After spending a few months at the Transportation Technology Center east of Pueblo, EMD's SD70ACe-T4s are ready for some more testing. A UP crew has the consist on the roll at Leyden. The train is headed for Tabernash and will begin testing the next day.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
An SD70ACe leads the next generation of EMD power on the main at Leyden. While it took some time to grow on me, I've come to like the look of the newer EMD power.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Roster shot of the EMD's Tier-4 solution. The SD70ACe-T4! Hopefully testing will be complete soon and production on the unit will be able to start. EMD hasn't been able to sell a new unit in the US in nearly 18 months due to emissions regulations that took effect January 1, 2015.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
When EMD has a new unit that it is testing out, it needs to gather and analyze a lot of data. That's what this car is for! There are a lot of sensors hooked up to the new SD70ACe-T4s and all that data goes to computers in this car. In addition, this provides some living quarters for EMD engineers during long testing stints.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
As a special move heads west on the main at Leyden, a severe thunderstorm rolls into the Arvada area from the west. The storm will bring a lot of rain as well as marble-to-nickel sized hail. This shot looks roughly southwest toward Golden. Just above the first SD70ACe-T4, you can see Ralston Valley High School.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
UP 8739 leads the SDVTNT-24 (Special, Denver to Tabernash) through Barbara's Gulch. The consist will tie down overnight on the wye at Tabernash. The crew will stay at a local hotel and be on duty at 0700 the next morning for testing.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
Afternoon thunderstorms offer some interesting lighting and dramatic clouds as an EMD special heads west through Barbara's Gulch toward Rocky. Maintenance is in the process of clearing up between Rocky and Eisele, so the train will have an approach (yellow) signal at the east end of Rocky.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
You can see some rain and even hail coming down as one of EMD's SD70ACe-T4 prototypes heads west through Barbara's Gulch on a special test train headed for Tabernash.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
In order to test the loading and emissions for the SD70ACe-T4, EMD needs it to throttle up. Without an actual train to pull, the best way to do that is to take a couple of other units and put them in full dynamics while climbing a grade. Simulates pulling a train. Interestingly, a GE ET44AC (GE's own Tier-4 compliant unit) will be helping in this test.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
One of the 518 SD70ACes that UP purchased over about a ten year period is in full dynamics as it heads west (upgrade) in Barbara's Gulch. It is in full dynamics because EMD is testing brand new SD70ACe-T4s and, by putting the other units in the consist in full dynamics, it generates drag that helps simulate a train.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
A fairly wet Spring has resulted in the plants in the Denver area greening up quite nicely. A special consist of six units and a passenger car head west (away from the photographer) on their journey toward Tabernash on the west slope. A couple days testing will ensue for the two new SD70ACe-T4s in the consist.
Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster
or add a comment to the picture.
