Metra's NEW SD70MACH Inside Look + Runbys!

At Franklin Park Railroad Days this year, Metra brought down one of their brand new rebuilt SD70MACH's to put on display at the train station. It was pretty cool getting to tour the locomotive, especially since it hasn't hit the rails yet in commuter service. I tried my best to get footage without clogging up the line behind me, so I apologize if it's seems a little rushed at times. After the event was over, I got some more shots from the ground of the Metra display departing with the SD70MACH and Metra #405 in its Milwaukee Road heritage paint!
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[@Buchananfarms]

Metra has always had great looking paint schemes

[@nuc9901]

Neighbors are gonna love the deafening horns.

[@TheRealRajo6466]

Even though the wheel arrangement being decrease from C-C to B1-1B, its nice that old locomotives in North America get another chance to be operation again

[@rearspeaker6364]

I keep forgetting that detail, do know they have the same HEP system as the Alaska RR. SD70macs have.

[@kristoffermangila]

But unlike the SD70MACHs, the Alaska Railroad SD70MACs are still C-C.

[@atomstarfireproductions8695]

@@rearspeaker6364 No, the Alaska RR SD70MACs has a setup with only two inverters. They can either power one bogie or supply power for the passenger cars, so during normal passenger operation one bogie is disabled and only 3 axles are powered. Therefore, they usually use two locomotives in a consist as one bogie is not enough tractive effort. I learned this when I was chatting with an engineer who worked for Progress Rail

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@atomstarfireproductions8695 And I read the article of the ARR's unique HEP system-Glad we are in agreement!!

[@thomasmackowiak]

Thank you for going to Franklin Park, Illinois for their Railroad Days celebration and using your camera as you toured Metra's #503 SD70MACH, Sam! I have seen a couple of other videos to #503 but this is the first video that have seen of the cab interior.

[@rearspeaker6364]

does not have a toilet in the nose...

[@greenchevy5764]

Metra sure do love their EMD!

[@paulmoreno6279]

What a beauty!

[@thebops4180]

Awesome locomotive!

[@EagleCreekRailRoad]

Probably the coolest thing I’ll see this week!! Thanks for sharing👍🏻

[@tristanexists1806]

If that's the case than your a foamer, end of story

[@dcunningham5402]

​​​@@tristanexists1806 🤡 Just so we're clear, I'm defending eagle. Not this clown Tristan

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Love to see it!

[@electrictractiontrainsandt3063]

These look amazing!👍

[@railsofwesternwashington6877]

Wow that’s nice! The cab looks great!

[@angelmalarkey7946]

It looks so good

[@IGuessIDoThings]

Man I can’t wait for these locos to go into revenue service, I don’t even live in Chicago and I’m still excited

[@8HumblePie]

Holy Madonna

[@F40M07]

Legend has it these can go 450 mph

[@tristanexists1806]

Legend has it foamers adore this

[@Steven_Williams]

Outstanding video! Thanks for sharing!

[@RetiredEE]

Nice video, sharp looking engine!

[@dwkcamman611]

Awesome work as always!!

[@arrow1414]

Nice! A lot of scale modelers are thanking you for all of the close up shots!

[@RailfanRene]

The 70MACH Is my next favorite METRA engine, but I think the F59PH is still my favorite…

[@markswenson8439]

I am a first time viewer and I just subscribed. Keep up the good work

[@TracksideFoxnFuntimeFox]

Man, aint she a beauty!! I presume it will stay in better condition longer since its freight hauling days are over. Speaking of which, that thing looks new inside and out!

[@MetraUPNWproductions7202]

This SD70 will run on the UP lines. But depending on 215 and 216 we could see some assigned to MD and if they do then the SD70s will start their duty later than expected

[@BossSpringsteen69]

The event recorder has a nice cozy spot where the toilet usually sits. The many times I've needed a toilet at the most inconvenient time. Glad i don't work commuter service.

[@tomstarcevich1147]

Nice looking locomotive 🚂 👌

[@carlstclair9920]

Awesome video was there also got plenty of still photos of 503

[@alpharailroadproductions]

Awesome video!

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thank you!

[@mgr_video_productions]

Awesome catch.

[@centraliowarailproductions2810]

Nice video!

[@lubzeN]

Nice!

[@Rndmstff737]

Love the horn

[@victortrainlife3150]

Random Stuff YEAH! BUT FOR THE OTHER ONE THEY DID NOT USE IT AS A HELPER UNIT!

[@Trainlover1995]

I hate it. The Raised Letter K5LAs sound like shit. Why couldn’t they have used P5s? Surely, they could just reuse the ones from the F40s they’re retiring?

[@KCTopDawg]

Cool Sam

[@brandonharrischannel7516]

Wow that’s new

[@mccoy79productions66]

very nice video, keep u good work

[@IlikeCatF]

Nice video. It makes me wonder if Metra will continue to buy this type of locomotive for its fleet.

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thanks! I believe Metra already has most of their MACHs, but some could still be out testing. I know one was being tested out in Pueblo.

[@kishascape]

I will continue to buy more for them to keep it going :3

[@tristanexists1806]

@kishascape how about buy them some actual passenger locomotives and not converting a fucking freight diesel spend your money wisely foamer

[@MarcelosalivaTRENESArg]

Excellent video 💯 my friend fantactic Capture Like 👍🏻 Greeting 🙋🏻

[@SamLovesTrains]

Thanks! Greetings!

[@brandonharrischannel7516]

A new engine for metra

[@TracksideFoxnFuntimeFox]

Wait... does this mean there's a chance of a long hood forward run in the future!?!?

[@kristoffermangila]

Probably not.

[@alco251b9]

That LED gyra light is quite odd

[@doct0rnic]

The path lights are a nice improvement

[@tristanexists1806]

The locomotive as a whole is not a nice improvement

[@AuroricSkies]

@@tristanexists1806 shut up

[@user-bz8bl1kr2p]

Do you work for metra or was there some way they let you tour it?

[@anthonywarrener1881]

A truly superb loco ! When will they enter service, and which route will they be rostered ?

[@MetraFan402]

They will be assigned to the BNSF line

[@victortrainlife3150]

but why are they using the sd70mach as a freight helper unit instead of a driver unit for passenger ?! >:(

[@xray606]

That's a AAA paint job. Bet that wasn't cheap. I assume they'll probably use these on the Aurora line, since they run such long trains.

[@glenbard657]

They had some problems on those lines and the BNSF banished them. They are all operating on the two former Milwaukee Road lines. I photographed six of them in service yesterday in Chicago.

[@lowellvillerailfanproductions]

It's got a nice horn

[@tristanexists1806]

Foamer alert foamer alert

[@RonStanek]

Is the washroom/toilet in the nose? Just before you exited out, behind the door? That Metra Milwaukee Road heritage MP36PH-3S unit is sharp also.

[@TetraTimboman]

Nowadays the extra space in the nose like that is used for rack mounting of locomotive DVR systems etc. and you can see the zip-tied wiring that's going above those doors at 2:26 and again at 2:31. Which could make sense to have locking doors for it because you wouldn't want people stealing the DVR stuff like that. The fact that it was previously conventional to have locomotives with toilets in the nose - locomotive operators sometimes joke saying the bathrooms were converted to bluetooth :D.

[@RonStanek]

@@TetraTimboman yeh, they have alot of electrical equipment and "black box" up there. But I'm fairly sure they stock a restroom in there too.

[@thisbusandus1452]

Is this new or rebuild most engineers prefer a aar standard control stand passenger locomotives seem to be desk top not really sure why might be the blend brake handle easier to see love the videos

[@erict5234]

Blended brakes don't have a handle. Blended brakes work automatically when the throttle is in idle, and a brake reduction is applied. Dynamic brakes require the engineer to move a handle.

[@syeet1234]

Is this thing gonna be testing/in service in the coming months?

[@SamLovesTrains]

It should be

[@NitroFury]

It may look cool, but I’m not that too fond of the idea of see a converted Freight Locomotive used for Commuter Rail services. Intercity/Long Distance Passenger Service, sure, but Commuter Rail? I not too sure about that, but we’ll have to wait and see how it turns out.

[@glenbard657]

@Mrright87 I was also told that they get much better fuel mileage than the other Metra units.

[@mattgipson5523]

Is that red pedal on the engineers floor a deadman control?

[@kristoffermangila]

It is.

[@metra1145]

Imagine driving that

[@thedesigner00]

0:44 that kid is me lol

[@Thunder-cc1qt]

I’m not really feeling the exterior but maybe I just need time to ease into it

[@F40-f7q]

What freight company did these locos get rebuilt from? Look sharp!

[@kristoffermangila]

According to many sources, many of these were ex-KCS.

[@glenbard657]

@@kristoffermangila And some ex-TFM before that.

[@2pmastergamer931]

To all the people complaining about Metra buying sd70mac locomotives,you do realize that Alaska railroad has sd70mac locomotives that can lead their passenger trains.

[@johnfenlon458]

I see LED Gryolite flashing is ok ok.. Need replacement LED Spot with Gryolite come with a motor.

[@bigiron2572]

could've made the logo a bit white just saying

[@josefw.1934]

The cab is a little better than the sd70mace’s we have at bnsf…..

[@sargentrowell81]

Say what you will about how Metra has gone so far out of their way to keep using EMD's, but at least they know these will not fail in cold weather like the Chargers have. I like the chargers but I hope they'll be able to work out the cold weather kinks so they won't be another flop like the SDP40F's.

[@tristanexists1806]

Maybe they should buy the engine in your pfp instead of this Frankenstein engine

[@sargentrowell81]

@@tristanexists1806 Fair enough. They could use the old GE's, referbish them and get another several decades out of them just like they have the F40's.

[@davidballoid2118]

I like EMD's however they're not fuel-efficient for passenger service. They run a 2 stroke prime-mover diesel engine under the hood whereas GE uses a 4 stroke prime-mover engine which gets better Fuel Mileage. I do wish to see EMD move up the ladder when Designing Locomotives that way their will be no gripe over Efficiency.

[@thisbusandus1452]

Emd now progressive rail owned by car has a 4 stroke 1010 v12

[@TheRealRajo6466]

​@@thisbusandus1452 GE also own by Wabec now

[@packr72]

@@thisbusandus1452And it’s a terrible prime mover. Main reason why the SD70AceT4 has barely sold.

[@TheRealRajo6466]

@@cplobolova yeah, you could hardly seeing old locomotives leading the main line anymore

[@sharkheadism]

@@cplobolova The old units were grandfathered in. They don't have to meet the requirements new locomotives do.

[@alex.k3166]

ahhh shit if i had that fuel tank on my suv id be getting gas every 6 months or something

[@sharkheadism]

I can't believe they took out the toilet entirely. Must suck if you gotta go

[@amtrak1214]

amtrak really needs to take a lesson from metra regarding their rolling stock!

[@Trainboivr]

2nd almost 1st

[@wrrail]

who cares

[@Trainboivr]

@@wrrail *angry diesel horn noises*

[@wrrail]

@@Trainboivr 1

[@Xpninjadan]

​@@Trainboivr It's not a competition. It doesn't matter if you are first, second or last to comment.

[@ARandomComment123]

Only in America bruh

[@PriddhasPengu]

I wish to question Metra's watertight logic in buying these converted freight locomotives apart from them being older GM-EMDs being sold for cheap.

[@MTHDCS]

So while Metra advertises as being so "green" they opt to buy rebuilt old Tier 3 emission locomotives instead of buy new Tier 4 stuff while the Chicago area has some of the worst air qualities in the nation. Here's how they justify themselves..."The remanufactured locomotives will meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 3 emissions standards, McCann said. Replacing 42 of Metra’s current locomotives that are rated Tier 0+ with 42 Tier 3 locomotives will eliminate 61 tons of nitrous oxide emissions annually - the equivalent to taking 6,600 cars off the road."

[@1kCam05]

Who’s gonna remind metro for the 1000th time that this is not 1980,Like get some modern locomotives

[@TheRealNinja5704]

Metra shouldve invested their money into a different locomotive than this

[@kristoffermangila]

You know those guys at Metra's mechanical department... they love their EMDs to death...

[@TheRealNinja5704]

@@kristoffermangila Yeah :(

[@tristanexists1806]

Why the fuck did they even buy this

[@sharkheadism]

Because they need power and they can buy more reconditioned used units than they can new units with the amount of money they can spend.

[@tristanexists1806]

@sharkheadism then buy the old P42, but no Metra being so god damn obsessed with EMD decided to waste money on this instead

[@sharkheadism]

@@tristanexists1806 Then parts commonality goes out the window. What's so bad about the 70MACH in your opinion?

[@tristanexists1806]

@@sharkheadism and imagine liking your own comments Kinda pathetic

[@sharkheadism]

@@tristanexists1806 What