For the past decade, The US EPA has required that diesel locomotives built meet the (very strict) Tier-4 emissions standards. As a result, Class 1 railroads have largely started rebuilding older locomotives as rebuilds are not subject to the same standards. It is cheaper than buying Tier-4 compliant locomotives, which, even after their initial sticker price, are more expensive (and more complicated) to maintain. However, UP has purchased 107 Tier-4 compliant SD70ACe-T4s. UP 3054, on the point of the MGJNY, is one such unit.
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