PAR SD40-2s (MEC 600 series and 3400 series)

It seems they wasted no time putting these engines in to service. Starting yesterday( or maybe monday) every west bound mixed freights I see has at least one NS unit. It has also been my very casual observation that the trains seem shorter in the past few days .

Stephen wrote:And one other question, will the paperwork for this need to be submitted to the FRA as with the Helm-HLCX leases? Or since NS is part owner of the PAS are they "leasing these units to themselves"?

The agency you're thinking of is the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Unfortunately I can't answer the question because I don't know what the terms of this arrangement are, but I'll keep an eye on the STB web site and if I see anything interesting I'll post it. (I just searched their site and can't find anything on those particular NS numbers.)

There probably won't be any filings.

Shorter trains aren't necessarily a bad thing, it means they are running every day, 100 cars or 10.

Thanks to all above...
Stephen

NS SD40-2 #3489 found it's way into Portland's Rigby yard this week making for a rare visit from Pan Am Southern, except for a few here and there on a "oil can" extra.
Here's a video of the engine from Chuck. You can fast forward to 3:45 minutes to view.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojnJ_iIWSEE

doublestack wrote:NS SD40-2 #3489 found it's way into Portland's Rigby yard this week...

That would be South Portland's Rigby Yard... unless the City of Portland is attempting to claim it as their own.

(I can almost hear a few particular voices in South Portland City Hall saying "Fine, let 'em have it!" )

Really nice video
That Norfolk Southern engine
Looked really clean

The ones I've seen all look like very recent rebuilds. Any idea if that's the case?

I am pretty sure they all will be. Recently bought from FURX by NS and rebuilt. Funny to see a Class 1 buy engines back from a leasing company.

newpylong wrote:Funny to see a Class 1 buy engines back from a leasing company.

I would say that's a pretty sure sign of an improving economy if I've ever heard of one. Lots of "Help Wanted" signs around here, way more than anything I've seen in 4-5 years.

Is NS actually rebuilding the ex-FURX units or just giving them a tune-up and makeover? If they were putting them through a full rebuild I would assume that they'd get new Admiral cabs, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

MEC407 wrote:Is NS actually rebuilding the ex-FURX units or just giving them a tune-up and makeover? If they were putting them through a full rebuild I would assume that they'd get new Admiral cabs, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

So, at least according to http://www.altoonaworks.info and http://www.rrpicturearchives.net, no they were not rebuilt.

One interesting note, they are all BN heritage locomotives. So, these units and the current HLCX units all share that history.

As for what's showed up here in comments here and pictures on NERAIL, the current list appears to be NS 3468, 3470, 3474, 3476, 3482, and 3489.
Are all of these currently assigned to PAS? Or were some just run through power?
Does anyone know the other 4 units headed to PAS from NS?

Thanks,
Stephen

MEC407 wrote:Is NS actually rebuilding the ex-FURX units or just giving them a tune-up and makeover? If they were putting them through a full rebuild I would assume that they'd get new Admiral cabs, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

According to this list 70 units will be re-built with the new admiral cab. http://www.altoonaworks.info/rebuilds/ns_sd40-2a.html

doublestack wrote:According to this list 70 units will be re-built with the new admiral cab. http://www.altoonaworks.info/rebuilds/ns_sd40-2a.html

I don't think (for now) this includes the group of ex FURX nee BN units.
I believe the 32XX-33XX are ex SOU high nose units and the 60XX and 61XX units are for N&W units.

That is not to say that NS won't rebuild them (they certainly keep Altoona busy) just saying that it doesn't appear that these units are in the program at this point.

Stephen

So, NS 3491 was in East Deerfield recently, does anyone know if its one of the NS to PAS lease units?

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3455469

Thanks,
Stephen