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Re: ET44C4 Failure Stories? Not all HPT is equal....
Author: ex-BN
Date: 12-23-2016 - 07:54
The retrofit of the older units reflects that these locomotives are not set up for current DP technology. I don't see the newer DC 44's getting converted.
I do think they could add the 2 motors back to the newer C4s though. I can't imagine they didn't plan for that initially. Whether this ever happens depends on if they can keep the damn thinks off the heavy and mountain grades. And its not just heavy trains that have problems. I stalled on an intermodal in heavy snow that should have easily made the grade with 6 motor units. Had 3 C4s and plenty of HP.
Reminds me of the cabless units these have proved to be more trouble than they were worth in initial cost savings. I recently helped a crew go through 5 units on a train looking for a capable leader. They ended up turning the 6th unit as the only one of 6 that was lead qualified. When we ran cabless units we often had no recourse when the leader went bad.
I do think they could add the 2 motors back to the newer C4s though. I can't imagine they didn't plan for that initially. Whether this ever happens depends on if they can keep the damn thinks off the heavy and mountain grades. And its not just heavy trains that have problems. I stalled on an intermodal in heavy snow that should have easily made the grade with 6 motor units. Had 3 C4s and plenty of HP.
Reminds me of the cabless units these have proved to be more trouble than they were worth in initial cost savings. I recently helped a crew go through 5 units on a train looking for a capable leader. They ended up turning the 6th unit as the only one of 6 that was lead qualified. When we ran cabless units we often had no recourse when the leader went bad.
