EMD SD90MAC

EMD SD90MAC

UP 8540, an SD90MAC Phase II
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Electro-Motive Diesels (EMD)
Specifications
AAR wheel arr. C-C
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Wheel diameter 42 in (1,067 mm)
Length 80 ft 2 in (24.43 m)
Loco weight 415,000 lb (188,000 kg)
Fuel capacity 5,000 US gal (19,000 l; 4,200 imp gal)
Sandbox cap 40 cu ft (1.1 m3)
Prime mover EMD 16-710 G3B or EMD 16-265H
RPM range 225-1000 rpm
Engine type V16 diesel
Traction motors 6 Siemens 1TB2830 AC motors
Cylinders 16
Cylinder size 10.45 in × 11.80 in (265 mm × 300 mm)
Performance figures
Power output 4,300 hp (3,210 kW) or 6,000 hp (4,470 kW)
Tractive effort small engine: 185,000 lbf (822.92 kN) starting, 147,000 lbf (653.89 kN) continuous
large engine: 200,000 lbf (889.64 kN) starting, 165,000 lbf (733.96 kN) continuous

The EMD SD90MAC is a 6,000 hp (4,470 kW)[1] C-C diesel-electric hood unit locomotive produced by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. It is, with the SD80MAC, one of the largest single-engined locomotives produced by that company, surpassed only by the dual-engined DD series.

The SD90MACs feature radial steering trucks with AC traction motors and an isolated safety cab which is mounted on shock absorbers to lessen vibrations in the cab. The SD90MAC, like the SD80MAC, SD70ACe, and SD70M-2, has a wide radiator section, nearly the entire width of the locomotive, which along with their size makes them easy to spot.

History

CP Rail SD9043MAC locomotive in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

The SD90AC was introduced in 1995, along with the SD80MAC locomotives. The SD90MAC was designed to utilize the new 16-cylinder H-engine, while the SD80MAC was designed to use the 20-cylinder version of the existing 710G engine. However, technical problems with the 6,000 horsepower (4,500 kW) engine resulted in the first locomotives being shipped with 4,300 hp (3,210 kW) 16-cylinder 710G engines, making them similar to the SD70MACs. These locomotives were given the informal model designation SD9043MAC by railroads that purchased them with the option to re-engine them with 6,000 hp (4,470 kW) engines when they became available.[2] This upgrade program, however, was never taken advantage of by SD90MAC buyers due to reliability issues with the newer engine. Over 400 SD90MAC locomotives fitted with the 4,300 hp (3,210 kW) 710 engine were built.

In 1996, EMD entered full production on their 6,000 hp (4,470 kW), 16-cylinder H-engine, and all SD90MACs made from then on used that for its prime mover. Locomotives fitted with this engine are sometimes referred to as SD90MAC-H locomotives. Later versions of the SD90MAC-H feature a Phase II cab, with a new nose which offers higher visibility from the cab than the old nose. The SD90MAC-H did not prove popular with railroads and less than 70 were built, including EMD demonstrator units. Since the SD90MAC-H had such a large prime mover, it didn't offer the same operational flexibility as smaller units, limiting its possible customer base to only the largest railroads. Also, since the H-engine was a new design it hadn't reached the same level of reliability as EMD's previous engine. The low reliability on such a large engine was an especially bad combination since the loss of one engine in a train meant the loss of a larger percentage of pulling power than had a smaller engine failed. In the end the SD90MAC-H was only delivered to two railroads, the Union Pacific Railroad and the Canadian Pacific Railway.[2] The Canadian Pacific locomotives were part of an earlier order for 710-engine equipped SD90MAC locomotives that was still in production when EMD switched over to the H-engine.

EMD also tried offering a lower-power version of the SD90MAC with a 12-cylinder engine called the SD89MAC, but none were produced other than the prototype.

Specifications

Prime mover (EMD 710):

Prime mover (EMD 265):

Traction motors:

Performance (parenthesis indicate H-Engine equipped specifications):

Fleet rosters

Canadian Pacific

CEFX

EMLX

Indiana Rail Road

Norfolk Southern

Union Pacific:

Fortescue Metals Group

Current status

As of January 2005, the SD90MAC is no longer in production due to the Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 2 locomotive emission regulations, although EMD may be able to get the H-engine approved at some later date. However, the People's Republic of China recently announced an order for 300 JT56ACe locomotives, which also use the H-Engine as its prime mover. A portion of the locomotives will be assembled in kit form by China's own Dalian Locomotive Works. These units were reportedly capable of meeting the EPA's strict regulations and began delivery in the latter half of 2007.

Update

On August 1, 2008 Union Pacific Railroad announced that it would be retiring 21 of the SD90MAC locomotives. According to sources common parts will be used to maintain the railroad's 710-engined SD90MAC fleet. The 265H prime mover will be cut up or exported. The only part that is non-reusable will be the frame. These units, in the 8900 series will be removed from storage in Denver, and be sent to East St. Louis, Ill., in small batches to be dismantled.

CPR SD90MAC-H locomotives 9300-9303 (listed as SD90MAC6000s) were up for tendered sale in 2009. The bidding ended March 31, 2010. While they were originally thought to be shipped overseas, they were eventually moved to Quebec for scrapping.

CPR SD90MAC 58 locomotives remaining in the 9100-9160 series (9129, 9133 & 9138 scrapped Nov. 2012) had been put up for sale as of November 2012 and again in Jan. 2013 with no offers being made.

In September 2014, Norfolk Southern purchased 100 4300hp SD9043MACs from Union Pacific with the intent to rebuilt them into SD70ACu's at the Juniata Shops. The last 4 SD90-MACS were taken delivery to Norfolk Southern on October 3, 2015.

Rebuilds

In 2015 Cummins rebuilt a single SD90AC with its QSK95 engine, designed to meet Tier 4 emissions standards. Sygnet Rail Technologies and Brookville Equipment Corporation performed the conversion. The rebuild was designated HTL4200AC. The locomotive, numbered CECX No. 1919, had been Union Pacific No. 8559.[5]

See also

References

http://www.altoonaworks.info/

  1. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20011210220002/http://www.gmemd.com/en/locomotive/na_freight/sd90mac/index.htm
  2. 1 2 Johnston, Howard (2005). Jane's Train Recognition Guide. London: Collins. pp. 440–441. ISBN 0-06-081895-6.
  3. ↑ http://www.sze.hu/~szenasy/VILLVONT/Diesel-Electric_Loco_SD90MAC_EN.pdf
  4. 1 2 Clark, Peter (2012). An Australian Locomotive Guide. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 220. ISBN 9781921719554.
  5. ↑ "Cummins Tier 4 freight locomotive headed to Indiana for testing". Trains. November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015. (subscription required)
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