Diesel of the Day 7/26: EMD BL20-2
12Today’s diesel is a rebuilt model, one of only a couple such programs undertaken by Electro-Motive itself: the EMD BL20-2. Only three of these units were completed in 1992, and being unsuccessful in the highly competitive used locomotive market, were eventually integrated into EMD’s leaser fleet and have worked for several smaller railroads in recent years. The BL20-2 is a complete rebuilding and upgrading of a 1950s-era GP9 from the ground up. The original frame, trucks, fuel tank, traction motors, main generator, and engine are retained and rebuilt, and a new cab, long hood, and electrical system are installed. In addition, the original 16-cylinder 567C engine is fitted with power assemblies from the newer 645 engine, the maximum RPM is increased, and a turbocharger is fitted, boosting horsepower from 1,750 to 2,000. The end result is essentially what a modern-day GP9 would be. They are very good diesels, but as mentioned, didn’t do well simply because the market was already saturated with cheaper used locomotives. The photo shows one of the BL20-2s on the Ottawa Valley Railway.
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What is the demand for new locomotives? A rebuilt diesel seems like a great idea, but can’t the parts produced in the '50s be made new cheaper and better?
/image magnesium alloy frame
@eonfifty If I had to guess, not so much when there’s plenty of serviceable ones still available to use.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/jalopnik.com/three-miles-of-unused-locomotives-is-undeniably-hauntin-1823659965/amp
Thanks @narfcake for the Jalopnik link. Worthwhile video.
@eonfifty You might be amazed to learn that older diesels routinely live 50 or more years in continuous service. Old EMDs in particular are very hard to kill, to the point there are hundreds of late 40s-era GP7s and GP9s still running around today.
Most of the market for new locomotives is higher horsepower road units. Most railroads will employ used power for switching work, and the vast majority of smaller railroads subsist entirely on used power.
@narfcake
/image wow
I think the main turn-off was the big “REFURB” sticker on the engineer’s windshield.
@mehcuda67 Hahaha!
I thought EMD rebuilt/repowered SD90MACS because the original engine wasn’t available upon sale?
@BigTaco Much of SD90MAC production was delivered with the older, proven 710 engine, on the basis that these could be swapped out for the more powerful 265H engine once it became available. This of course never really happened, so a good chunk (in fact, 100% operating today!) remain with 710 prime movers. GE had a similar repower program available for their AC6000CW, but fared quite a bit better.