#BNSF SD70ACe

[collinthenychudson]

Day 17: EMD SD70ACe

Info from Wikipedia:

The SD70ACe is the successor to the SD70MAC with design changes to comply with emission standards. The engine fires with 15% lower internal pressure to improve emissions and features fewer internal components in the inverter. SD70ACe is equipped with EMD's 16-710-G3C-T2 prime mover, rated at 4,300 horsepower (3,200 kW); later Tier 3 models are rated at 4,500 horsepower (3,400 kW), and have a thermal efficiency of almost 36%. They are rated at 157,000 lbf (700 kN) continuous tractive effort (191,000 lbf (850 kN) starting). Braking effort is rated at 106,000 lbf (470 kN). Early Models featured a bad cab design which was noticed first on CSX as crews reported annoying disturbances such as prime mover noises, traction motors and more. The cab also rattle and many railroads received this defective units like, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, BNSF Railway and Kansas City Southern. These were called "Thundercabs" because of their sound. They are more common on Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific. To tell them apart, Thundercabs have their headlights on top and sideways instead of on the nose. These units are also not approved for leading trains. on BNSF, It is very rare to see these leading. On Union Pacific it is a common occurrence on intermodal trains to Chicago. In 2012, EMD also built four models known as the SD70ACe-P6. These units, unlike previous SD70ACe's, have one inverter per axle on the trucks, rather than EMD's traditional one inverter per truck design. Four of those ( EMDX 1206,1208,1209 and 1210) were sold to Canadian National Railway and renumbered to CN 8100-8103.

In 2014, BNSF Railway took delivery of 20 SD70ACe-P4 units, numbered 8500 - 8519. This model was designed with a B1-1B wheel arrangement to compete with GE's ES44C4 model, which has an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. Both wheel arrangements mean that there are only two traction motors per truck instead of three, those being the ones next to the fuel tank. Two SD70ACe-P4 demonstrators began a 5-year lease at Tacoma Rail in late 2014. On January 1, 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 4 locomotive emission regulations went into effect. EMD could not successfully modify the SD70ACe's 2-stroke 710 series prime mover to be Tier 4-compliant; thus, the Tier 3 SD70ACe was succeeded by the SD70ACe-T4 in late 2015. However, US production of the Tier 3-compliant SD70ACe continues with Tier 4 'credit units' (new Tier 3-compliant units EMD is entitled to build based on previously-earned emissions credits). Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are currently the only US roads to own Tier 4 credit unit SD70ACe's. Additionally, EMD has continued building Tier 3 SD70ACe's for Ferromex (4100-4118), Ferrosur (4119-4133), and Kansas City Southern de Mexico (4200-4224) at Bombardier Ciudad Sahagun. These locomotives are restricted to Mexico-only operation and cannot cross the US border (just as Canadian National's newest Tier 3 GE ES44AC's are restricted to Canadian use only).

In March 2016, EMD replaced the standard cast HTCR-4 trucks on NS SD70ACe 1000 with the new fabricated HTCR-6 trucks for testing. UP and BNSF plan to test the new HTCR-6 trucks on some of their SD70ACe units also. Union Pacific received 281 additional SD70ACe units, numbered 8824 - 9104, in 2014, 2016 and 2018. These are referred to as SD70AH (T4C), H for "heavy", because they are ballasted to 428,000 lb (194,138 kg) rather than 420,000 lb (190,509 kg).

In mid-2021, Yakutian Railways received two SD70ACes, designated 2TE3250 (Russian: 2ТЭ3250) and numbered 0001 and 0002. They are currently in use in Yakutia.

models and route by: Sporbust, JointedRail, Auran, and Download Station

[trainmaniac]

Osage orange by Dean Sauvola Via Flickr: A pair of SD70ACes make for a respectable fake on the rear of a coal empty. The true head end can be seen in the distance towards the top of the hill. East of Osage, WY on the BNSF Black Hills Sub. September 9, 2023.

[aryburn-trains]

February 2, 2024 Illinois Zephyr #380 Quincy to Chicago Amtrak The consist includes a BNSF SD70ACe, a SC44, two Siemens coaches and an Amfleet I business class cafe. Once again, the new Siemens chargers need rescued. What's new? The gifs used were made by Jack, Ken and myself. They can be found at the link below. My gifs have my name in the description. http://kenstransitgifs.com/gifindex.html

[guerrerense]

Bozeman turn over Winston por Mike Danneman Por Flickr: With the collapse and reconstruction of MRL’s Yellowstone River Bridge near Reed Point from June 24 to July 22, 2023, and the subsequent severing of a busy main line, MRL and BNSF had to scramble to accommodate and reroute trains during this time. BNSF sent its overhead tonnage to different lines during the closure, but MRL continued to run its locals, as well as operating a series of daily trains over the western portion of the railroad to shuttle cars and serve its on line customers. On Winston Hill during the stormy afternoon of July 6, 2023, the sun pops out and illuminates MRL’s turn, operating from Helena to Bozeman and return, charging past milepost 215 as it heads west to Helena Yard. MRL SD70ACe Nos. 4301 and 4302 were kept busy during the bridge closure—this is the fourth time in the last twenty-four hours that these locomotives have crossed Winston Hill!

[maritimeorca]

From the archives Via Flickr: BNSF Train led by an EMD SD70ACe engine at Chambers Creek Properties

[lennycarl08]

ACE in Charge by lennycarl08 Via Flickr: SD70ACe that is. A rare sight at Collier with an EMD leading this Oakland bound freight over Hwy 4.

[coolfancywitches]

Off to the range by Robby Gragg Via Flickr: BNSF 8472 leads the U-MADALL West through Henderson, IL.

[hadzrienhgmail]

EMD SD70Ace family

[abuserfriendly]

There's an SD70ACe-T4 "vacuum cleaner" at the end of this 4-unit lashup lugging an intermodal train North up the BNSF/UP "I-5 Corridor" in Ridgefield, WA, on a very cold December 29, 2021. Pandemic times have been rough for people who like to travel...at least we can always watch trains.

[zacharymchale-blog]

“EMD Heavy Haulers” the SD70ACe and SD75M together in one shot. 10/5/19 #emd #sd70ace #kcs4049 #kansascitysouthern #sd75m #bnsf266 #bnsf (at Saginaw, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fMV68HzUP/?igshid=1setezfhvtxxm

[collinthenychudson]

Heading North along the Salt Lake Subdivision at Milepost 782.90, Union Pacific SD70ACe No. 8616 and BNSF ES44C4 No. 6640 are seen leading a Northbound manifest into the North Yard with ET44AC No. 2644 (off camera) at the end of the train as a DPU. No. 8616 is one of few SD70ACes to be painted in a "flagless" livery although it used to be painted in the Flag scheme.

Taken on 09/03/2024

Picture C) Me

[trainmaniac]

Tied Down by Don Kalkman Via Flickr: A BNSF SD70ACe and a former Soo Line SD60 awaited a new crew and space in Chicago with an eastbound oil train in 2014. A summer storm was approaching as the pair of EMDs sat waiting for a bath.

[airmanisr]

Reflections by Robby Gragg Via Flickr: BNSF SD70ACe 9036 leads M-CHIGAL West through Cameron, IL.

[guerrerense]

Pair of ACes por Erie Limited Por Flickr: A relatively clean pair of BNSF SD70ACes lead a loaded coal train south through Palmer Lake on the Joint Line (Pikes Peak Sub at this location). While a trio of SD70MACs would have been preferred, a pair of ACes beats a pair of GEVOs any day! BNSF 9257 SD70ACe

[robertpiers]

ES44AC Nos. 1408 and 1345 owned by Citicorp Railmark, and BNSF Railway SD70ACe No. 9301 are pushers for the coal train in Lamar, Missouri, May 15, 2019.

[elena121970]

I hate when people tag locomotives! BNSF 9208 is on K-141 at Blauvelt, NY 12/27/2016