EMD SD70 series

Infobox Locomotive
name=EMD SD70 series
powertype=Diesel-electric

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caption=EMD SD70M #7004 Lease unit, shortly before being sold to CSX Transportation.
builder=General Motors Electro-Motive Division, now Electro-Motive Diesels (EMD)
builddate=1992 – current|transmission=AC alternator, AC traction motors (SD70MAC/SD70ACe), DC traction motors (SD70/SD70I/SD70M/SD70M-2)
totalproduction=over 3,000
aarwheels=C-C (UIC: Co'Co' )
gauge=RailGauge|ussg for the North American market; 1600 mm (5 ft 2 in) for Brazil
cylindercount=16
primemover=EMD 16-710-G3
totalproduction=120(SD70), 1,646(SD70M), 26(SD70I), 1,124(SD70MAC), 185(SD70ACe), 130(SD70M-2) - Over 3,000 Total
railroad=See Article
disposition= Most still in service as of 2008
roadnumber=See Article
builder=General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
buildmodel=SD70, SD70M, SD70I, SD70MAC, SD70M-2, SD70ACe
The EMD SD70 is a series of diesel-electric locomotives produced by the Electro-Motive Diesel beginning in 1992. Over 4000 locomotives in this series were produced, mostly of the SD70M and SD70MAC models. All locomotives of this series are hood units with C-C trucks. All SD70 models up to the SD70ACe and SD70M-2 have the HTCR Radial truck, rather than the HT-C truck; the self-steering radial truck was designed to allow the axles to steer in curves, reducing wear on the wheels and railhead. With the introduction of the SD70ACe and SD70M-2, in an effort to reduce cost EMD introduced a new bolsterless non-radial HTSC truck as the standard truck for these models. The radial truck, now the HTCR-4, is still an option.

Models

GM-EMD has produced several different models in the SD70 series for different customer requirements.

D70

Foregoing the larger new "comfort cab" for the smaller standard or "spartan cab" common on older locomotives. This model also has DC traction motors, which simplifies the electrical system by cutting out the need for computer-controlled inverters. 120 examples of this model locomotive were produced, for Norfolk Southern, Conrail, Illinois Central and Southern Peru Copper. (Conrail was partly absorbed by Norfolk Southern in 1999, and all 24 of Conrail's SD70 engines went to NS. These SD70s were ordered to NS specifications, as NS and CSXT modified CRs SD80MAC order for SD70s for NS and SD70MACs for CSX)

Production of the standard cab at London ended in 1994. The 24 CR SD70s were assembled from kits at Juniata, and the IC and SPC SD70s were assembled from kits at Super Steel Schenectady. Nearly all SD70s are still in service with Norfolk Southern and Canadian National, which merged with the Illinois Central in 1999.

Numbers: NS 2501-2556 [The Diesel Shop, http://www.thedieselshop.us/, All Rosters Unless Otherwise Noted] , 2557-2580 (Ex-Conrail), IC 1000-1039 (IC 1006, 1013, 1014, 1023 wrecked & retired).

D70M

The SD70M has a wide nose and a large "comfort cab" (officially known as the "North American Safety Cab"), allowing more crew members to ride comfortably inside of the locomotive than the older standard cab designs. There are two versions of this cab on SD70M's, the Phase I, which was introduced on the SD60M, and is home on the SD80MAC & SD90MAC's and the Phase II, which made a return to a more boxy design a la the original 3 window SD60M cabs. Though the Phase II cab has a two piece window matching the Phase I cab windows, the lines of the nose are boxy, with a taller square midsection for more headroom. The SD70ACe/SD70M-2 line has what is considered the Phase II cab, but it is actually more so a Phase III cab, as the windows went from the teardrop design to a rectangular window. Like the SD70, the SD70M also uses DC traction motors. Starting in mid-2000, the SD70M was produced with SD45-style flared radiators allowing for the larger radiator cores needed for split-cooling (split-cooling is a feature that separates the coolant circuit for the prime mover and the circuit for the air pumps and turbocharger). There are two versions of this radiator, the older version with two (2) large radiator panels per side, and the newer style with four (4) square panels per side. This was due to the enactment of the EPA's Tier I environmental regulations. Production of the SD70M was replaced by the SD70M-2 in late 2004, as the EPA's Tier II regulations went into effect on January 1, 2005. 1,646 examples of this model locomotive were produced. SD70M models were produced with 4000 horsepower (2,980 kW) EMD Model 710 prime movers. Purchasers included the Union Pacific, Southern Pacific (now UP), CSX and Norfolk Southern.

.]

Numbers: UP 2001-2002, 3778-5231 (4687 Withdrawn), EMD 7000-7024 to CSXT 4675-4699, NS 2581-2648

D70I

The SD70I is a version of the SD70M which has been fitted with a cab that is isolated from the frame of the locomotive with rubber gaskets (officially known as a "WhisperCab"). The isolation reduces noise and vibration from the prime mover. A seam is visible across the nose and on the long hood where the cab connects with the body. 26 examples of this model locomotive were produced, all for Canadian National. The WhisperCab feature was incorporated into some SD70MAC and later models.

Numbers: CN 5600-5625

D70MAC

The SD70MAC (colloquially known as a "Mac" or a "Mac 70") is very similar to the SD70M and SD70I (the SD70I's WhisperCab feature was a build-to-order option), the main difference being that the SD70MAC uses AC traction motors. AC motors, while simpler and more reliable than DC motors, require substantially more expensive inverters to generate a variable-frequency AC signal. The majority of SD70MAC models were produced with 4000 horsepower (2,980 kW) EMD Model 710 prime movers, while later-production SD70MACs are rated at 4300 horsepower (3,210 kW) and feature SD45-style flared radiators. They were also offered with a head-end power generation system for passenger trains. (The SD70MAC is no longer produced due to EPA regulations and has been replaced by the SD70ACe.) Over 1500 examples of this locomotive model were produced. Purchasers include Burlington Northern (now BNSF Railway), Conrail (engines now owned by CSX Transportation), CSX, TFM/Kansas City Southern Railway and the Alaska Railroad.

Numbers: ARR 4001-4016, 4317-4324, BNSF 8800-8989 (8876 Withdrawn), 9400-9499 (Ex BN), 9504-9999, CSXT 4500-4574, 4575-4589 (Ex Conrail), 4701-4830, TFM 1600-1674 [ KCS Historical Society, http://www.kcshs.org/, TFM Roster]

D70ACe

The SD70ACe is similar to the SD70MAC; however, it has been updated to meet the latest EPA regulations for road locomotives. Several other changes were included as well. The radiator on the locomotive is nearly as wide as the cab, and looks similar to the radiator on the SD80 and SD90 series of locomotives. The nose has been modified, producing a much more angular nose than previous models. The cables and brake lines have been routed beneath the walkways, allowing for easy access by maintenance workers. SD70ACe models are rated at 4,300 horsepower. As of 2005, 185 examples of this model locomotive have been produced. Purchasers include BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Ferromex, Kansas City Southern Railway, Montana RailLink, CVG Ferrominera Orinoco and Union Pacific Railroad.

This locomotive model is also being produced for export. In 2004, BHP Billiton of Australia ordered 14 SD70ACe/lc locomotives for use in iron ore hauling; the "lc" in the model designation stands for "low clearance" as these locomotives are designed to negotiate the tight clearances under the mine equipment. BHP has also ordered an additional 10 SD70ACe/lcs, these will have a newly designed isolated cab. [Electro-Motive Diesels, " [http://www.emdiesels.com/en/locomotive/international/sd70ace/index.htm SD70ACe/lc for BHP] ". Retrieved December 1 2005.] [cite journal| author=| year=2006| month=January| title=ACes for Australia| journal=Trains Magazine| volume=66| issue=1| pages=12| id=| url=| ] On 29 August 2007, EDI Rail announced that BHP Billiton has placed an additional order for 13 SD70ACe/lcs locomotives, due for delivery in early 2009. [cite press release| url=http://www.edirail.com.au/Default.aspx?aCateId=1651| title=Downer EDI secures Locomotive Orders for the Resources Sector| publisher=Downer EDi| date=2007-08-29| accessdate=2008-07-08| ]

Six unique UP "Heritage" paint schemes on SD70ACe locos (such as 1989 and 1995) came to life in Horicon, Wisconsin. In October 2005, UP 4141 was renumbered from UP 8423, and was re-painted in a Air Force One style white/blue and silver paint scheme commemorating the nation's 41st President, George H. W. Bush.

Numbers: BNSF 9130-9329 (delivery underway) 9330-9399, CSXT 4831-4850, FXE 4000-4019, KCS 3997-3999 (ex EMD demonstrators), 4000-4029, 4030-4059, 4060-4129, MRL 4300-4315, UP 1982, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1995, 1995 (Heritage Fleet), 4141 (Bush unit), 8309-8423, 8424-8523, 8524-8623 (Actually 8521-8620 because 8521-8523 carried their nos for the 3rd time)

D70M-2

The SD70M-2 is a DC traction version of the SD70ACe, and the two models are nearly identical in every other respect. SD70M-2 models are rated at 4,300 horsepower each. As of 2007, 180 examples of this model locomotive have been produced. Examples are owned by Norfolk Southern, CIT Financial, Canadian National and four units for the Florida East Coast Railway.

Road Numbers: CITX 140-142, CN 8000-8024 and 8800-8849, FEC 100-103, NS 2649-2778,

Original Buyers

References