Imo...I honestly think both the 80MACs and 90MACs are some the best looking widecab locomotives EMD built (tall claim I know)...from the teardrop windows, huge radiators and the overall immense size of the thing puts most locomotives today to shame...
Had Conrail lived on, I wonder if the 6 axle fleet would have gone to the great SD80-Mac white wave paint scheme. It's a great look, especially on these 20 cylinder brutes. They will always be revered by railfans everywhere. Jack, your video here is truly history-recorded, well done!
Those mid-train SD80MACs on the loaded ore train should be in DPU mode. The SD80s and the very last order of C40-8Ws were the only locomotives purchased by Conrail with LocoTrol (or EMD’s variation thereof) and this was the only train on the system to regularly run with distributed power. Typical operation of the train was either two pairs of SD80MACs or two sets of three C40-8Ws with manned helpers being added to cross the Allegheny Mountains on the tail end.
With the ones CSX got in the merger, and them being using primarily on the Benning coal trains, it was a rare treat to catch them leading elsewhere on the system. I managed to catch them all before they were eventually sold off and subsequently scrapped.
WOW these are one of the best looking Locomotives ever. great video .I watched them on the Bayard branch of the Cleveland line in ore service somewhere ariound the same time frame.
I'm definitely drooling from watching this awesome video of them Conrail EMDs. Enjoyed watching and most likely more than once. Have a wonderul upcoming weekend.(Steve)
I never got to see these or the C39-8 in service before they were all retired. You think it would've been easy to do in the 2000s when literally anything could be on the front of a CSX freight train after they absorbed Conrail. I always loved the big, assertive look of the SD80, SD90, and SD70ACe engines, maybe I can at least catch a CP heritage MAC before that eyesore of a merger scheme is applied.
Most of these monsters went to NS, were repainted, and worked the coal fields between conemaugh generating station and South fork. I believe as of now they have all been rebuilt at juniata, sold, or scrapped. Fun fact: CR SD80MAC 4100 was the last N scale model i ever bought 😉
When the government shut down Conrail 13 of these units went to CSX while the other 17 were given to Norfolk Southern.One of them from CSX was involved in an derailment and was scrapped because of damage to the frame.Later on CSX wanted to make a trade deal with Norfolk Southern for a dozen SD40-2's,so in return the CSX SD80MAC's went to Norfolk Southern ensuring that they owned all 29 surviving units. Before and during the pandemic all of those SD80MAC's were sold to PRLX.Any of them that had the highest hours and mileage or wear and tear were scrapped,so only a handful of them remain in storage. Canadian Pacific actually purchased 6 SD80MAC's from PRLX to use as parts donors only when they were still doing the SD70ACU rebuild program.Currently only 2 of them are left untouched but inevitably they will be scrapped once they are stripped of parts.
These were the Big Boys of Conrail. It’s a shame NS didn’t give them the respect they deserved when it came to preserving them. I have little hope at this point that CPKC will even preserve the last one, unless it’s already torched. Someone might as well just make a new one out parts from an SD90 and MK50-3
The SD80MAC's were becoming old and costly to keep in usage. EMD has been becoming more expensive compared to GE and it doesn't help either that they have been down under for two decades. Another thing,EPA regulations caused EMD to discontinue the 710 series and make manifold silencers just to keep any of their units up to date with compliance. EMD trying to uphold into modern standards was a mistake...Twice. Just look at what happened with the SD90MAC's AND SD70AH-T4's... Out of the 6 SD80MAC's that Canadian Pacific bought from PRLX,currently only 2 of them are left untouched until further notice. They only wanted them as parts donors when they were doing the SD70ACU rebuild program,which also was short lived.There are a handful of them left in storage at PRLX though,the oldest of the units with problems were immediately scrapped.
@@Slim_Slid wow, that’s great news, I thought all of them on CP are gone, If that’s the case I hope the Conrail Historical Society can get one. Even if it’s just a shell.
@@s197_carti At this point,an entire body and rolling frame is the only hope they might get. Canadian Pacific was going to scrap those SD80MAC's that they acquired when there was no more parts left for other usage. As I previously mentioned only two units last time I bothered to check were pratically untouched. Now,for the SD80MAC's that are actually left in storage at PRLX it's most likely the lesser used units might also get scrapped or become parts donors if those units just sit in storage for awhile. Currently alot of SD9043MAC's and some of the SD70ACU's in addition to that are getting torched and cut up mainly because of costs and frame issues.
Is there a specific reason on why Conrail ran 2 sd80macs together all the time? I’ve never seen them paired up with any other EMD or GE locomotive (at the head end of the train)?
They were only a year old when I filmed this. I think Conrail was testing them on the Pittsburgh mainline, because the railroad was like a rolla-coster. That line rail helpers in both directions between Wilmerding, and Altoona. Like that single unit at Grapeville. I've seen trains stall on that part of the grade between Penn and Greensburg, and they had one sd80 on it.
Conrail had a rule that AC locomotives could only be used on-line in a train with other AC locomotives. They almost always ran in pairs as a result and could later be seen with the SD70MACs as well.
Imo...I honestly think both the 80MACs and 90MACs are some the best looking widecab locomotives EMD built (tall claim I know)...from the teardrop windows, huge radiators and the overall immense size of the thing puts most locomotives today to shame...
Yes indeed God bless America 🇺🇸 and her armed forces 😅😊
Always liked the Big Macs, wish I would've been around to see them.
A video with all EMD leaders! Of course I love it 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
Was just playing TRS22 with the SD80MAC. What a beast!
Thanks for uploading this great video
Had Conrail lived on, I wonder if the 6 axle fleet would have gone to the great SD80-Mac white wave paint scheme. It's a great look, especially on these 20 cylinder brutes. They will always be revered by railfans everywhere. Jack, your video here is truly history-recorded, well done!
Only if they were ACs
@@minutemanmacsd80s were ac
Those mid-train SD80MACs on the loaded ore train should be in DPU mode. The SD80s and the very last order of C40-8Ws were the only locomotives purchased by Conrail with LocoTrol (or EMD’s variation thereof) and this was the only train on the system to regularly run with distributed power. Typical operation of the train was either two pairs of SD80MACs or two sets of three C40-8Ws with manned helpers being added to cross the Allegheny Mountains on the tail end.
With the ones CSX got in the merger, and them being using primarily on the Benning coal trains, it was a rare treat to catch them leading elsewhere on the system. I managed to catch them all before they were eventually sold off and subsequently scrapped.
WOW these are one of the best looking Locomotives ever. great video .I watched them on the Bayard branch of the Cleveland line in ore service somewhere ariound the same time frame.
This is amazing! I love conrail! Thanks for sharing jack!
I'm definitely drooling from watching this awesome video of them Conrail EMDs. Enjoyed watching and most likely more than once. Have a wonderul upcoming weekend.(Steve)
Drooling for a big MAC lol
LOL @@Enjoyer.762
I never got to see these or the C39-8 in service before they were all retired. You think it would've been easy to do in the 2000s when literally anything could be on the front of a CSX freight train after they absorbed Conrail. I always loved the big, assertive look of the SD80, SD90, and SD70ACe engines, maybe I can at least catch a CP heritage MAC before that eyesore of a merger scheme is applied.
Great video. Thanks for sharing Jack!
Sure thing. Thanks for watching...
Wow them were the day's
Nice video! I love the Conrail paint scheme.
Most of these monsters went to NS, were repainted, and worked the coal fields between conemaugh generating station and South fork. I believe as of now they have all been rebuilt at juniata, sold, or scrapped. Fun fact: CR SD80MAC 4100 was the last N scale model i ever bought 😉
I believe all scrapped.
I had the honor of having one on a coke train once, absolute BRUTE. Didn't need the Ex-CR 8-40CW behind it at all.
When the government shut down Conrail 13 of these units went to CSX while the other 17 were given to Norfolk Southern.One of them from CSX was involved in an derailment and was scrapped because of damage to the frame.Later on CSX wanted to make a trade deal with Norfolk Southern for a dozen SD40-2's,so in return the CSX SD80MAC's went to Norfolk Southern ensuring that they owned all 29 surviving units.
Before and during the pandemic all of those SD80MAC's were sold to PRLX.Any of them that had the highest hours and mileage or wear and tear were scrapped,so only a handful of them remain in storage.
Canadian Pacific actually purchased 6 SD80MAC's from PRLX to use as parts donors only when they were still doing the SD70ACU rebuild program.Currently only 2 of them are left untouched but inevitably they will be scrapped once they are stripped of parts.
Nice raiwau
3344 was on RR282 FROM Michigan to Rutherford Hauling GM Parts i caught that in Alliance that early Morning
My Favorite was those on ALPI-F
Super outstanding
👍🚂🚞🚞🚞
These were the Big Boys of Conrail. It’s a shame NS didn’t give them the respect they deserved when it came to preserving them. I have little hope at this point that CPKC will even preserve the last one, unless it’s already torched. Someone might as well just make a new one out parts from an SD90 and MK50-3
The SD80MAC's were becoming old and costly to keep in usage.
EMD has been becoming more expensive compared to GE and it doesn't help either that they have been down under for two decades.
Another thing,EPA regulations caused EMD to discontinue the 710 series and make manifold silencers just to keep any of their units up to date with compliance.
EMD trying to uphold into modern standards was a mistake...Twice.
Just look at what happened with the SD90MAC's AND SD70AH-T4's...
Out of the 6 SD80MAC's that Canadian Pacific bought from PRLX,currently only 2 of them are left untouched until further notice.
They only wanted them as parts donors when they were doing the SD70ACU rebuild program,which also was short lived.There are a handful of them left in storage at PRLX though,the oldest of the units with problems were immediately scrapped.
@@Slim_Slid wow, that’s great news, I thought all of them on CP are gone, If that’s the case I hope the Conrail Historical Society can get one. Even if it’s just a shell.
@@s197_carti
At this point,an entire body and rolling frame is the only hope they might get. Canadian Pacific was going to scrap those SD80MAC's that they acquired when there was no more parts left for other usage. As I previously mentioned only two units last time I bothered to check were pratically untouched. Now,for the SD80MAC's that are actually left in storage at PRLX it's most likely the lesser used units might also get scrapped or become parts donors if those units just sit in storage for awhile. Currently alot of SD9043MAC's and some of the SD70ACU's in addition to that are getting torched and cut up mainly because of costs and frame issues.
Rare footage of me
Is there a specific reason on why Conrail ran 2 sd80macs together all the time? I’ve never seen them paired up with any other EMD or GE locomotive (at the head end of the train)?
They were only a year old when I filmed this. I think Conrail was testing them on the Pittsburgh mainline, because the railroad was like a rolla-coster. That line rail helpers in both directions between Wilmerding, and Altoona. Like that single unit at Grapeville. I've seen trains stall on that part of the grade between Penn and Greensburg, and they had one sd80 on it.
@@1jackdk ahh ok thank you. It's a shame they didn't make more. I like those locos.
Conrail had a rule that AC locomotives could only be used on-line in a train with other AC locomotives. They almost always ran in pairs as a result and could later be seen with the SD70MACs as well.
Would the sd90s farred better if they had 710s
Big MAC attack