What, no love for the DGNO?

Been a while since I've been on (summertime causing heat failures, turnover in staff, etc) so I've not been able to keep up with things here, but now that I am, I'm surprised no one's mentioned a word on here about the fact DGNO now has 3 new (well newly rebuilt) units on property. Our former SD20's went to NRE and came back as 3GS21C's. So far, reviews are good and the turns are really liking having the massive increase in tractive effort these units provide.

DGNO 2000 (5602-B1) was SD20 DGNO 2000
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2075807

DGNO 2001 (5602-B10) was SD20 DGNO 2001

(no picture uploaded, but it's identical to 2000 and 2002... )

DGNO 2002 (5602-A16) was SD20 MNA 1011
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2081188

 

CAPFlyer,

It could be that nobody else knew about these units. I know I didn't. Post some more photos and info and spread the love!

Adam

 

Well, you're right that there's not been a lot of chatter, but there's been several posts I've seen on other forums about them having arrived and there was definitely a lot of chatter when they left the property late last year.

RailAmerica's good about flying under the radar on these things though. Only reason I knew what was going on was because I happened to see the TCEQ application and asked the CMO - and I work for the railroad.

 

Similarly, there isn't a whole lot that ends up getting posted about Portland and Western here that isn't posted by me or any of about three or four other members, and it's very likely that we're the ones who see PNWR day-to-day and we're the ones who can get the photos and route information more easily, and listen in to radio communications and so on.

 

I have seen a few of these units going through the old Zacha Jct but didn't have my camera with me to get pics. I watch the DGNO switch the CMC metals plant behind my office on occasion but no gensets as yet.

 

Also, think about the fact that Gensets to a Rail America Property isn't the big news it would have been a year or 2 ago. Not with Cal Northern going all genset already.

CORP's purchasing of the GP20Ds is way bigger news, because they:
1: are unique units and
2: Will be wearing the CORP scheme, not the Rail America Scheme.

I think PNWR fails to get the love, because they're so successful at what they do. I mean, They just truck on with their GP39-2s getting the job done and making money at it.

They are for sure an awesome road to railfan, but they don't generate much "news"

 

Well I try to keep everybody up on my territory. Its up to others to help keep us informed of whats goin on in theirs.

BTW, I don't suppose anybody has any shots of the ex Cal Northern GP15s now on the DGNO?

 

I would think the run alone since they load up differently from an EMD.

In fact, the only time I've seen a genset paired with a regular unit was the original 2 engine unit that UP has/had at LA/Long Beach. That was paired with an Ex-SP GP38-2.

 

DGNO runs mixed sets here in Dallas. The last lashup I saw was a genset w/GP38-2 heading toward Garland.

 

The nFORCE system allows for these units to run at least decently with non-GenSet power. I've not heard about how fast the new units load, but originally the 2GS14B's were very slow to load. That makes them good for local and road work (because they REALLY pull), but they weren't good for yard switching. I heard that NRE worked very closely with us and the FWWR to try and solve that problem to some extent, however I'm not sure how succssful it's been other than the crews said it was "better". The one problem we're running into with "mixed sets" is that some of the older power has a tendency to bleed off air much faster than the GenSets which results in the GenSets cycling more than we like to recharge the system. As a result we've started either disconnecting them from the other units (closing the air valve) when the engines are sitting for a while, or shutting them down completely (and pulling the breakers) when they'll be sitting for a while.

The units (for now) will stay in Dallas County and Rockwall County due to the TCEQ requirements (have to stay within the eligible counties for at least 80% of their time or something like that) so don't expect to see them out in Greenville or up in Sherman anytime soon.

Also, you won't see the 140-141 switching much outside of Carrollton because that's their current assigned location, and the 2000-2002 should never be switching (too many sharp curves on our industries for a 6-axle), only road haul.

As for the CFNR units, they're both plodding (and popping occasionally) along doing their jobs. There's been discussion that the CFNR units may be getting ECO rebuilds, but I have my doubts and can't confirm it with anyone.

 

Here is a mixed consist in Garland http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/4/7/1/9471.1276319152.jpg