SD80MAC STRUGGLES to start Heavy Train!

I had recieved word that a SD80MAC was moving some hoppers around Sumner Street Yard (Ex-Wabash) to assemble into a train for Homestead Yard. The plan was to chase the train across East Toledo into Homestead, but all was lost. The loaded hoppers turned shunting into a fight, and the backwards movement up a slight incline caused the 5,000 Horsepower to slip with sand on the rails! Turn up the volume, sit back and enjoy!

[@cristianooliveira2291]

Freaking amazing!!! Awesome to hear that beautiful EMD music and with no horns screwing the show!!!!!!!

[@srivenkatvidyasubramanian6348]

Yes. This is a beautiful "JET ENGINE". This can be heard worlwide, including our country India 🇮🇳...

[@JishyFishy4106]

It sounds like a CFM56-7B Engine !!

[@ceccoonrailroad]

Estoy de acuerdo la mayoría de las veces las bocinas no nos dejan escuchar la música de los EMD👍.

[@TPW900GP35]

Yeah, and no crossing bells of any kind, especially the older ones that stay on!

[@lightpawshird]

Why is it I watch this and I can hear in my mind the voice of scotty, "I'm givin' er all she's got!"

[@mta224]

"If I push her too hard she'll blow!!!"

[@njgramm]

lol I was hearing in my mind "I think I can, I think I can..."

[@Roboticgladiator]

I love the smell of flaming traction motors in the morning. Smells like victory!

[@corymcdermott5096]

I honestly thought the guy that walked behind them was gonna ask "Would it help if I pushed?"

[@joeystrains.9316]

EPIC!

[@gordonvincent731]

I'm a retired engineer with 36 years. Been there, done this, many, many times. That's why we get the big bucks.

[@butwere3-0wou]

gordon vincent What was your salary as an engineer if you don’t mind me asking?

[@gordonvincent731]

@@butwere3-0wou Thank you for your kind reply, sorry it took so long fo me to respond. We freigh415.51t engineers got paid 2 ways. First, the total weight of the locomotive consist, then the mileage. 100 miles was the same as 8 hours. S. Kearny, NJ to Enola, PA was 194 miles, so I had 94 over miles. If I had 2 E44's at 390,000 lbs each , that's 780,000 lbs. total, then look at the chart and see what my rate would be and get out the little pocket computer and figure out my pay. When I worked Denver to Pueblo, I was making about $40,000.00 per year 1978-1981. I worked on the Mormon Turn (Fresno, CA to Stockton, CA 1982-1986 and was making about $44K a year on a 126 mile district local freight, working 6 days a week. I went to AMT at the start-up of zone 12. We were paid on an hourly rate of $15.51 per hour, no weight on drivers or mileage. For passenger work, that made perfect sense to me. When I retired Jan. 4, 2011, I was at $36.34 per hour, I think!?! After 36 years of engine service, they deducted over 1.9 million dollars from my checks!

[@smokeyjoe1034]

@mark robertson Pussy don't pay bills.

[@toddr.4630]

Just provide me with something good to eat & I'd be happy to do this for free 😝

[@gordonvincent731]

@@toddr.4630 Careful what you wish for my friend!

[@Charlesbjtown]

The amount of torque those electric motors can produce is amazing.

[@bradklingensmith]

Oh hell, it's the damn parking brake.

[@dannyjones3840]

I love it at about 4:30 he gets the bell ringing, as if that'll tell the train it's really time to get going lol

[@DavidBarnkow]

Power Desk to Engineer: "The computer says you have enough locomotive to move those cars."

[@alphonsotate2982]

No move if you have no GRIPPING friction OF THE WHEELS ON THE RAIL.

[@jerrylawrencedrums8224]

Engineer says to conductor, are you sure you hooked the air lines up properly releasing the brakes? You can hear the air valves chatter when he powers down the last time before moving.

[@patrickmorris394]

@@jerrylawrencedrums8224 the train was going up a one way

[@jerrylawrencedrums8224]

@@patrickmorris394 and? Did you not see the guy in orange on the other side of the railcar near the engine? He was probably checking airlines if the cars are coupled. Listen to the Air valves chatter right before he gets it moving. He was using a lot of power just to stop, then takes off moving much easier after you hear the air rush into the lines releasing the brakes.

[@TPW900GP35]

@@jerrylawrencedrums8224If he’s on a grade, and it seems he is, he don’t want the brakes to fully be fully released or he could run away, backwards, down the hill. He’ll want to be sure he’s gonna get it moving, first!? At least I think that’s right!

[@corwinbrelsford2626]

Not gonna lie... That beast roaring gave this old gear head chills... 😉😉😉

[@toddruss100]

woooo !!! nothing but raw turbo charged diesel HORSE POWER !!!!!!!!!!

[@mrbluesky2050]

sounds just like my washing machine at 1200 spin speed double hot wash LOL

[@inlandempirerailfan4269]

Shoutout to my washer enthusiasts out there

[@BryanRoparsPlasticChairWorld]

Yep me too - every time I do laundry that's exactly what I think it sounds like a nice EMD.

[@srivenkatvidyasubramanian6348]

Yes. Even my old washing machine sounded like this one ! Why older versions of washing machine sounded like Jet Engines ??

[@JishyFishy4106]

@@srivenkatvidyasubramanian6348 Bcoz it also has got some Electric-powered Turbo machines inside, though it is not Petroleum Gas-powered.

[@DomManInT1]

In India, they just have everybody get off and push.

[@gaelfortier2668]

there are probably only 4 person in the train...

[@DomManInT1]

@@gaelfortier2668 Yeah. That was part of the joke.

[@hanifshaikh875]

Lol Shit

[@hamannshaikh7398]

Lmao.....😂😂

[@crsrdash-840b5]

Actually, there is more truth to this. I've seen overloaded trains get stuck, the passengers get out and start pushing. It was the damnest thing I've ever seen and it actually works.

[@roballen5670]

Nice catch. Hear that roar. Awesome. EMD RULES!!

[@jasonbooth5141]

That's what I'm saying I'd gladly take a EMD any day

[@alphonsotate2982]

NONE RULES IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TRACTIVE EFFORT TO PULL THE WEIGHT

[@AmericanRailfan-gb8oq]

HELL YEAH LISTEN TO THAT BEAST!

[@deepharrow8520]

Mitchell DeVillers I'm in Pittsburgh for the summer I can hear these bad boys going up a grade behind my aunts house sounds so cool.

[@AmericanRailfan-gb8oq]

Nice!, I remember seing my first train, it had 4 AC6000's on it, and they were struggling!, I mean the ground was shaking when they wen't past, this was on CSX climbing the hill out of Columbus, OH.

[@deepharrow8520]

Mitchell DeVillers Im about to learn everything I can about these bad boys. those generators must be colossal to need a 5000hp engine . I can only imagine the torque

[@AmericanRailfan-gb8oq]

Donaven Moon Can you imagine what it would be like to here the sound of an SD90MAC-H if they were a success.

[@brancarr1]

Donaven Moon the torque the traction Motors produce is incredible. Although it's not measured by torque, rather tractive effort. Regardless, these beasts were designed with one thing in mind. Pulling power

[@harris9784]

Big 6 axle EMD power .Love it. But, partial to a good old 4 axle Geep 9 grinding up hill too. Beautiful music!!

[@PhoenixRising251]

Now that's a REAL hybrid! 💪👊

[@308hit]

I ran a few 80"s on the B&A... love them.

[@pennsyr1]

He should've just followed the "One Way" sign. Wouldn't have had to struggle to move the cars then. :-)

[@highgreenstudios963]

Technically... He is! lol facing the same way as the sign haha

[@flyboy2610]

Where's a Y6-B when ya need one? Reminds me of Thomas and the problems he had with those ornery freight cars!

[@FS2K4Pilot]

That beastie has the same horsepower and more tractive effort than a Y6B.

[@iBackshift]

EMD 710.....foreverrrr.. Great to listen to with good headphones on; hear the beat of the EMD drumming.

[@hughjardon5869]

20 cylinders of power, what a sound. Sounds great on my 7 channel home theater.

[@Johnny64ism]

16cylinders

[@bellaxxi4116]

@@Johnny64ism SD80MACs have 20 cylinders

[@Johnny64ism]

20 cylinders of power and she still had trouble pulling the train.....but she did eventually. Which makes me wonder did they add a helper engine to the rear of the train 🚂

[@johnbrown9092]

What a superb sounding engine.

[@gswSD60]

A single SD80mac although powerful in its own right, clearly at least two are needed here to pull this train upgrade.

[@beeble2003]

The issue is not power, but tractive effort. The SD80 has the necessary power but it doesn't have the grip on the rails to actually use that power to start the train. Probably something like an SD40+GP38 would have had less trouble -- still 5000hp but spread over ten axles rather than six, so better able to get the power to the rails without slipping. (Or, better still, a pair of SD40s, but that's not a fair comparison as it gives an extra 1000hp.)

[@bnsflover7062]

American Power

[@supersaiyangamer24abreu56]

⁠@@beeble2003Would making them a bit heavier like an CW44AH/ES44AH for example maybe work better for that grip on the rail or would it basically be useless to do I’ve always wondered if they were necessarily “heavy enough” but then again I’m pretty sure they were heavy enough

[@beeble2003]

@@supersaiyangamer24abreu56 They both weigh about 215 tons. I'm not sure it's possible to get much heavier on a six-axle locomotive without damaging the track.

[@supersaiyangamer24abreu56]

@@beeble2003 Right on makes sense it just popped in my head After watching and reading yours and others comments but I definitely forgot about damage to the track etc as well thanks for the answer!

[@WhiteRiverRails]

Amazing video! Loved listening to the notch ups!

[@serge933]

Fantastic video! Thank you for this

[@Jbay2608]

Fuck that sound is beautiful...Raw diesel power from the primary mover.

[@josephheniny7328]

love the sound of that raw horse power

[@peteacher52]

Who was the celebrated brains-trust who decreed that a single loco would handle that load? I'd make him try pulling a 20' tandem caravan over the Rockies with a Honda City.

[@Rammstein45]

"SD80MAC" and Struggles: don't go in the same sentence together. She's giving an encouraging nudge.

[@gk10002000]

according to the specs the rpm range was 200 rpm up to 904 rpm. Remember the prime role of the diesel is to drive the electrical generators. The technical details of this locomotive model are as follows:[3] Prime mover Electro-Motive Diesel V-20 710G3B-ES Displacement: 14,200 cubic inches (233 L) Idle: 200 rpm Full speed: 904 rpm Lube oil capacity: 510 US gal (1,900 l; 420 imp gal) Cooling water capacity: 342 US gal (1,290 l; 285 imp gal) Fuel capacity: 5,800 US gal (22,000 l; 4,800 imp gal) Main alternator Electro-Motive Diesel TA22-CA8A Maximum voltage: 2600 V DC Maximum current: 8100 A Traction motors 6 Siemens 1TB2830 AC motors mounted 3 each on 2 HTCR-2 Radial Self Steering trucks. Rated output: 638 kW (856 hp) Gearing: 83:16 Wheel size: 45 in (1,143 mm) Max revolutions: 3,435 rpm Starting torque: 16,300 N⋅m (12,000 lbf⋅ft) Continuous torque: 12,900 N⋅m (9,500 lbf⋅ft) Maximum voltage: 2,183 V Performance Maximum speed: 75 mph (121 km/h) Starting tractive effort: 185,000 lbf (820 kN) Continuous tractive effort: 147,000 lbf (650 kN) Braking effort: 96,000 lbf (430 kN)) Weight: 210 short tons (187.5 long tons; 190.5 t); 420,000 lb (190,500 kg))

[@jerrylawrencedrums8224]

Doesent matter if the brakes are still on, you can hear the air valves shutter when he powers down the last time, then it moves no problem, I think they forgot to send air to the cars releasing the brakes lol. Ive seen diesels kick the nose slightly up and to the right starting a hard pull it was really pretty cool looking seeing 390.000 pounds do that. go to 6:30 and listen to the air fill the cars a few seconds later

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

@@jerrylawrencedrums8224 yep what you said

[@SvenTSchixe]

Well done my friend!!

[@garyrunnalls7714]

I love the locomotives and the awesome way they power frieght cars. Beautiful engineering!

[@laddy819]

I love those Trinity 5161 covered hoppers. I'm glad I have 3 of the NS cars in 2 rail O scale.

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

Another beautiful NS day 😂😂😂

[@ekt8750]

This is why this will always be my favorite locomotive

[@RailFan1981]

Epic catch & sound!!!!!!

[@privateerbouncher9622]

SD80Mac: "I can't do it, those trucks are too heavy!" Engineer: "You're not even trying"

[@crsrdash-840b5]

And this is why no train from America ever visited Sodor. They would show off too much!

[@tedc5387]

Great video, too bad NS did not leave a few of them in the Conrail scheme

[@HNT63]

Thanks for posting

[@RichRockster]

Just needed more cow bell!

[@m94neves57]

The best SD80 video I've ever seen!

[@davidyeager9186]

The little engine that could I think I can I think I can

[@craigmiller332]

Great video!

[@dr.leonardhofstadter5866]

The SD80MAC was the best diesel locomotive built, it out preformed the SD90MAC. Which was plagued with electrical problems, I love the SD80MAC, awesome video. 👍👍👍

[@Shane-Singleton]

It is a beast! I love the good old SD40-2's but man the SD80 is a monster by comparison.

[@kleetus92]

The SD90's biggest problem was grenading the engine block... They discovered there's a practical limit to the horsepower one can apply to a rolling power plant! But the 80's were serious beasts.

[@BlakesTrainsandMore4014]

I love the sound of a Notch 8 EMD

[@hughjardon5869]

Now that is music!

[@royhoco5748]

some one go knock off all those handbrakes

[@crsrdash-840b5]

That was what I first thought too! Did you see those Trinity 5161 cu ft covered hoppers? The cars wheels were slipping too!

[@corymcdermott5096]

That turbo is screaming! Love it....

[@TommyZTrains]

Had you zoomed in a bit, you'd of WON an Academy Award here ! Great Clip !!

[@RailfannerTheo]

And I thought EMD 8000 would be able to haul all of this... She eventually did but the fact the conductor and engineer had to try numerous times to get her going is crazy.

[@slashmaster2]

SD80mac was making a JACKASS sound!💯

[@JungleYT]

Gawd, that sounds sweet, though! Can also hear the brakes pressuring up and down...

[@srivenkatvidyasubramanian6348]

It sounds exactly like a 16N-710G3C-U2, used in SD70M-II, but with 4 more cyls.

[@Cnw8701]

Goin' long-hood forward! Yee-yeet!

[@spacecalander]

wow those traction motors got hot, those fans were on full on the last shot.

[@b3j8]

Heatin up those traction motors! Oh yeah.

[@TarHeelBrit]

excellent video thanks. I think I sat too close to the screen, I can smell the fumes coming from the engine. Poor thing sounded like it was going to have a heart attack.

[@mohankrishna1443]

May be ur screen was burning man

[@norfolksouthernguy9350]

awesome i saw SD80MAC 7217 few days ago leading a freight train

[@shariys1]

"Sand rains down and here I sit ...."

[@frostgfx]

Someone goofed the floof on the train tonnage I suspect... Just think how shiny those rails will be,

[@haroldreardon1407]

No slipping, so no gouging of rails.

[@jaysonthetrainmasterprofil221]

this engine is strong they never gonna give up :D

[@charleskesner1302]

Very cool.

[@ericstarling9982]

I honestly don't think he was struggling. I noticed all the grain cars were of NS origin. I think he was showing off. LOL GREAT sound! Disclaimer: I don't know much about the different engine manufacturers. I am still learning more as I go and research.

[@chandlerbranchrailfanprodu5928]

Rails of Highland Valley Brought Me Here

[@JungleYT]

Sounds Sweet, but got damn Dennis... Call in for some reinforcement to take up the rear!

[@toyotasupra6731]

ToledoRails: If you look closely at the rear wheel set on the engine, it appeared like some of the wheels were not turning freely as if the brakes were not releasing properly, i could be wrong but that's what it looked like to me, good vid though, loved to hear the engine roar.

[@lrichardm]

Look carefully, you'll see the wheels are slipping ever so slightly. It's by design.

[@damienhill6383]

Traction control does that ..

[@richardgerlach5156]

Well there it is folks! The only engine NS has left from it's formerly massive roster!

[@amtrak706]

This comment wins lmao

[@squirrelorama]

Hahaha! "Gittin' er done with the very last one"

[@ZEZERBING]

The little engine that couldn't.

[@Otacatapetl]

So what did he do differently the last time?

[@eddieg749]

Nice video

[@oriontheraptor8119]

I was waiting for the locomotives engine and electric motor to abandon ship in a fiery blaze XD

[@alphonsotate2982]

The breakers would cut out first.

[@emiel333]

Great video. I’ve subscribed.

[@tonyv8925]

Man! I bet those traction motors got hot! whew!

[@jamesvance8456]

AC can take it

[@Ferrosteph]

what finaly make the difference?

[@mta224]

Such a struggle even with 5000 horses and AC traction,damn.

[@8thnotchjoe2000]

Cause they were SOLO with possibly. 6K feet of train and 5-7K tons. Gives it away as to why this SD80MAC was struggling!

[@srivenkatvidyasubramanian6348]

Is AC stronger than DC

[@mohankrishna1443]

@@srivenkatvidyasubramanian6348 not at all dc traction motors are more powerful at starting push

[@srivenkatvidyasubramanian6348]

@@mohankrishna1443 Then, DG4 and DP4 should be converted from GT46MAC/PAC to GT46MDC/PDC...

[@srivenkatvidyasubramanian6348]

Dude ! This 20-710 *"JET ENGINE"* power is not able to do because of AC traction. If it was a DC, it could have done a great job...

[@bikertyp]

Hmmm... one way track ? Did not know SD80 was able to read that.... :-P

[@kdabaviation5032]

I went to the Enola Yard in Enola PA and I saw this unit just sitting there. It's actually my profile picture!

[@JishyFishy4106]

July 2017.. when I was in Grade-6.. I was in India (I'm still in India only) and never knew anything about this Beast.. by the time I knew it in Early 2019, it was too late like heck for me, for it was its final service year.. The very next year, it went to its Grave 🪦.. RIP Beast (1996-2020), Aged 23/24..

[@mrp8488]

The train has to just keep repeating, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

[@slv777darshan]

***JET ENGINE*** !! Sounds like as if a 747 is going to full throttle, *but unable* to lift the loads and Take-Off LOL !

[@joeystrains.9316]

Where are my headphones!!?? SUBBED!!

[@25mfd]

Need some more NS stallions.

[@TwoWeekCowboy]

Yeah. At least one more Superdave sure wouldn't have hurt.

[@clivefive4081]

more power scotty

[@TwoWeekCowboy]

But Captain!...I'm givin' it all I've got!

[@whiteknightcat]

I cannae give 'er any more or she'll tear 'erself aparrrt!

[@LetsGoChaseThatTrain]

Liked (loved, actually) and subscribed.

[@j.b.productions8479]

She's giving it all she's got captain 😆😆😆😆😆

[@kgosimookodithemechanicale2988]

That is one Heavy load

[@paulquick8806]

My only comments are EMD's sound awesome from echoing ,across a river valley,,and they aren't called "Toasters" 🚂👍👍

[@bangwezl]

Well, Zeke, are ya going frontways or backward?? OR just checking out the tachometer?

[@stephenwissel7902]

That damm clean durn, just needs a little smoke to come out of the stack.

[@dblkrailfan]

That's an EMD. They can handle any load. They may just need a moment. Her 5000hp AC traction handled it. I bet she'll do even better when she is converted to an SD80ACu that will produce 5500hp.

[@0011clem]

those traction motors would be getting very hot.

[@bellaxxi4116]

Engineer: “come on get moving!” Locomotive: “I am unable to can”

[@trevorjosephmedia1550]

1:16 “Boys.... this aint gonna work...”

[@MegaGeorge1948]

Instead of beating the crap out of one engine moving the load why not double head with another unit?

[@trainsbangsandautomobiles824]

Not beating on it, they are designed for this kind of thing. One of the Main reasons they switch from DC to AC when building the MAC's was to limit burned out traction motors when doing this very thing. Calling in another unit would take time, and time is money.

[@K-mk6pc]

Uneconomical lol!!!

[@t.t.6398]

Because NS power desk tells us engineers that 1 engine is all we need and all we can have. The idiots read how much power the engine made BRAND NEW and they can't understand how it doesn't make that much power after 10 or 15 years!

[@flyboy2610]

@@t.t.6398 I run into the same thing out at work. Management just doesn't comprehend that what the math says is not the way things work in the real world.

[@Shane-Singleton]

@@t.t.6398 Wait wait... wait......... So... you're telling me that a 15 year old locomotive, likely having not been rebuilt. Doesn't produce the exact same amount of tractive effort that a brand spanking new one does!? lol kidding aside I know the struggles of management trying to do "more with less" and not realizing the reality of wear and tear.

[@shnimmuc]

Great Get

[@beeble2003]

Engineer shoulda paid attention to the "One way" sign!

[@JosephCee]

Just listen to all that power, sounds like a jet engine.

[@JishyFishy4106]

Exactly. It sounds like TF33 and F103 mixed 2gether

[@TwoWeekCowboy]

Come on, 7228. You can do it! I'm pullin' for ya' (sorry!) Lol

[@slv777darshan]

In what ways is the Axel load related to the No. Of Cylinders ??

[@hectorlivesoundful]

The Sound of EMD

[@richardforschler2448]

A proper break test, and having some air compressor issues all good in about 20 min

[@FS2K4Pilot]

Must be an Athearn Genesis unit. ScaleTrains would've had no trouble with that train. Sorry, wrong scale.😉