NS buys the rest of the SD80MAC's from CSX

The Conrail/CSX SD80MACs thrived on the Popes Creek Branch line in Maryland for a number of years, making our little/big orphaned branch line a fun place to fan.  While denying the future, there some of us who were hoping one day these monsters would return, but alas, it isn't too be.  I have been surprised for some time that NS didn't try to grab these units after CSX sidelined them.

Also denying the future, but I still hope that one day one of these unique Conrail units might find it's way to a museum intact in order to represent Conrail's exploration into the very high horsepower arena.

Bob

If they keep the same lenght this new design would make a heck of a neat model.

If only NS has this engine I doult any company would make it though, it would make a nice project when I retire.(someday when they let me)

I have some nice videos and stills of the NS SD80s coming in and out of South Fork secondary plus on the mainline. Pretty awesome engines.

Good point. How many phases does the alternator have to be rectified?

My thought on this is that the 700HP unit is the basic "move the locomotive around, light loads, and keep the lights on" engine and the 3600HP unit is the "Git 'R Done" move the train unit. Similar to the "Genset" road switchers.

Yes, less emissions and fuel use but more complicated. Always a trade-off.

Interesting................................ Someone forgot to tell the CSX paint shop about the NS buying the SD80MAC's!

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/499700

Regards,

Swafford

Yes, I saw that on the SD80MAC Facebook page this morning. My guess is that CSX is going to try and make them "look good" before they send them off to NS at the end of the lease. 

Also denying the future, but I still hope that one day one of these unique Conrail units might find it's way to a museum intact in order to represent Conrail's exploration into the very high horsepower arena.

NOt to mention that the customer was right on this model! The conrail choice of the V20 use in this monster outshined the EMD H engine and the sd90. any sd90's still running in tact?

Nope. Last I heard Union Pacific (8500-8561) had scrapped their remaining SD90MAC-H in 2009 and Canadian Pacific (9300-9303) scrapped theirs in 2011, there are some still in Australia. The only ones left in America are the SD9043MAC's.