Progress Rail PR43C

Progress Rail PR43C

NS 4004 Progress Rail PR43C at Anniston Alabama
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Progress Rail Services Corporation
Specifications
AAR wheel arr C-C
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Prime mover Caterpillar C175 and Caterpillar C18
Performance figures
Power output 4,300 hp (3,210 kW)

The Progress Rail PR43C is a 4,300 hp (3,210 kW) C-C genset diesel-electric locomotive built by Progress Rail Services Corporation. It is the result of a conversion of existing EMD SD50 locomotives. This involves replacing the original EMD 645 prime mover with a pair of Caterpillar engines, a 3,600 hp (2,680 kW) C175 engine and a 700 hp (522 kW) C18 engine.[1][2] The locomotive was jointly designed by Progress Rail and Norfolk Southern Railway. Development began in 2008.[3]

Three locomotives have been built: two are operating in revenue freight service on Norfolk Southern, while a third is operating as a demonstrator unit for Progress Rail.[2] Norfolk Southern has four more PR43Cs on order.[3] The locomotives operating for Norfolk Southern work on freight trains in central Illinois, leading to speculation that they are being tested, as Caterpillar's headquarters are located in Peoria, Illinois.[1]

All three locomotives were manufactured at Progress Rail's Mayfield, Kentucky factory.[1]

The process of converting an SD50 to a PR43C alters the external appearance of the locomotive; the original radiator section is replaced with a larger one that is similar in appearance to that of an EMD SD70ACe or SD70M-2.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Lustig, David (November 2009). "NS debuts gensets for road duty". Trains magazine (Kalmbach Publishing).
  2. 1 2 "Progress Rail Services". TrainWeb. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Norfolk Southern orders additional PR43Cs". Trains Magazine. 8 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.

External links

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