Trains are so long and heavy anymore you almost have to use bigger units to put them together. Also not much better you can do with a non-PTC compliant locomotive that can't be used as a leader on the main. I imagine the power desk would hate having a non-leader just floating around the system that they actually have to work around when building power for outbound trains. "Just put it in yard duty somewhere where it won't be on the main."
@@davidwhiting1761 well in a lot of cases the MRLs were being used as DPUs on BNSF coal drags. The one in this video had been being used on the Palos coal drags as a DPU for example.
yeah. thinks do change faster now too though. SD40-2s probably were the ones that would have the longest service life in the yards. Dash9s are already gonna kick out EMDs from yards. Just look at Northtown Minneapolis.
@devernepersonal3636 Yeah, but now that they are part of BNSF's roster they'll just get moved around to wherever there's a hole (as evidenced by this unit making its way all the way from Montana to Southern California). You'd think BNSF would have kept them closer to home doing what they were already doing, but I'm not BNSF.
4316 is lucky! It gets to miss the cold Montana winters and hang out in San Diego. Wish I could do the same! LOL Great Video, thanks for sharing. Plate C
@@mr.sir.The BHP units had many extras including dual air conditioners, mid rails on the walkway handrails, illuminated number boards on both ends, dual horns, stone guards on the front windows ( only used when in DP), ATP, fire suppression system etc. I believe most of this was removed when it was bought by MRL. The remaining BHP units returned to the USA were stripped down to parts by Progress Rail.
@@infaredxkingz8786 Built in the US for BHP in Australia, then re-imported back to the US. As I recall, a few SD50s also came to US shortlines via Australia.
Nope. EMD built its last switcher 40 years ago, and I can't think of any ohers that have been built since then in any numbers, except the disastrous gensets. The Class 1s haven't owned significant numbers of switchers for at least a decade. Everyone switches with road locomotives, these days.
Yeah, plus Montana Rail Link SD70ACEs 4300-4319 are Thundercab locomotives and BNSF isn’t planning to add PTC to them since they’re not a big fan of Thundercabs.
Knowing BNSF is using SD70Ace, SD75M, SD60M, and Dash-9 locomotives as switchers is making me feel really old.
Trains are so long and heavy anymore you almost have to use bigger units to put them together. Also not much better you can do with a non-PTC compliant locomotive that can't be used as a leader on the main. I imagine the power desk would hate having a non-leader just floating around the system that they actually have to work around when building power for outbound trains. "Just put it in yard duty somewhere where it won't be on the main."
@@davidwhiting1761 well in a lot of cases the MRLs were being used as DPUs on BNSF coal drags. The one in this video had been being used on the Palos coal drags as a DPU for example.
yeah. thinks do change faster now too though. SD40-2s probably were the ones that would have the longest service life in the yards. Dash9s are already gonna kick out EMDs from yards. Just look at Northtown Minneapolis.
@devernepersonal3636 Yeah, but now that they are part of BNSF's roster they'll just get moved around to wherever there's a hole (as evidenced by this unit making its way all the way from Montana to Southern California). You'd think BNSF would have kept them closer to home doing what they were already doing, but I'm not BNSF.
@ BNSF still has some in helper service on Bozeman. They look rough. Most others are trailers on grain or coal around the system
I knew we would start seeing those beautiful MRL SD70Aces's around the South Land. 'bout time they had a chance to enjoy some warmth and sunshine!
As a long time San Diego resident and CA native it is great to see this action. Thank You.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Bnsf took over and mrl power is showing up everywhere
4316 is lucky! It gets to miss the cold Montana winters and hang out in San Diego. Wish I could do the same! LOL
Great Video, thanks for sharing.
Plate C
Wow.... From the beautiful mountains of Montana to............ This.
Worked on that unit many times on the helpers. Miss MRL
Ha… I commissioned that new unit in Port Hedland back in 2007? Great to see it still in service, albeit de-modified.
@@andrewhawk2642What mods were on this engine originally?
@@mr.sir.The BHP units had many extras including dual air conditioners, mid rails on the walkway handrails, illuminated number boards on both ends, dual horns, stone guards on the front windows ( only used when in DP), ATP, fire suppression system etc. I believe most of this was removed when it was bought by MRL. The remaining BHP units returned to the USA were stripped down to parts by Progress Rail.
Wow! BHP!? What a long way. Awesome video!
Export, and re-imported
What a beautiful BRUTE!
Awesome catch and footage!
the back-to-back K5LLA's goes hard!
Nice catch!! Looked like a great evening for it.
@@santeebandit3246 thanks, yup had just enough sunlight!
Beautiful Photography, thanks for sharing
@@ClearTrackSpeed thank you😊
That guy needs to figure out how to use the horn properly haha. Great catch.
MRL's paint scheme is a solid top fav.
jeez the double horn is nutty
ex BHP, they do it in australia for some reason
Southern railway would also do that
excellent maneuvers, very good👌
Cool video nice to see something new in SD and not only this BNSF locos
Excellent 🚂✨💯👌🏼
I never knew i needed a SD70ACE with a K5LAR24 on it 👌💯
Wow what a catch! Not every day you see that!
4316 never had ptc and never will. MRL 4300-4319 are all thunder cabs and therefore can’t lead under BNSF general order so they’ll never receive PTC
Thay unit gets around! I saw it a few weeks ago on Norfolk Southern on the BNSF Atlanta to LA run through train.
@@ravenhawk6910 wow!
The double horn!
i never noticed the dual horns on em before
My Favorite ENGINE!!!! Next to F-9's
Great video
Nice on Donovan!
NICE!!!
How the mighty are fallen 😕
Big horsepower for switching
So she’s from Australia?
Yep she is
Cool video well done!
@@workinghardusa thank you😊
4316 doesn’t have PTC.
Front AND rear facing horns? Jeeze
Must've been short on Switchers 😅
Yeah they take good locomotives and turn them into the razor blades
Not at all, yard crews just wanted to have fun lol
BIG switcher!
#4316 is one of the ex BHP Australian SD70ACes if I recall correctly. I may be wrong.
As the video title says (or maybe that was added after you commented).
Wait, this engine is from Australia?
@@infaredxkingz8786 Built in the US for BHP in Australia, then re-imported back to the US. As I recall, a few SD50s also came to US shortlines via Australia.
I was wondering why this sd70 was looking weird till I read the title 😂
Is this some kind of not-much-horn zone? They blow the horn every time they enter the road, but never the standard pattern.
@@beeble2003 lazy yard crews
The locomotive has 2 K5LAs
Cool 😊
Does BNSF have a big presence in San Diego?
Why does mrl SD70ACe have a second train horn
interesting use of a mainline locomotive
What is that doing there in San Diego and how did it get there in the first place
Bnsf took over mrl territory and so this unit managed to wander down to cali.
Since BNSF took over they started to float around the country.
@@animenut69 Better burritos..
SD70ACEs are migratory. It flew south for the winter.
I'm curious. Does this affect the loco considering it wasn't made for switching?
Nope. EMD built its last switcher 40 years ago, and I can't think of any ohers that have been built since then in any numbers, except the disastrous gensets. The Class 1s haven't owned significant numbers of switchers for at least a decade. Everyone switches with road locomotives, these days.
Is all that ethanol used for local gasoline formulation to California standards?
Per the hazmat placards, three of the six tanks that come past the camera from 3:10 are carrying diesel, but whatever...
Nice Coverage
How th. Does 4316 have 2 horns
How long til those MRLs get repainted?
Hopefully never!
@@dash456789but they have to be patched to BNSF number
5,000hp to move some cars around. 😂
Is this if the sd70ace can pull cars on its own what seems to be wrong with it the people see that I don’t.
No PTC and the BNSF pretty much said any Non-Iso cab ACe is trail only Do not Occupy.
so really not a common occurance at all.
Waiting for MRL units to show up patched
graffitied
tomorrow.
🎯
With the size of the trains that are being made up now, an SD 70 is likely the smallest "switcher" that you need to use.
Actually, an SD70ACE has slightly lower tractive effort than a pair of SD40-2s, which would be a pretty standard switching setup.
#ACEpride
Hmmmm. 👀
Those things doesn’t even have ptc
Yeah, plus Montana Rail Link SD70ACEs 4300-4319 are Thundercab locomotives and BNSF isn’t planning to add PTC to them since they’re not a big fan of Thundercabs.
But there’s a good chance Montana Rail Link SD70ACEs 4400-4408 will get PTC since those units have isolated cabs.
@ I think they kinda do have PTC, I might be wrong though
@ like the 4400s
@@TSArea_Railfanmrl never had ptc so no the 4400s don’t have ptc.
Soon to be patched to BNSF number
Um but like....2 HORNS?!
@@UsTrainsAndSirens yup! Part of its BHP legacy
A lot of locomotive for yard work would better being out on the road
2 horns lol
It is weird seeing an SD70ACe used as a switcher. An SD40 I could understand.
Using a big road hog as a yard switcher is a waste of horsepower n diesel fuel.
It’s definitely not a waste, rail cars are heavy