SD90 Series
From RailroadfanWiki
SD9043MAC
The Electromotive Division SD9043MAC, also known as the "SD90MAC", is a 6 axle, 4,300 HP, AC traction diesel-electric locomotive built by EMD from 1995 to 2005. The SD9043MAC uses a 16 cylinder 710G3B engine rated at 4,300 HP, the same engine used in the SD75. It also has an isolated North American safety cab and rides on EMD's self steering HTCR radial trucks. Externally, they look very similar to the SD80MAC, riding on the same enormous 80' 2" frame, making them the largest mass produced locomotives built. The SD9043MAC has a nose mounted headlight and larger sand box at the rear of the hood, and lacks the marker lights found on the SD80MAC.
While EMD was still working on designing the 265H engine that would be used in the SD90MAC-H, several railroads wanted to order new 6,000 HP locomotives. The 6,000 HP 265H engine was still in the testing stages, so EMD came up with a solution. They built SD90MAC locomotives fitted with the current 4,300 HP 710 engine, making them essentially SD70MAC's in SD90MAC carbodies. When the 265H engine was ready, the units could be refitted with the new engine. The units thus earned the nickname "Convertibles" because they could be converted to 6,000 HP SD90MAC's later on. Meanwhile, the 4,300 HP version was designated the SD9043MAC.
While initial interest was high, only 2 railroads ended up ordering SD9043MAC's, the Union Pacific and the Canadian Pacific. CIT Group also ordered a fleet of SD9043MAC's for it's CEFX lease fleet. After the reliability problems that plauged the 6,000 HP SD90MAC-H's, none of the SD9043MAC's were ever converted. They still soldier on today for UP and CP, though CP's are frequently in and out of storage as traffic warrents. A few of CEFX's have been long term leased to shortlines like Indiana Railroad and San Luis & Rio Grande.
Roster of SD9043MAC's
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SD90MAC-H
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