Power type Diesel-electric AAR wheel arr. C-C | Model SD80MAC, SD80ACe | |
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Builder General Motors Electro-Motive Division(EMD) Build date 1995–1996 (SD80MAC), 2011– (SD80ACe) Total produced 30 (SD80MAC) + 7 (SD80ACe) | ||
The SD80MAC is a 5,000 horsepower (3.7 MW) C-C diesel-electric locomotive. The model uses a 20-cylinder version of EMD's 710G prime mover, and is the first diesel locomotive to use a 20-cylinder engine since EMD's SD45 and SD45-2. It introduced a wide radiator housing similar to GE Transportation locomotives and the placement of dynamic brakes at the rear of the locomotive, which is a quieter location, features that were incorporated into the SD90MAC and SD70ACe models. Key spotting difference between the SD80MAC and SD90MAC include no external rear sandbox on the SD90MAC, rear number boards, and the placement of the front numberboards (above the cab windows on the SD80MAC, on the nose on most SD90MACs). The SD80MAC also has recessed red marker lights in the nose, an identifying feature unique to Conrail locomotives, although Norfolk Southern (NS) has removed the lights on most of their former Conrail engines.
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All 30 units built were delivered to Conrail, and the 28 production units were completed, tested, and painted at the former Pennsylvania Railroad shops in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The other two units rostered by Conrail were EMD demonstrator units that were purchased outright Many consider the SD80MAC to be the last new locomotive Conrail purchased as a truly independent railroad. In the split of Conrail, Norfolk Southern received 17 units (numbered 7200–7216) while CSX got 13 (800–812, being renumbered to 4590–4602). The former Conrail units were the first AC traction locomotives owned by Norfolk Southern, with the railroad not ordering more until late 2008 with an order of General Electric's ES44AC.
Chicago and North Western Railway ordered 15, along with Canadian Pacific, but the orders were canceled and/or changed. Conrail ordered more, but its new owners changed the order to SD70s and SD70MACs, all of which would be built at the Juniata Shops in Altoona.
In 2009, NS 7205, the final SD80MAC in Conrail's scheme, (formerly CR 4109) was repainted to Norfolk Southern's scheme. No SD80MACs remain in a Conrail color scheme.
Vale Mining of Brazil ordered a set of 7 updated locomotives designated as the SD80ACe model. These locomotives feature Tier 1 compliant 20-710G3C engines. The design is currently for export only, and these specific locomotives will run on Vale Mining's 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge trackage.
Disposition of the original SD80MACs
In January 2014, CSX 4594, formerly CSX 804, and built as CR 4110, was scrapped after being used as a parts donor following a derailment in early 2009. This makes it the first (and only) SD80MAC to be scrapped.
In late 2014, Norfolk Southern announced that they had reached an agreement with CSX Transportation to trade 23 EMD SD40-2 units (NS 3425-3447) for CSX's remaining 12 SD80MACs, leaving NS as the model's sole operator. Norfolk Southern plans to use the 12 SD80s to supplement its existing fleet in unit train coal service. The trade was finalized in March, 2015 and NS instead traded 12 SD40-2 units (NS 3425-3427, 3430, 3432-3433, 3438-3440, 3443, 3446-3447) for the 12 SD80MACs owned by CSX. Norfolk Southern has numbered these units 7217-7228, which aligns these units with the existing SD80MACs on the NS system (numbered 7200-7216).
As of April 2015, Norfolk Southern has taken delivery of the 12 SD80MACs from CSX. As of September 2015, all units squired from CSX have been repainted into Norfolk Southern's standard 'Horse Head' paint scheme. Excluding unit 7222, all former CSX units have had mechanical repairs and/or repainting completed, and are in service. As of August 2016, all 29 units have been repainted and are in service. Due to the increased number of units, they are no longer assigned to one area, and can be seen across parts of the NS system.
While Norfolk Southern removed the marker lights from the 17 SD80MACs they acquired during the Conrail split, CSX did not remove them from their 12 units. Norfolk Southern has removed the red marker lights from the former CSX SD80MACs.
80MAC technical details
The technical details of this locomotive model are as follows: