hear of it. I had been assuming for a couple years we'd see these; they were the logical next step.

[YoHo]

Well PHL has It's 6 Axle gensets and has had them for a couple months now. Though they have traditional EMD cabs. They're in a Santa Fe Zebra Stripe Scheme. So 6Axle Gensets have actually been in the news for a bit now.

[BoxcabE50]

Interesting the way those front cab windows appear to be painted.

Boxcab E50

[John Barnhill]

I can't wait to see these! Roseville is right in my backyard.

[subwayaz]

That's one Sweet looking Loco UP has there. I was wondering when Railroads were going to go in the Green direction.

[Triplex]

Well PHL has It's 6 Axle gensets and has had them for a couple months now. Though they have traditional EMD cabs. They're in a Santa Fe Zebra Stripe Scheme. So 6Axle Gensets have actually been in the news for a bit now.

Are those the rebuilt SD45s? I didn't realize they were gensets...

[EspeeGary]

To me it looks kind of like a large version on a SW1500.