Locomotive Axles Rattle and Shake as Freight Train Struggles to Accelerate

#Trains #Railroads
This is footage I recorded during an outing at Howell Wye. A CSX train of decent length had been stopped here for about three hours before finally receiving clearance to depart. As it was departing, the lead engine, a CSX rebuilt AC44 (designated as CM44AC) started shaking considerably as its trucks began to vibrate. This is behavior I've only seen on steerable trucks that I'm certain is the cause of complaints of rattling on these locomotives, and I would not be surprised if this is why Class I Railroads don't purchase locomotives with these trucks anymore. If anyone has more insight, I'd love to know. Otherwise, enjoy the video.
God bless. I'll see you soon, out on the High Iron.
Romans 8:28

[@michiganrailfanfilms353]

Any of the new GE rebuilds (AC44C6M, CM44, AC4400CWM, whatever UP’s version is, etc) are massive piles of garbage. Somehow, GE took the AC44 and Dash 9 (both VERY good pulling engines) and made them terrible pulling engines with the rebuilds because of the new tech and some other random things. They also suffer from severe vibrations and excessive cab noise with the new cabs (somehow, GEVO’s with these cabs don’t have these issues). I have heard crews comparing them to the SD70M-2 with how bad they are, and when you’re comparing stuff to the M-2, things are BAD.
Regarding the steerables, that probably only makes it worse but I think in this case mainly it’s the fact that it’s one of the new GE rebuilds which suffer from the problems that they do.
I don’t understand why GE hasn’t rectified the issues yet as crews have been complaining about these issues for YEARS, like 2016 when the C6M rebuild came and sent everyone into a rebuild frenzy.

[@yeahman70]

Later in the full video, I noticed the ES44AH mid dpu also seemed to have trucks rattling

[@DL541]

We get the rebuilt GE’s often where I work. I and the crews I work with don’t seem to have any issues with them.
They ride nice, pull well and have quieter cabs.
I’ve ran the NS and CSX more often and the NS for being NS did a great job.
On our line the radial trucks pull better than the rigid trucks, but the rigid trucks ride better.
The BNSF Rebuilds to C4M’s though, are not as well done.
Alas, everyone has a story.

[@backalleyrailroading2835]

Some incredible camera work on that catch... Noticed this in the long version video, but this one really showed the pieces moving !!

[@TZrailfaning]

Wow! Guess I’m not the only one who sees this!

[@GEVOlutionCPKC]

WOW ✓

[@Badcsx]

hes edging

[@ThatModelGuyGA]

Fake

[@LocoPro]

Real. 🤓