After completing some testing up between Tabernash and East Portal, EMD's Tier-4 prototypes are returning to Denver. They are DIC (Dead In Consist) here, just rolling along with the UP units for journey east.
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There was a train following UP's Engineering Special and I had no idea what it was going to be. I was certainly surprised when I saw it was EMD's SD70ACe-T4 test train! When the train was up at Tabernash in March, it stayed for four days. Apparently a day and a half was all they needed this time around.
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The first test run of the day has just about been completed for EMD's SD70ACe-T4s. The consist will pull down and on to the main at Winter Park where the crew will grab a bite to eat and prepare to go east. Then, they will take the train back through the tunnel and over to East Portal.
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EMD's testing special emerges from the west portal of the Moffat Tunnel into Winter Park. The signal on the left side of the frame is a repeater for the signal at the east switch of Winter Park. This repeater allows crews to see the condition of the east switch well in advance when still in the tunnel.
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Even though there is no apparent exhaust, both these EMD prototypes are in Run 8 and pulling hard. From the outside, it looks like the Tier-4 emissions are working out for EMD. Upon reaching East Portal, the consist will wait for the tunnel to vent, and then make a return trip back west to Winter Park.
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Just east of the east switch of Fraser finds EMD's testing special on the roll, slowly, up the grade. All the UP units in this shot are in full dynamics while the two EMD prototypes are in Run 8. The purpose of the testing is to check the units performance at high altitude, to see how much exhaust is produced when fully loaded and pulling, and test their performance at low speeds. The consist here is only making 12 MPH.
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Exhaust from the one unit that isn't at least Tier-3 compliant (the GE AC4400CW) drifts a bit through the frame as the two SD70ACe-T4 prototypes head east for testing. Random fact of the day: If Baseline Road in Boulder were to continue west of Boulder in a straight line over the Continental Divide, it would cut through this picture. It was go over the closest hill in the distance and cross the tracks back and to the left.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Chasing the new SD70ACe-T4 east from the Moffat Tunnel down to Rocky was a lot of fun. Enjoyed seeing the next generation of EMD power. Here, the Tier 4 compliant units head east out of Rocky after multiple days of high altitude and tunnel testing. Next, the units are set to return to the Transportation Technology Center east of Pueblo.
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Two SD70ACe-T4s, an EMD test car, and a trio of UP units round Big Ten Loop on the descent toward Rocky. Rumor has it that, after a month or so of tests, the SD70ACe-T4 will return to the Moffat to run in revenue service!
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The EMD special turned the heads of several railfans. Not the least of which was my 10 year old daughter (using an iPad to grab an image here). One of the crew rode back in EMDX 1503 and gave a friendly wave to those gathered.
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EMD has said that they listened to their customers and incorporated more than 80 design changes in the SD70ACe-T4. Among other things, EMD added an extra step for safety, an emergency exit behind the conductor's seat, an angled windshield, and the re-introduction of the tear drop windshield for better visibility. Here, the prototypes are approaching the Blue Mountain crossing.
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