Progress Rail/Caterpillar PR43C mystery? 3005hp for UP?

[D.Carleton]

As per RailwayAge.com, Norfolk Southern is ordering four more PR43C's from Progress Rail. The story confirms the prime-movers are a Caterpillar C-175 rated at 3,600 horsepower and a Caterpillar C-18 rated at 700 horsepower. No word on what the cores will be. Also, no mention of EMD.

[GWoodle]

Progress Rail has a facility near Mayfield KY. They seem to have a set of SD50 from the EMD lease fleet. They could be used as donors to make PR43C. I have also seen some PR30C on UP rebuilt from SD-40. Try a search on Youtube.

[Mr.S]

I thought the PR30C 's were rebuilt from u.p.rr SD60's that had been retired?

[v8interceptor]

IIRC, the PR30C's started life as SD40-2s. The SD60s you mention are being rebuilt as SD32ECOs with EMD 12-710 engines...

[MEC407]

The latest incarnation(s) of the PR43C have several exterior changes, including a completely new cab design. Photos by Max Linder:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2337657

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2337656

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2337654

[Steve F45]

Is the red tank a fire suppression tank?

[Mr.S]

As for the red tank on these loco's I will assume that until I hear otherwise,or confirmed..

[v8interceptor]

The latest incarnation(s) of the PR43C have several exterior changes, including a completely new cab design. ...

Interesting, that cab looks similar to the one being applied to the SD60 rebuilds NS is doing at Juniata. Could be from the same supplier...

[MEC407]

I think this cab is marginally better looking than the one NS is using. For one thing it doesn't have a sloped roof or that weird overhang over the windshield. Those two things make all the difference!

Here are some photos of the latest PR43C to be painted, including a photo of the builder's sticker -- which, interestingly, specifies 4000 HP rather than 4300:

http://mlinder81.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... id=2745158

http://mlinder81.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... id=2745159

http://mlinder81.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... id=2745160

[v8interceptor]

It is my understanding that the HP ratings for the PR43C(3600HP for the main engine,700HP for the smaller one) are Gross ratings. So for traction purposes 4,000HP seems about right..

[MEC407]

Shouldn't they call it a PR40C if that's the case? All their other model names thus far have referred to traction horsepower.

[MEC407]

Unless anyone can tell me otherwise, it sure looks like the PR43C program was a failure. The demo unit #4000 is now up for sale. Price: "make an offer."

http://www.sterlingrail.com/classifieds ... p?id=16401" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mtuandrew]

Seems like Progress Rail has finally declared a winner in its T-IV freight locomotive horse race: the 12-1010.