Freightliner Locomotive test with Union Pacific!

Power Haul PH37ACi Freightliner 70012 was revived for testing in March after being stored for a few years. This unit was famous for being dropped upon delivery to the UK and returned to GE where it was repaired and kept for testing. It was the first time tested with UP locomotives.
#unionpacific #freightliner #wabtec #powerhaul #erie #test #testing
Stay tuned! it will be testing more in 2024!

[@TheCyberSalvager]

It's quite mind-blowing seeing a UK-spec locomotive running with US ones. I would imagine a lot of this was done when the class 66s were first brought out as well. It also goes to show the difference between the UK and US loading gauges.

[@22pcirish]

Thanks to the AAR system, the UK classes 66,67 and 70 can run happily in multiple with any American loco!

[@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire]

@@22pcirish The Class 73/9s can happily work with the Total Operations Processing System class 66s.

[@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044]

​@@22pcirishnot quite as the coupling format are incompatible

[@22pcirish]

@@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044 Easily changed. We do use the standard US knuckle coupler here too.

[@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044]

@@22pcirish UK specimens of Janney coupler are centered at 3'6" draught and are 3/4 size version of what's used in north America

[@hoofie2002]

For the Yanks : the reason the UK loading gauge is much smaller is nearly all our routes and their bridges, tunnels, stations ( and there are countless numbers of them) were built in the middle or late 19th century so we still have to fit under, through or alongside them.

[@the_earlybirf1170]

Ah it's pretty similar to why locos like the GE Genisis other more recent passenger locos have a really short height due to Amtrak's tunnel restrictions, we even made a fleet of long distance passenger cars because of those restrictions.

[@Madhuntr]

finally a proper real life comparison of sizes between american and Europpean locos. damn they are so much bigger

[@audigex]

British locos are small even by European standards

[@thechilledonion9313]

@@audigex Yep. The Brits have narrower and smaller tunnels than the rest of Europe.

[@digimaks]

With exception- the Russian (East European) locomotives are also huge, compared to the rest of European fleet. Besides their rail gauge is 1540 mm. The only wider gauge is in India - it's like 2000mm or so.

[@BobRoss-kl7oc]

@@digimaks Irish rail gauge, which is also used in Australia, is ~1600mm, bigger than Russian/Eastern European gauge

[@SomeGuy-lw2po]

​@thechilledonion9313 it's a real shame we didn't look at Europe all those years ago and copy their bigger loading gauge. Double decker trains would be very useful in this country

[@mt5144]

Thousands of British Rail Enthusiasts' would be in there ellements to see 70012, It was a Loco which was dropped from the Beluga Endurance ship whilst being unloaded at Newport Docks in Wales UK on 5th Jan 2011 when it was dropped when part of the lifting gear failed, causing the locomotive to fall approximately 13 to 20 ft (4 to 6 m) from the crane, back into the hold of the ship, It was the only Class 70 Loco not to be delivered to Freightliner UK & returned to GE in Erie, USA & It's so nice to see it has been rebuilt & still running the rails.

[@dogmannz]

Like to know what was on the bottom of the hold to stop it going right through

[@mt5144]

@@dogmannz one of the Ships Crane Slings ruptured & dropped one end of 70012 approx 15ft onto the pontoon deck, shortly followed by the other end as the stress in the second sling was too much, The ship left the dock to travel to Belgium to unload its Grain it was carrying then went into dry dock for repairs to its hold, The loco left by road on a Lo-Loader trailer to Liverpool Docks to be shipped back on the "Atlantic Concert" ship to the port of Norfolk, USA then roaded back to Erie, I also believe the UK Truck Firm was also sent on the Ship holding the loco on its secure trailer.

[@STHSIndustries2K6]

70012 is a neat testbed Class 70. Maybe it could be preserved once retired from testbed service.

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

They dropped a 66 when it was being unloaded too. Someone wasnt paying attention for that to happen twice!

[@STHSIndustries2K6]

@@1701_FyldeFlyer but what happened to it after it was accidentally dropped?

[@whatxd_hello7]

It's crazy how the British loco look so small compared to the US, truly a man and a giant

[@abloogywoogywoo]

Its as long as the US locos, just shorter. ^^

[@seymoarsalvage]

Loading gauge

[@digimaks]

European sizing. They have far shorter and less weight-intensive trains. Both - US and RUssian locomotives are the biggest machines on the railroads in the world. Both countries are dragging largest freight loads.

[@maingear7452]

Have to account for their tunnels

[@billybellend1155]

@@digimaks What about Australia?

[@Cnw8701]

Never thought I'd see the day when a British locomotive does the American horn sequence! That was awesome!

[@azrailfan2717]

Same here! 😎

[@redcliffish4390]

you won't believe what country the american horn sequence originated in ;)

[@BNSFrailfan01]

@@redcliffish4390What country?

[@tux_the_astronaut]

Yes its so much more quiet lol

[@redcliffish4390]

@@BNSFrailfan01 England

[@pacificostudios]

The horn on the Class 70 is almost drowned out by the roar of the American locomotives. Son of a gun!

[@Look_What_You_Did]

The US is big on noise pollution.

[@pacificostudios]

@@Look_What_You_Did - British noise standards on locos must be much stricter, because the Class 70 prime mover is 3720 HP, and the American engines are about 4000 HP each. I've noticed that the new Siemens Chargers are much quieter than the F59PH engines they replaced, despite being much more powerful.

[@Look_What_You_Did]

@@pacificostudios I suspect some of that is emissions related. Some of the noise pollution differences I can understand. Much of the US rail way is wide open unpopulated. I don't know that a quieter engine is beneficial. The bell, and the horns are deafening. Oh and the rail ways are also deploying stationary horns at select crossings. So not only do you have a horn blowing down the track, but additional horns blowing perpendicular to the track. I have yet to see a horn save anybody in the US.

[@mrvwbug4423]

The engine is usually the same. Example the class 66 and 67 use the same EMD 710 prime mover as US spec trains, just in a 12 cylinder variant instead of the 16 cylinder version of the SD70

[@mrvwbug4423]

@@pacificostudiosThe Chargers have common rail injection and are of a much more modern design, hence being significantly quieter. There is also the SCR box and the DPF in the exhaust system which reduces noise further. UK locomotives aren't necessarily quieter, prime example the class 68 and its rather rowdy exhaust note, it's using a CAT C175-16 engine, which is a tier 4 engine but is using a very minimal muffler if any at all. The EMD F125 also uses the C175 engine, just in the 20 cylinder variant and is a lot quieter, nearly as quiet as the Charger

[@VexSG]

In the UK, Class 70s are quite the locomotive, and it is *very* clear on how restrictive the loading gauge is here than across the pond, the UP Locos make it look like a shunter train more than anything! 😂

[@OldSchool-px1xk]

make no mistake, the Freightline has nearly the same traction power like the EVO series

[@jamesbuckner4791]

Nah, Pretty sure switchers are taller and heavier still

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

It's a pretty good locomotive regardless of size. The U.S is younger so most of our infrastructure was built to accommodate bigger locomotives, but I bet ya that thing could work just as much as the big boys that dominate our tracks.

[@dave6695]

The UK Freightliner unit shows just how much tighter (aka: restrictive) the UK loading gauge is.

[@DistanceNsVeterans]

Also add to that American Locomotives locomotives Are pure Giants.

[@canadiantrainperson]

@@DistanceNsVeteransEhhhh, quite long, but visit North America, and you'll see that our locos are much taller and bigger overall.

[@DistanceNsVeterans]

@@canadiantrainperson That's What I mean, American Locomotives Are pure giants, I'm too a American.

[@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire]

@@DistanceNsVeterans In Great Britain the Total Operations Processing System Class 70 is considered a large loco, we do have some very small locos and multiple units on the mainline for example some units are 2.59m wide and 2.8m tall and have coaches of 15m in length.

[@DistanceNsVeterans]

@@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire To consider that Most of the diesel are at heights of 12ft, while The steam most of their steam locomotives are 13ft in Britain.

[@70rrsteve51]

Another example of the adage “there’s a prototype for everything”.

[@leonkernan]

Reminds me of when they tested a Tasrail (Australia) locomotive in Florida before delivery. The roof didn't even reach the top of the next locos nose!

[@Marci_trains]

Is there a video of it? As an Aussie I’d love to see that

[@wolfpacw]

@@Marci_trains Likewise, especially a tiny little Tasrail loco!

[@oldrunner55]

I spent many a late night running engineering tests on 809 back in the 80's when it was new. I was a Measurement Specialist for Locomotive Engineering before retiring in 2000 after 35 years with GE.

[@stephankoenig5481]

It would need a complete overhaul but it still can run. It is more useful as a coupler bridge car for the Power Haul units

[@BNSFrailfan01]

I’ve always loved how British locomotives are smaller than American locomotives, hence the odd look of having the Freightliner unit in the lead.

[@abainbridge7762]

From a guy living in the UK, we would say how the American locos are bigger than British.🙂

[@zodiotekgaming]

Loading guage is different

[@Genius_at_Work]

@@abainbridge7762 European POV, British are a bit small and Americans are huge.

[@abainbridge7762]

My comment was a joke on the POV from both sides of the Pond.🙂@@Genius_at_Work

[@nlo114]

That's good, 4 passes without catching fire!

[@muskegonaviation]

Until pass number 5, where it blows up

[@3xfaster]

It’s like Flying Scotsman during their USA rail tour, except the Class 70’s trying out the local gym with some American spotters.

[@mrvwbug4423]

I could just imagine the Flying Scotsman sitting next to 4014 or 3985, the big UP locos would dwarf it.

[@tvm73836]

Funny, you were distracted by the CSX consist! I would be too 😀

[@stephankoenig5481]

I was!

[@christopherpearson4489]

it is a shame that we in britain now buy our locomotives from abroad we were once one of of the greatest builders of locomotives for the world

[@mrvwbug4423]

The US is in the same boat for passenger rolling stock. Mostly because our main passenger rolling stock builders either went out of business (Pullman) or are now foreign owned due to repeated mergers (Budd who were bought out by Bombardier who was then bought out by Alstom). The busiest locomotive/rolling stock factory in the US now is the Siemens factory in California.

[@TheBaltimoreTransitFan]

That's funny to see a GE built loco (American built for the uk market) here doing tests for the company that built it. Tests with its big brothers (emphasis on the big part). It shows the differences between us and our uk counterparts when it comes to railroading.

[@durhsy414]

Incredible to see 012 in action & living after that horrendous visit to England.

[@we1330]

It didn't reach England, only managed Wales! ;).

[@STHSIndustries2K6]

Who didn't do their job properly?

[@olly5764]

It never went to England

[@we1330]

@@olly5764 Correct, it got as far as Newport, Wales.

[@kristoffermangila]

@@STHSIndustries2K6 the crane maintenance crew and the operator, they didn't check the slings that carried the locomotive, thus it ruptured during the lift and the locomotive fell back to the cargo ship, bending its frame. Result, one unusable locomotive and one cargo ship going to an unscheduled drydock due to the damage to the hold.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

I’ve got some of the class 70s in my home country and they’re now in their 15th year of service

[@Southwest_923WR]

And the dainty little horn says;"pardon me please?"😂

[@petec2583]

It's so annoying how quiet they've made the horns on newer locos. Older 66s are still pretty decent but the later ones (and presumably the 70s, I don't sign them) are like why did I even bother 😂

[@retrozmachine1189]

More of a case that the rest of the world doesn't deafen everyone within a 10km radius. Research has shown time and time again that it's better to blow the horn occasionally so that people don't get used to it. In the event you need to actually warn someone of impending peril, that's when you go nuts with it. Same applies to many tram systems, ding ding for regular alerting, loud blaring horn for emergencies.

[@railvlogger1439]

Trains in the UK do not sound their horns when approaching crossings.

[@petec2583]

@@railvlogger1439 Unless there's a whistle board or we see something potentially unsafe...

[@Eddiecurrent2000]

Actually it's saying "do you mind awfully, if you might step aside dear fellow" 😉

[@HappyJigg]

I love the handrails and catwalks tacked on to the side

[@kristoffermangila]

The Class 70s are built that way...

[@TheRealAdamBussey]

​@kristoffermangila not quite, the one in the video has had the catwalks on the sides widened to US loading gauge it seems

[@mlptf]

It's cute seeing a British diesel locomotive tag teaming with American diesels.

[@tomrogers9467]

Looks like “Take your kid to work day”. For loco daddy.

[@k5elevencinc0]

🤣💯

[@IowaGrandpaTrain]

Great catch! My guess is that Wabtec is using it to test new components for possible use in the European market. The fact that they added US handrails to it suggests that it will be used more often for that purpose.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Not sure what they would sell in Europe. Certainly not signaling gear, Wabtec refuses to make an ETCS/ERTMS system since it would be less profitable than their US only I-ETMS system. But Wabtec also keeps suing to prevent US railroads from adopting ETCS/ERTMS even though ETCS and ERTMS are open source standards that anyone can make equipment for.

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

@@mrvwbug4423 They do sell locomotives to the Austrailian Market, as well as GB as referenced by that unit, so its not like they are trying to venture into new territory. Also its not like they have much say in what system is used, the U.S mandated PTC on all class 1 trains, so the European system kinda cant be used anyway.

[@railworksamerica]

That Freightliner being coupled to the US locos makes it looks like a MOW unit!

[@NVRAMboi]

My exact thoughts as I first watched it.

[@Wessexshire]

Interesting to see the size differences between our gauges. Very apparent how restrictive the UK gauge actually is. Good catch.

[@Mercmad]

I used to do this type of load testing back in the early 70's when working for the NZR in New Zealand. We would couple a New GE loco to a older(a lot older) EMD and pull it up a bank, with the EMD using it's dynamic brake. .On this bank was a tunnel and more than once we could induce a flashover in the traction motors on the unfortunate EMD which would light up the tunnel for brief moment. Amazing how much load can be induced this way and the new General Electric 7FDL-12 would be spewing smoke and sparks as it struggled against the EMD.We coulod get the turbo gauge to read full boost. The GE DX class were supposed to more powerful etc but they were hopelessly unreliable at first with the compressor shafts coming adrift (large shaft flailing about at 1000 RPM made a mess!) .Turbo housing bolts were the wrong grade and were failing and had to be replaced.

[@stephankoenig5481]

Great memory! It seems like those kind of issues are common here too.

[@lilbill6089]

The little Freightshaker gets to come out and play with the big boys!

[@TheRailfanDan]

What a wild thing to see this combination and makes a locomotive like this look even smaller next to what we are used to in the US.

[@wolfpacw]

Certainly a good way to visualise the massive size difference between US and UK locomotives... Gives a rough idea how big Aussie locos (aside from the US imports to WA) would look like side by side too, wow!

[@doesithaveanengine]

I was very confused for a second I was like is this America or the UK 😂

[@cr10001]

Could only be America, in UK the test train wouldn't get far before there was an embarrassing crunch! :)

[@doesithaveanengine]

this is very true

[@mrvwbug4423]

The American locomotives wouldn't get far before taking out some 100+ year old brick viaduct

[@tracynation2820]

Super. I have a new reason to have foreign models on my North American themed train layout. 💙 T.E.N.

[@NW-gi1cp]

A British train pulling an American freight train would go hard ngl

[@jps1179]

So 70012 was returned to GE thru Norfolk va via a roro ship. We called it the banana loco. The rig was on a British truck and trailer with a British driver. He drove off the ship to the rail head where 70012 was loaded onto a flat car for transport to Ohio. Never thought it was still here!

[@markvogel5872]

That's a cool thing to see!

[@chuchtinit6624]

Awesome video! Thanks for posting this. If you get another opportunity to see it running though, could you try to catch the coupling point perpendicular as it passes? I’d love to get a better view of the buffers and 3-link on an American locomotive in use.

[@Heavyweight37716]

as a person who lives near the main base of the 70's in the u.k it feels weird seeing one of our own in the u.s

[@s_rv.]

1:39 has to be the sharpest K3 i’ve ever heard

[@user-bk6qo5mu2o]

the difference in size between the locos is crazy

[@nige2820]

The standard gauge in Ireland is 5 foot three inches. Both Northern Ireland Railways and Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) in the Republic run GM diesels, mainly the 6 axle class 201 built in Canada. The majority of passenger services generally consist of bland multiple units but the Enterprise train between Belfast and Dublin is loco hauled by a class 201. Even with the 6.5 inch larger gauge the locos are diminutive compared to their US equivalent.

[@awesometrainsandbuses694]

Wow a class 70 in the United States!

[@billybellend1155]

That’s where they are built.

[@captainminecraft631]

The double cab is perfect for switching directions!

[@astygmatyzm9071]

Yeah, I've always wondered why North American locos are usually single cab.

[@maddisonhasley4369]

I never knew the UK and the US ran on the same track gauge, it's quite funny seeing those big American locos being towed by that teeny tiny Class 70, It looks so proud at the front there

[@StartersOrders]

Track gauge yes (1435mm), however the US loading gauge is basically several feet higher (nearly double in the west!) and a foot wider.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Amazing the difference in the height of the locomotives, but this is already a thing when we see a class 66 next to other locomotives on the continent of Europe where the loading gauge is also taller and wider than in the UK. The UK loading gauge is 3,5ft lower than the US standard for non excess height vehicles. The older loading gauge for locomotives in Continental Europe to which locomotives are mostly built sits in the middle between the UK and US. The latest loading gauge in Europe used for freight vehicles and double decker passenger stock is somewhat similar to AAR plate C, depending on country the width can be between 2" narrower up to 2" wider than the 10'8" in the AAR specifications. Locomotives stick to the older dimensions so that they can run on all lines, including those not rebuilt to newer standards. Except for the Betuweroute in the Netherlands, a newly built freight line which has an allowed height similar to AAR plate H of 20'2", no lines in Europe are suited for double stack containers. This was done with the expection that a new route between Europe and China would be built to these standards. With the current political situation this plan has be halted, the chance that we ever see double stacked trains on this line is nil. For use internally in Europe it would make no sense as rebuilding the old connecting routes is just too expensive, tunnels, bridges and overhead electric lines all need to be raised in height.

[@detroitdieselseries5071]

Could a SD40-2 run on European rails like in Germany or Poland?

[@AB-eh9uh]

US market SD40 2 would likely be too wide & close to the height limit for the German loading gauge, although a UK class 59 (closely based on US SD 40 2) was based in Germany for working heavy freight consist’s until a few years ago - I realise that’s not exactly what you asked though!

[@Tom-Lahaye]

@@detroitdieselseries5071 On most European railways the width of the SD40-2 is just too wide. In Sweden and the Netherlands the wider loading gauge can accommodate the width, although in both countries the allowed height falls just a couple of inches short. On the lines with Russian 5' gauge in Eastern Europe it's not a problem, in Estonia there are former UP GE C30-7 and C36-7s running. The Russian loading gauge is the highest and widest in the world. The SP ML4000 locomotives however did do test runs in Germany, but they used a line which had a greater allowance for width and height than the German standards, also dimensions of these locomotives were kept within these tolerances, so the had the tucked in top part of the cabs and were slightly lower than other US locomotives, horns and hand rails were not fitted on the roof and also cab steps were not fitted during testing in Germany.

[@detroitdieselseries5071]

@@Tom-Lahaye I know a 2TE10 engine went on polish rails from Lithuania to Ukraine recently

[@Tom-Lahaye]

@@detroitdieselseries5071 Poland and Slovakia have lines built at Russian 5ft gauge which cross the borders into former Soviet Union territory, here these locomotives can run, there also was a line trough Poland to Berlin on standard gauge of 4'8 1/2" which could accommodate the Russian passenger coaches, the bogies would be swapped from broad gauge to standard gauge where both gauges met.

[@Terrys-Steam-and-Cobi]

Awesome

[@kieranstravels]

It's so weird to see one of these alonfside the massive US locos! I see some of it's siblings regularly on the West Coast Main Line here.

[@armandoperez7967]

It is amazing that Brazilian Meter gauge engines are larger and heavier than standard gauge British engines. All locomotives are equally fascinating to watch though. I bet even the Dash 8-40BW four axle locomotive outweighs the Freightliner PH37ACi.

[@DistanceNsVeterans]

Those are American Locomotives Not Brazilian if you're talking about these Locomotives in the video.

[@AB-eh9uh]

If Wiki is to be believed, GE Class 70 is around 6 tonnes heavier than a Dash 8-40BW and over 1.5m (5ft) longer e.g 71ft versus 66ft, longer but sleeker.

[@happyburger23]

@@DistanceNsVeteranssurprise surprise Brazil imports American locomotives

[@DistanceNsVeterans]

@@happyburger23 Yeah I know.

[@beeble2003]

@@DistanceNsVeterans The OP is just saying that they're surprised that Brazilian metre-gauge locomotives are about the same size as US locomotives, whereas UK standard-gauge locomotives are significantly smaller. This appears counterintuitive, since a big locomotive feels like it would be unstable on narrower track (though, of course, they're just fine).

[@jasontaylor168]

Is it me or did it sound like the two GE's were in dynamic for load testing?

[@stephankoenig5481]

Yes they were!

[@bennygstrainvideos]

That's cool!

[@michiganrailfanfilms353]

So freakin’ happy to see 809 being used again. Hard to tell, was the 809 under power?

[@NorthShoreRails]

WHOA this is an X2/ICE caliber catch!

[@jamesburnside3023]

Nice catch and capture wondered what happened to that engine

[@MilkDrinker218]

I can only imagine the conversations these engines must have when we aren’t listening.

[@mybeasty3560]

Probably goes along the lines of " Yo bro, why y'al known as Fuglies over the pond?"

[@mrvwbug4423]

Something along the lines of "dude the brake lines go the other way here"

[@AndreiTupolev]

Also interesting to hear the level crossing horn code being played on a British two tone horn

[@mrvwbug4423]

you can hear it on the new Amtrak Avelia Liberty trains as well. Amtrak decided to let Alstom keep the TGV two tone horn on it. Vastly different from the K5L of the OG Acelas

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

I saw two Athearn genesis locomotives lettered CSX going by.

[@LucasTrains1]

Imagine a Class 37 paired with some American diesels, that would be one heck of a sight with the thrash and the horns.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Once you adapted the brakes, US/UK brakes connect opposite of each other.

[@terrier_productions]

TBH I forget how small our trains are compared the American’s.

[@Talesfromtherails8277]

Lol

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@ZillaJr0527ProductionsCan you imagine how big they would be if the U. S. had adopted the Erie Six-foot gauge, or the UK the original Great Western Seven-foot gauge?

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@ZillaJr0527ProductionsLook them up. Not a secret. Before the 1880s there were several different mainline gauges in use in the U. S. That partly hampered moving men and supplies in the American South during the Civil War. The Erie RR had about the widest U. S. gauge. The famed British engineer and inventor Isambard Kingdom Brunel was Chief Engineer of the Great Western Ry. and had it built to a broad gauge of 7' 1/4", for purposes of stability, capacity and speed. After his death in 1859, Great Britain mandated that all mainline railways be conformed to the common standard gauge of 56.5". But imagine what could have been done in terms of speed and equipment size if a broader gauge had been adopted generally!

[@Mauscmkwk]

The scale is impressive

[@LegoWormNoah101]

I can imagine back in the 90s, EMD would've been doing something similar with a JT42CWR unit

[@DKS225]

70012 was being unloaded at Newport when it fell back into the cargo hold from a height of about 20 feet.

[@EE12CSVT]

It fell onto the concrete of the dockside

[@johnsmart964]

It is like a narrow gauge locomotive with standard gauge wheels. Many of them are now in G & W Orange colour scheme.

[@camerar1]

Actually, none have been repainted into G&W Orange. Some were delivered to Colas Rail, which wear a different yellow, orange and black scheme.

[@johnsmart964]

@@camerar1 Thank you, sir for that important information, it is the other great American locomotive at work with Freightliner, the class 66 which is receiving the orange paint scheme. Thank you for the correction, no doubt they will get around to repainting them in orange as time marches forward. I am surprised that no British railroad has wanted to buy that class 70 as it seems to be in good enough condition and they have been reengining old locomotives with modern American ones.

[@westerleighwerek1493]

Thats weird seeing them together having photted all the 70's bar this one and several UP loco's in California recently !

[@AliGroves450]

Odd seeing the Class 70's with larger GE locomotives but its not the first time I have seen it. (GE U20C/GE C30) I wonder if 70012 is finally heading into service in the UK?

[@stephankoenig5481]

Its been here for over 12 years. They use it to test upgrades to other units.

[@AliGroves450]

@@stephankoenig5481 Alright

[@clive8907]

Good work horses the 70s as are the 66s in the UK

[@robertdavies7664]

Is it possible to visit the WABTEC Works at Erie? Can 70012 be seen from a public place when it is stabled inside the Works?

[@stephankoenig5481]

They don't do tours but it is usually seen from Franklin Avenue.

[@pietjebell]

Awesome Railfan video 👍👍👍👍👍🚂

[@thebigtrainguy]

Trainspot*

[@Kelvin_Trekker]

Wow great catch I remember seeing in railway magazine an EWS GE Class 66 coupled with a Wisconsin Central SD40 & SD40-2 mind you EWS and Wisconsin Central have similar colors and design in paint scheme.

[@michaelfaussett6508]

Nice to see a UK locomotive on are railroad would love to see more i love the design of them and even locomotives from other countries would like to see on are rail lines i like all different tip of locomotives don't care where there from.

[@TheosTrainsWalesOfficial]

Hey-hey! Nice to see you lot testing out some of our fleet! These and the pretty much extinct Class 58's have US freight style bodyshell walkways, so I had a feeling you lot would give them a go!

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

This is just a test bed for any future upgrades to the class 70, it’s not being tested for any possible commercial use here.

[@GEVOlutionCPKC]

Amazing hunting 🔥

[@Nate0493]

Good to see it back, wonder if there’s plans to finally bring it back over?

[@beeble2003]

I'm not aware of any plans to bring it back to the UK. GE are using it as a testbed, presumably so they can test any potential modifications to the UK fleet.

[@stephankoenig5481]

They already built a replacement for it years ago. It helps to research locomotive tech for the UK here.

[@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire]

@@stephankoenig5481 Which loco was built to replace it because I can't find the replacement for it.

[@stephankoenig5481]

@@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire It was the last one in the class i was told.

[@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire]

@@stephankoenig5481 Just wondering because there are 37 members of the class including 70012, with 30 members being ordered by Freightliner and 7 being ordered by Colas Railfreight. With what I could see is there was no replacement built for 70012.

[@TaylorMMontgomery]

why do the UK locos have such funky lighting set ups?

[@Dan-Athema]

The lights designate what type of train it is, e.g express passenger, passenger or freight etc

[@Freddybear437]

This is a great example at how small British trains are

[@fels4798]

Wtf, amazing 👍

[@Stefan8u]

As a Brit it's crazy seeing the size comparison. I don't have too much knowledge on the specifics of US traction but the units it's with I'm fairly sure are of an average size for US freight operations? Goes to show (and this is a common opinion) that UK rail infrastructure could do with some lessening of curves and heightening of tunnels etc. on it's freight routes at least. Though I think both sides of the pond are equally keen for upgrades of any kind to our rail infrastructure! Thanks for posting it doesn't seem often that we get a direct comparison.

[@stephankoenig5481]

More tests are coming for the 70012, Thanks for watching!

[@RealMeggy]

so strange to see UK train pulling US Trains :O

[@pauledwards2817]

Rolling stock for tilting trains in the uk is quite cosy for passengers, close to budget aircraft window seat. Mind your head getting up. Double deck, they tried once with a sort of 1.5 deck with minimal increase in capacity and slower loading times, they were urban units.

[@xxfyrezgamerxx6279]

First time finding out about this, so glad they repaired it and didnt scrap it like british rail scrapped their old BR Steam Locomotives

[@Mauscmkwk]

809 should be in a museum

[@wbshoggoth6831]

The banana loco! :D

[@nickclark2278]

Looks like they’ve extended the side gangways out to the American loading gauge - to make it more compatible with platforms??

[@stephankoenig5481]

A safety requirement for the US.

[@jackandrews3181]

that locomotive in the middle, GE 809 looks like it has a similar cab model or shape as the Irish Rail 071 Class locomotive, if you don't believe that, you can confirm that by looking up the IE 071 class loco in Bing or Google Images and you'll see that it and GE 809 have sort of the same or similar cab model or shape, especially if you take a look at their foward facing window layouts you can tell that GE 809 and IE 071 Class' cabs look similar to each other

[@stephankoenig6113]

They do look similar. Back when it was designed the us roads favored a 3 window design but soon found it was better for 2 large ones.

[@STHSIndustries2K6]

Oh wow. A 6 axle UK beast used as a testbed.

[@notverydeep9726]

Would 70012 ever be allowed out of the test facility to haul a rail-tour (which might be referred to as a railfan trip in the US) or would it need more US specific equipment? In the UK these special passenger trains are quite popular with some UK railfans as opportunities for trips behind freight company locos are quite rare...

[@stephankoenig5481]

It likely will stay in the plant.

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

No, it doesn’t meet regulation, doesn’t have a 3rd mounted headlight, no front anti climber to prevent an automobile or other locomotive/rolling stock from climbing into the cab space in an accident. Doesn’t have North American safety couplers, lacks PTC equipment, I’m sure it doesn’t have automatic signal displays in the cab, and it’s likely the cab doesn’t fit the safety standards of a North American style safety cab. It would also come down to the freight railroads allowing or disallowing the 70012 to operate an excursion train over their company’s rails and it’s likely, given the reasons above they wouldn’t allow it for liability and potential damage to the rails although that wouldn’t be an issue that’s more for steam locomotives.

[@notverydeep9726]

@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 Thanks - I suspected that this would be the case. I assume also the damage from the dockside incident means that it can't be made fit for sale to another UK operator - where several much older freight locos (class 56s and perhaps in future class 60s) are being repowered, suggesting that a lower price 'nearly new' loco would find a buyer otherwise.

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

@@notverydeep9726 idk about it not be able to be resold to another UK buyer, I’d assume that it’s expensive to ship a locomotive across the ocean, also it’s likely in its current configuration it doesn’t meet modern emissions standards for the UK but I don’t know

[@elijahstevenson2546]

How's the British locomotive coupled up to the american diesels? The British engine has screw-link Couplings while the American diesels have Knuckle coupler.

[@elijahstevenson2546]

0:35 Never mind, I could see now. The American gray and red Diesel has buffers and screw-link Couplings at the back.

[@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044]

Also the British and European draught centre is 3'6 " and the American 2' 9" in addition to different types of coupler

[@modeltrainsandtracks]

Definitely needs a new horn if anyone plans to really run it in the US!

[@thebigtrainguy]

I like the current horn though, if the US ran these, I wish they would actually keep the horn

[@davidty2006]

nothing wrong with the 2 tone.

[@KCSRailstudios]

@@thebigtrainguyit’s too quiet. In the US trains are required to be heard at least 15 seconds before crossing a railroad crossing. Hence the loud 5-chime K5La’s and K5HL’s our locomotives have

[@DistanceNsVeterans]

Itll be Funny to see an American Rolling stock beside the Freightliner locomotive, And The Class 70 would still get dwarfed.

[@KCSM_1200]

me encanto el video

[@stephankoenig5481]

Thanks!

[@alexhajnal107]

I'm guessing the UP units are providing a simulated load via their dynamic brakes?

[@stephankoenig6113]

You are correct!

[@TomedysTrains]

That's so cool to see a Class 70 with North American-based GE diesel locomotives! I would hope that the Class 70 #70012 gets preserved someday and goes to a nearby railroad museum like the Lake Shore Railway Museum.

[@kristoffermangila]

Or better yet, modify it to pull passenger railcars and use it as an excursion engine!

[@rebaleasure9304]

That's Great, we remember seeing that locomotive get dropped...it was orange I think?

[@robertheinkel6225]

The double cab makes sense.

[@hoofie2002]

Pretty well every diesel loco in the UK has been dual cab except for shunters and one or two other exceptions like Class 20s and power cars like the HST which would top and tail a consist of passenger carriages for high speed cross country services.

[@norliasmith]

US Horn: We're here so keep the crossing area clear. UK Horn: Pardon me good chap but I must cross the road here, please clear yourself of the crossing area.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Very interesting catch! -Jenny

[@stephankoenig5481]

Thanks Jenny! Have a great week!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@stephankoenig5481 you're welcome! You also

[@csx4402]

I want one for my HO collection.

[@slammer7625]

So the freightliner loco is just pulling the other locos ? The other locos are not putting out any power ? Correct ?

[@desw9146]

Yes, in fact it seems the UP engines had their dynamic brakes set, to increase the effective load that 70012 was hauling.

[@slammer7625]

Thank you.

[@ffjsb]

Looks like it was built to haul freight at Disneyland...

[@tristanbentz224]

Aren’t the fright liner locomotives built of Sd40-2 frames so they could work with the American units as they have the same frame

[@lutomson3496]

Is bigger better? Never saw the quantification and qualification results including operating performance specs on whether smaller can perform

[@squelchedotter]

The main reason they're bigger is for crash safety. US regulations require special exemptions for crash energy management aka "crumple zones". These are pretty standard in the rest of the world because of high speed trains, but not in the US. In terms of power and so on there's not really a huge difference.

[@harryjsedgwick]

The British Rail’s Diesel Locomotive Co-Co Mainline Freight is Class 70 ‘GE PowerHaul’ Freightliner No.70012

[@harryjsedgwick]

Wow! The Class 70 Freightliner No.70012 is alive!