I'm an engineer for Econorail in Houston, Texas. One of our contract sites have decided to lease their own locomotive, and have ECRX crews operate it.
The question is this. I've read in numerous internet sources that the GP-16 rebuild program turned old Geep 7's and 9's into 1600 HP locomotives. The blue card ( this is an FRA site ) shows that this locomotive has 1800 HP. Is the bluecard wrong, or do you think this locomotive had another engine upgrade?
I'd also like to note that the locomotive has had its outside brake rigging removed, leaving it with only 8 brakeshoes instead of the normal 16. Obviously, the braking effort isn't quite the same. ( It sucks, actually )
For a history lesson on this locomotive ( taken from Don's Rail photos ) http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr1282.htm
4720, GP7u, was built in September 1950, #11920, as Atlantic Coast Line 129, a GP7. It became SCL 717 in July 1967 and was rebuilt as 4720 in May 1980. It became SBD 4720 and was renumbered 1766. It became CSXT 1766, Class GP-16, and was retired January 13, 1993. It was sold to Pioneer as Decatur Terminal RR 1766 and later became Decatur Junction RR 1610. It then became Rochelle RR 1610 and later became part of the Pioneer leasing fleet.
TxBritt
The question is this. I've read in numerous internet sources that the GP-16 rebuild program turned old Geep 7's and 9's into 1600 HP locomotives. The blue card ( this is an FRA site ) shows that this locomotive has 1800 HP. Is the bluecard wrong, or do you think this locomotive had another engine upgrade?
I'd also like to note that the locomotive has had its outside brake rigging removed, leaving it with only 8 brakeshoes instead of the normal 16. Obviously, the braking effort isn't quite the same. ( It sucks, actually )
For a history lesson on this locomotive ( taken from Don's Rail photos ) http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr1282.htm
4720, GP7u, was built in September 1950, #11920, as Atlantic Coast Line 129, a GP7. It became SCL 717 in July 1967 and was rebuilt as 4720 in May 1980. It became SBD 4720 and was renumbered 1766. It became CSXT 1766, Class GP-16, and was retired January 13, 1993. It was sold to Pioneer as Decatur Terminal RR 1766 and later became Decatur Junction RR 1610. It then became Rochelle RR 1610 and later became part of the Pioneer leasing fleet.
TxBritt
