4 ES44AC's pull and 2 roaring SD70ACe's push a heavy freight around the Loop

[@charlessapp8245]

I worked in the railroad industry for 17 years and I have operated all kinds of locomotives. In my opinion the SD 70 MAC's had the best low end tractive effort. The SD 40-2's were a true work horse very reliable. The ES 44 AC's are the Cadillacs of the rails they are so smooth and with all the technology built in to them, they could basically run themselves.

[@Deacon55]

EMD would be my engine of choice. I am really surprised to see those GE’s get up that grade without falling out. I worked on those engines for years as a Machinist for CSX South Louisville Shops. They seem to have improved the quality of the GE engine a Bunch since my day!

[@1990scottsdale]

I love the EMD's, there sound, power and design is awesome!

[@hopethehermit]

Dude, don't worry about the chat: it didn't drown out the sound of the locos. This is one Brit with the Loop on his bucket list.

[@RailfannBen]

Thanks man, thats pretty cool to have a mechanic that worked on one of the locos I filmed comment on my video! I'm a big fan of EMD, love the sound they make when they wind-up!

[@margaretstapleton7774]

My grandson drives engines on this route, after wanting to do that since he was about 2 years old. His stepdad also works on those trains, and they occasionally ride together from Bakersfield to somewhere east, sometimes as far as Needles.

[@nataliealden6464]

Margaret Stapleton

[@TarHeelBrit]

Great video thanks for posting. This loop just screams "make a N gauge coffee table layout". I was looking for inspiration now I've found it...Cheers!

[@ryanfisher6402]

Ok lady

[@dmorgan28]

Awesome. Loved it. They must have been at restricted speed by that track crew. They began speeding up passed them. Cool video ❤️👍I’m a retired locomotive engineer but I still love these locomotives. ❤️

[@brancarr1]

The SD70 ACe's sound so brutal. It's like music to my ears.

[@timmungenast]

GEs and EMDs both sound awesome in different ways. I love them both.

[@cherijim2911]

Nice video, always wanted to make a trip to the "loop." Not to be critical, invest in a tripod and make sure it has a "fluid head." I've been taking movies/videos for years. Hand held shots are okay for short clips but long shots like yours really need a tripod to cut down on the jiggle. If you're using a cell phone to shoot with, tripod adapters are made for those too. I'll sometimes set up a couple of cameras, one down low (usually the cell phone) to get a dramatic perspective and a video camera on a fluid mount tripod to get the regular shots. Keep up the nice work.

[@nitetrane98]

Whenever I see these trains with rear helpers I can't help but imagine that there is theoretically some point in the train that has no tension on a coupling.

[@shnimmuc]

+nitetrane98 There is always tension, but a 3rd less. 6 locomotives 4 pulling 2 pushing.

[@robvanderhyde823]

There is a point on the train where that occurs and it can vary back and forth due to slight changes in grade, change in friction from a curve or tangent rail and other factors. The pulling force is called draft and the pushing force is called buff. The head end power will pull a given amount of weight (cars) and the rear locos (helpers) will push a given amount of weight depending on the horsepower at each end and more if entrained (cut in) helpers are also used. If you get the opportunity to look at a class 1 railroad's "special instructions", you will be amazed at the complexities of assigning the number of locomotives and their placement.

[@ryanfisher6402]

That's deep brother

[@7822welshsteam]

@@shnimmuc Half, surely?

[@yolandajohnson8685]

I can sit all day and watch trains. They are AWESOME

[@dlae73]

Sounds like those two EMD SD70ACe models are doing all of the work.

[@trenesporjarucoyotrasprovi4694]

Me encanta filmar esos videos, este en especial quedó espectacular, un saludo desde Cuba 🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺👍📸.

[@thomasneavill194]

Beautiful shot at the Loop. No worries about the talking, I remember my first time there. Thanks for sharing.

[@justforever96]

Yeah, I'd read about them using things like this in the Alps, sometime with numerous loops within a short space to gain altitude to cross the mountains. There are several where the track is basically tunneled in a corkscrew up the inside of a mountain for several miles, coming out at the top to descend the other side. Amazing the investment they put into building these railways back in the day; even more amazing is how quickly and well they returned on the investment!

[@gilbertcastaneda8208]

Great video of a massive combo transfer love those union Pacific trains thank you so much

[@justforever96]

So is this like a loop to gain altitude within a short space or something? Because I don't see any other purpose for it.

[@formidable38]

How dam cool was that!! Those roaring EMD's leaning on the back was the best part.

[@DaveWVideo]

Boy I sure love the "experts" that come on here and express their uninformed opinions. First of all, the engines on the rear were not in dynamic braking mode, as they were pushing hard on the end of that train to get it to the summit. The summit on that line is not for several miles yet from that location. If they had been in dynamic braking they would have been fighting the lead units and brought the train to a stop. Second, while notching up the throttle does increase the horsepower being developed by the prime mover, it also increases the RPMs powering the generator or alternator as well as the amperage sent to the traction motors which actually power the train. Depending on the setting it also regulates whether the electrical power being sent to the motors is in parallel or in series. It is this amperage and the electric motors that do all the work. The diesel engine powers the generator or alternator, depending on whether the locomotive has DC or AC traction motors.

[@25mfd]

Excellent comment.

[@paulbeach7129]

Having just found this video, isn't it an alternator either way with AC units being equipped with power inverters?

[@vincentheartland2088]

I also love the bit about stopping for another train. As a rule, almost any kind of vehicle fighting gravity always has the right of way over one that isn't. Have they considered the kind of tractive effort it would take to start that thing from a dead stop up here!?

[@william38022]

DaveWVideo do they still use the DC engines or is everything switched over to AC now,,, I remember watching a thing on television a long time back and said they were replacing the engines with AC because they were so much more powerful. I live very close to the railroad tracks I like to see them stop for grain and roaring up and down the line I miss the old military trains were you see all the army tanks and jeeps and the cannons and all those sort of things

[@william38022]

Paul Beach I don’t know but I have a Honda ruckus with electric start small scooter it will actually reverse the alternator to start the engine doesn’t have a traditional starter it uses the alternator in that a way to save weight,,,I think trains are pretty cool I hope we never lose them there’s always talk that they’re going to go to those electric ones like they have in Europe I really like our diesels or diesel electric I guess,,,Catapillar’s making a big giant one now used extensively in mining operations

[@charlesdell2864]

Great video, but can I ask a question please, as this is my first time seeing anything about the loop. As there going around the loop, are they also on an incline. Locomotives really seemed to struggle.

[@voidjavelin23]

Theyre indeed ascending on a incline so yes!

[@gast128]

Cool. We don't have that kind of long trains here in the Netherlands, let alone mountains.

[@ShanHFernandes]

Just great video !! Powerful consist .

[@luked4911]

Very good video of engines working around a loop. Especially showing it going at a good pace and then as it loops around, the work truck sitting there and the engines have slowed considerably. There was some serious tonnage in that particular run. The pushers must have slowed down their running power as they we not working that much. They had to have been running at or near 7 or 8 power before the top of the curve.Last: I would thi9nk that U.P would have a little more pride in keeping their engines cleaner than the first 4 (Lead engines). Definitely need a good steaming and scrubbing. Thanks for sharing.

[@awaken77]

Nice place! I used to drive through it in Train Simulator :-)

[@JoeL-kn9tc]

The SD-70ACE's really sound nice.

[@grillingwithwoos]

+Joseph L ad's are garbage! GE run so much nicer

[@silverstatehighiron]

leemer1989 It's the opposite. GE's are trash. They always catch fire and sometimes sound like vacuum cleaners.

[@michaelsullivan3581]

Both brands are truly awesome, but I'll take the sound of the two-strokes over the four-strokes any time anywhere! What was really terrifying is the sound those four 44's made slightly spinning their wheels to gain maximum traction. Like a million screeching bats!

[@mattp1333]

T4s are junk sadly , it be a while before they work all the kinks out. But a 2 stroke is much easier to work on over a evo or a 7fdl

[@jaredklock8754]

Love the sound of the SD70ACe's

[@BNSFREVIVAL1]

That GEVO-12 is one beast of a prime mover.

[@eprn1n2]

In a group of four engines is there a driver in each one or are they hooked up electronically to one.

[@macdonells310]

I'm sure this is one of those routes that the train crew have no chance what so ever of dozing off. Great video!!!

[@macdonells310]

I meant going downhill, be it road or rail it's always the hardest part.

[@RailfannBen]

Funny you say that, my friend and I are always making that sound when we are railfanning. Shoot, I sometimes make that sound at random times for no reason at all. Lol

[@BCSchmerker]

This is the sort of environment where the Southern Pacific Baldwin 4-8+8-2 cab-forward single-expansions were right at home; the Loop being rebuilt with the latest 180# rail, same would apply to the Union Pacific American 4-8+8-4, Class BB-1 (the UP is in the process of bringing #4014 to Cheyenne for a complete rebuild, as of this post), or the UP Electro-Motive DDX. Especially in the helper role, as mile-long unit trains at capacity always need a push going uphill here.

[@zagi988zap]

nevermind the talking, video is still great! I would give anything to go visit USA and watch some EMD action. If you wanna see some exported EMD's in Croatia, take a look at my channel.

[@JoshuaTheTransitProdigy]

zagi988zap I'll check out your channel for those awesome EMD. Mind checking out mine?

[@RRYankfan]

I always thought Gevos roared and SD70Aces howled and screamed lol

[@RaisedLetter]

This is at the siding at the Tehachapi Loop in Walong right?

[@bboomer1948]

Too bad the Union Pacific closed off and locked the gate to that Loop location, a few years back.A perfect place to visit.We now watch for trains down at the siding near the trestle bridge, then venture up the road to view trains at the monument area.After that, down to town for lunch and a visit to the freight station museum.Great video.

[@knapptimezzz]

A very nice video, and that sound that was made when you shouted, "theres that sound" is the air compressor. You should hear them when your standing right next to it. Its a unique sound that I find myself making when I'm standing near one.

[@benth162]

It would be interesting to note how the engineers mitigate the stresses between the push and the pull. Are the engines interconnected electronically? I would think that those stresses would be almost too great upon the couplings between the cars. Are there pressure gauges on the couplings that transmit signals to the engines? Interesting stuff. Thanks

[@longlakeshore]

Power packs are linked electronically, i.e. the four ES44AC headers are controlled from the lead cab. The two SD70ACs helpers pushing are linked and controlled from one cab, usually the lead says a UP engineer I know.

[@Ulleval73]

Very good video. Like a lot of people, I know a little bit about railroading...and I know I'm not an expert or even what knowledgeable railfans would consider "knowledgeable", but; I certainly do enjoy watching trains and like it when those more knowledgeable than me are patient and understanding, and take time to explain railroading in a way that is not demeaning. So, be good teachers.....

[@FireCaptE9]

Ohhh 70 ACes, sing me that sweet lullaby !

[@KCUnionStationTrains]

Nice vid!!! Love those ACE's on the end in notch 8!!!!

[@Mrruneight]

This Great vid takes me back to June, 1979. Espee sent a heavy Manifest over the hill and what did it have for helper power? SD9's, GP9's (High Nose and Low Nose), SW1500's and 1 SD7 and they were roaring as are the SD70 ACE's in this video. Thanks for a Great video RailFannBen and for taking me back.

[@HeadinTheClouts]

is there any advantage to putting two engines in the back instead of six in front. if these are just helpers that will return to the bottom and wait for the next train it makes sense

[@HeadinTheClouts]

thank you. that makes a lot of sense

[@scott4152]

Cool man, love the last unit UP 8588 that was the first locomotive I've worked on at EMD. Back in May 2007 had to change out turbocharger at the London Canada plant. The locomotive was ready to ship and we pulled it back in to replace the turbo. Nice catch add to favs.

[@tudieu-qng6817]

Very nice video train, good catche video my friend, thank you for sharing!

[@balmesh]

A really great video. Can I endorse what was said earlier - a tripod would have improved it immensely.

[@MrThC613]

engineers will typically back off the throttle during take offs or dragging uphill either because his amps are too high(this is all computer controlled thesedays) or he needs to back off on his pulling power to prevent breaking the train(pulling a knuckle)

[@Cnw8701]

Funny seeing how this is NOTHING compared to the now-closed Saluda Grade and Tennessee Pass! But still, awesome video!

[@BudmanPackfan]

it is road grime and being used on lines with a lot of tunnels that the exhaust soot accumulates quickly on the carbodies.

[@ut000bs]

The longest train I ever saw was in Wyoming, I think. Four locomotives pulling a long string of loaded coal cars. I lost count at 115 cars or so and they went by a bit after that followed by one lone boxcar at the very end and three more locomotives pushing. To this day I've wondered why that one lone boxcar was on the tail end of that coal train. :)

[@Kevinstrickland33]

ut000bs we have 240 car iron ore trains here where I work , 2 locomotives in front then 164 cars, then another locmotive in the middle with another 76 cars behind that

[@JoshuaTheTransitProdigy]

**Subscriber #2197** Nice job on the video and nearly hitting 2200.

[@michaelmurphy5029]

Holy crap, you lucky dogs, like having a huge model train in action. Those curve are amazingly short for such a long loaded train. Great video! Wonder how much stress a lighter car can take before it jumps the track on a short curve?

[@rolpfeiffermuller935]

Thanks airing the Outstanding vid.Bliss

[@sixstringfretter]

lol I was watching some vids of HO scale model train layouts and clicked on this, thinking it was just another scale layout. I was saying to myself " my God, it looks so real!" And then when the camera panned over to shoot your train watching friend, I felt stupid. Cool video though!

[@rihel]

Sorry, Tehachapee Loop? I was there almost 10 years ago on the Lounge very near there on my way from San Francisco to Albuquerque.

[@marvinburrows5474]

Didn't see where the location is. Looks a little like Palmer Pass south of Denver??

[@william38022]

Trains are pretty cool😎

[@BudmanPackfan]

These merchandise freights usually go 10,000 tons up a grade of 2.0% from EL 420 ft in Bakersfield to 3,176 ft at the summit of the line just east of the loop. The line is also very winding as it climbs from the California central basin over the Tehachapi Mountains to the Mojave plateau.

[@bonhommerichard1]

Great catch! GEVOs "yankin' and ACEs "shovin'" their guts out!

[@mctrlsys]

I have filmed at the loop many times and I have never grown tired of the sensory overload of the place. I especially like the viewing area down toward the beginning of the loop where they side the trains waiting to use the loop.

[@MrSd40jk]

Yup that's the Mechanical air compressor. Usually announced by a whoop. The Phenumatic. Will be announced by an air blast. Very subtle but followed by the deep thrum of the compressor. These machines are big loud and thrilling....:D.

[@Seniorup]

that was a shorty ;) come to vancouver, most of the trains coming to and from the docks stop at coquitlam yard and our yard VIF and are always around 14,000 feet long.

[@barrybickle7992]

I think the noise you were talking about was the air compressor starting.

[@Class1Railfan]

How did you get so close to the tracks without being bothered by RR police? I was about that far up at Cajon Summit and was (almost) cited.

[@MovieModerator]

You know, by the logic you have explained here, these locomotives could have ten horsepower and still pull 105 cars, but just not very fast. Horsepower can affect speed, but it is not restricted specifically to speed. The higher the horsepower, the more energy the motor is outputting, the more weight it can pull/push. It's physics.

[@emd6452]

Hp = speed, tractive adhesion is what counts, and EMDs are far better at it in heavy freight service then the GE's while you'll see ac6000's and 90macs on faster moving trains, and 70s and 44's doing grunt work

[@mrisor892]

Man you Yanks really build epic looking engines, wow! I would fucking love to go for a ride in one of these....

[@Conky011]

RailfannBen the noise at 4:33 you mention it, do you know what it is? The Wooop sound

[@williamgreeter1855]

I used to live along the ex C&NW line which is now UP and most of the time they use GEs to pull coal trains and EMDs for mixed freight trains

[@jamescooley7849]

That noise you hear is the sanders blowing sand to increase traction 😮

[@LeeDfined]

I grew up next to tracks. No sound in the world like a locomotive.

[@YesOfficer]

Man those ACe's are so boss.

[@cbunten]

So... that's 26 thousand Horsepower pulling and pushing how many tons? How much elevation do they gain in that exercise? Impressive no matter how you cut it. Love the sound.

[@lewismcfarcry]

Sounds pretty awesome with headphones, and those GEVO's have the best sounding horn in my opinion, has a soothing yet alerting tone to it.

[@espeescotty]

You're welcome. Looks much better now!

[@tractorsmachinesro1405]

Amazing rail work as always

[@vajeye-nar6172]

Love the sound!!!

[@markcarey8426]

Do they operate all those locos "wired together" so to speak, or do they have operators in all the locos? Great vid, thanks. Love the sound of those diesels.

[@hithereson]

the lead locomotive is in control connected to each other locomotive through a multi unit cable

[@hithereson]

the locomotives pushing from behind are linked via distributive power remotely from the lead locomotive

[@markcarey8426]

Great, thanks. Have often wondered. So must be quite amazing for one/two engineers to be running a whole bunch of locos.

[@pedroms021]

There is one conductor and one auxiliary in each group of locomotives, if in the front there are 4 locomotives so three of them are being operated by the leader without the need for drivers and auxiliaries in each of them.

[@sicilian12345]

Dam those GE's need a wash!

[@dominichetherington2287]

To busy working that's what they were built for

[@koonley]

I'm late to this party but could someone explain how the power is shared or synchronized between the locomotives? Is there a "driver" in each or centrally controlled by the lead? That is some serious pulling/pushing power on display there!

[@voidjavelin23]

The magic of MU cables

[@koonley]

@@voidjavelin23 thanks for that. I looked it up, really interesting stuff!

[@rxramblingrose4857]

Tehachapi Loop Just rode through there in a gondola in September of 2020 , from the Arden Yard out of Las Vegas via GOOD OL UNCLE PETE A.K.A UNION PACIFIC

[@davidzaenglein836]

Are the 4 lead units GE's? Beautiful footage.

[@Teoz_Prod]

Top ! Greetings from France !

[@3RTracing]

See this stuff 12 to 16 times a day. I live on the BNSF mainline in Index WA right across the Skykomish River from the Sunset Falls Trestle. Tired of GE's, and so glad to see Progress Locomotive [nee EMD] SD 70's. They [sd's] sound so much healthier and powerful then the GE's. We are actually seeing full consists, front and back or SD's only. IF I see another GE loco I am going to puke!! I notice that UP has a lot of SD's east of the Rockies. Sometimes we see as many as 9 locomotives on a train consisting or semi vans. That hissing you mention is probably (?) the turbocharger waste gate. When pulling this hard, the exhaust gas pressure is huge, and the turbos over boost, resulting is waste gate pressure release. ANother reason the SD's sound so much better, they don't over boost like the GE's, and have a much nicer sounding chug. The SD's are two cycle to, not sure about the GE, but pretty sure it is a 4 cycle. However, due to the communists at the EPA, EMD/PL have had to go to a 4 cycle engine with EGR. But, they use hyper charge turbocharging, which uses multiple turbocharges for different RPM boost management.

[@6484373]

+3RTracing The new EMD SD 70 ace t4 will have a 4 stroke engine like the GE's instead of a traditional EMD 2 stroke to meet tier 4 statndards. So it will sound like a GE.

[@3RTracing]

+ExcessMean I see them every day. They use a different kind of turbo charging system. They do sound different. A lower, and more satisfying low frequency chug.

[@Boss80gb]

Maximum Firepower Ben!!that's wat I call it when I hear all that noise!lol that was beyond Awesome!no sound in the Entire World like EMD's&GE's!!dude you REALLY need a tripod!or Mono-pod for that hilly terrain!pretty decent for handheld shot tho!keep it up!!

[@duggydugg3937]

how much does it cost to use a pusher for say a 10 mile grade ?

[@fernandosiqueira3864]

I love you EUA 🇺🇸 from Fernando ciry São José dos Pinhais estate Paraná - 🇧🇷 Brazil

[@Gorneyland]

That is Arnold Loop in-between Wendover, NV. and Elko, NV. just to the north of interstate 80. Train climbs and turns hard!

[@TheKoups]

what? This is not Arnold Loop, its Tehachapi Loop, CA

[@silverstatehighiron]

Gorneyland Looks nothing like the Arnold Loop. I've been there and trains don't go under/over each other.

[@mikeday62]

That noise is the violent lurching early warning system.

[@hakeemsd70m]

Damn good video. Them engines are doing a fine job at fighting that grade. I love GEs and EMDs but EMD's 710 sounds so refined, almost too much so for a loco. I somehow prefer the raw gritty chug of the GE's 7FDLs and GEVOs!

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Running very clean

[@jitendraparsadupadhyay3587]

Very nice thanks

[@redbarnz]

It's the EMD SD70s that are getting the train up the grade...

[@knapptimezzz]

Thats exactly what its for. No locomotive with that amount of weight behind it could pull up a grade like a car. Cars have the benefit of physics on the road. Locomotives have to make due with physics on rails.

[@RailfannBen]

@RRYankfan I'm was wearing a BNSF hat. Lol

[@gnads1]

Just the two guys in the lead locomotive.... the two at the rear are remote controlled from the lead loco by a system called distributed power.

[@johnmoore8016]

Is the loop a flat road bed or does it have a grade to it?

[@mp352studios2]

+John Moore its a 2.2% grade

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

+John Moore The purpose of the loop is to change altitude in as small an area as these trains can, the loop has a pretty serious grade.

[@dapto234]

Is this at Tehachapi Loop....from Australia.

[@jacobjones9498]

This just earned you another subscriber.