Has anyone else heard of this? I heard from another source that CSX is rebuilding a block of SD50's into SD50-2's that are derated to 3000 hp and will be used on MOW trains. Harold
Why would they do that when they are already in the dash 2 version of electronics? They are using the older SD-40's and SD-40-2's, older GP's as well as older 4 axle GE's around the south. Where using one of my favorites untill retired from the roster, the C-30's. From time to time you may see a ballast train or rail train with some modern wide body GE's or EMD's. But it would not surprise me for them to do something stupid like this.
I am not sure of their intent,... I just learned that they were being rebuilt into tha SD50-2 series and renumbered into the 2475+ series. (That is above the SD38's) Harold
I'm sure the Dash 2 designation isn't literal. Merely a standardized indication. Similar to the home grown -3. Having said that, perhaps it's an electronics upgrade. My understanding what that EMD had fixed most of the issues that made the 50s unreliable, but I would assume the derating is to make it fool proof. Or maybe it's a fuel effiency issue. I'd assume that an SD50 derated to 3000 uses less gas then an SD40-2. In either case, I'm more excited that these maligned work horses are seeing further service. I also can't help but notice how quickly their GE contemporaries disappeared. Of course, I bet it's a lot easier to maintain the occasional oddball like the 50s when so many of the parts are interchangable with the rest of the EMD product line.
Per CSX information, the SD50s are being derated to 3000 HP for fuel consumption purposes. There has been nothing said about renumberings, only that they will be labeled as SD50-2 when the modification has been made.
OK, I stand semi-corrected. I had the CSXT 2492 in my consist yesterday, and it is the ex-8669. I doubt CSX is going to create a huge new number series for all these modified units and just vacate the 8500-8600 series. Forgive my skepticism but we railroaders are a "believe it when we see it" type.
CSX SD50-2 2480 Hello all. I caught this beauty in Asheville, NC on Sunday, July the 30th. It is an SD50-2. It was pulling a CSX ballast train, on NS tracks. I have NEVER seen a CSX train in Asheville. The SD50-2's will be used in MOW service. They have been derated to 3000 horses. For more info, go to http://www.on-track-on-line.com/csx-news.shtml#01 . I caught 2480, which is ex-CSX/CR 8649. It is not even listed on any websites I've seen. I've contacted Dean Heacock about this, and am waiting to hear from him. His website shows nothing about SD50-2's, however it hasn't been updated since late Feb. Thanks, Matt
I am thinking that they are approaching 20 years??? From wat I have heard, the rebuilding or re-rating is more for fuel economy than anything else... Harold
They've gotta be pushing 25 years I think. I would have to assume it's a fuel econ thing. Everything I've read has said that the design flaws are pretty well known and easy to fix. It probably makes them easier to integrate in the fleet.
How do I identify an SD50-2? I'll try to look for them down here on the Coast, in NO&M territory. Is the 2475+ series numbering accurate? Help me, for I am NOT a diesel expert...!!!
