Metra SD70MACH in Revenue Service featuring K5LLA action

[@NassauandSuffolkCountyRailfan]

This horn is music to my ears I love that sound

[@jackchen7003]

I was just about to say that lol

[@djmasterty2309]

I can agree there for sure

[@Major_Tom98]

It’s wild seeing an SD70MAC pulling a passenger train.

[@InventorZahran]

Those gallery cars are basically autoracks with seats and windows, so an SD70 doesn't look too out-of-place pulling them...

[@Major_Tom98]

@@InventorZahran They really do resemble autoracks haha. And the interior is nuts too.

[@amtrak706]

That K5LLA is absolutely nuts for a commuter train lol. They are gonna get some noise complaints before too long I’m sure.

[@tokugawa12able]

They should put them on the cab cars, too.

[@MetraUPNWproductions7202]

@@tokugawa12ableI’m fine where the cab cars are right now. This one only sounds dope from far

[@NarcOfTheCovenant]

Friggin awesome I love the K5 series

[@djmasterty2309]

The people that live by the tracks can learn to like the horns! Great job Metra for supporting the train horns and not being afraid to put louder horns on your trains!

[@MetraUPNWproductions7202]

Roselle is fine with their quiet zones at night. Lockport will be a quiet zone in 3 days. But medinah, hintz road, roundout, fox lake, long lake are gonna be pushing

[@easternroutemainlinevideos6823]

These units look sharp!

[@mikeythesoulace]

For those who are surprised to hear a K5LLA on a commuter train pls know that the LIRR has a few K5LLA horns on their push pull locomotives

[@GenesisSanctuary]

NJT has a couple of them, too.

[@nekomasteryoutube3232]

reminds me of the VIA rail Emergency Horns.

[@BenLomonRail]

Definitely one of my favourite modern locomotive types on the rails right now.

[@ariesarethebest271]

Love the sound of those engines. EMD always sounds amazing.

[@chasemorace161]

It brings my heart joy to see those Titans of the rails getting a new life in busy commuter service. Long live EMD Big Macs

[@TrainTrackTrav]

What a fantastic video! I've been waiting since 2019 to see these actually come to pass as an actual thing, and man these things look like BEASTS! The LED gyra is a bit of a let down as it doesn't look as noticeable as the mechanical ones. The K5LLAs are pretty extreme for a passenger unit, perhaps a bit too much. Then again, not too many places where one can hear K5LLAs in regular passenger service. Whatever, these things are so so awesome. I can't believe SD70s are in commuter service! That's just wild. I'm gonna be in the Chicago area at the end of January into the 1st of February and will be stopping at Elgin in hopes of seeing one. Wish me luck!

[@acerailfan1536]

Good luck! there’s 4 of them running basically every weekday as of now with more waiting to enter service so i bet you’ll manage to see some

[@bennie1138000]

I agree Heavy 6 axel power doing commuter rail service is crazy

[@Hopen111YT]

Great videos! Never seen an engine that shiny and new before!

[@wavemaker10111]

Instantly I have a new favorite passenger diesel 😍

[@LisbonRailProductionsandF1]

Amazing catches of the train coming by and pass, I like it 5 stars. Thumbs up. Keep up the great work, my friend, I subscribed your channel, Greetings from Portugal to the USA.

[@galaxyrailfanning7860]

NICE! The throttle up is insane!

[@AJ-Palermo]

Amazing! This locomotive is beautiful. I really want to see one with a Chicago flag design or a blue one with a red roof

[@ArnavWarnav]

I thought they were going to put a P5 on it…Idk why. It was just an iconic horn on the Metra trains.

[@ocsrc]

3:24 For a minute there I thought this was the old signal entering the XO tower at Mechanicville, NY from the Colonie Sub back when there was double tracks. Where is this and what tower is that? It looks a lot like the D&H, the signals and towers are exactly the same They ripped them out and replaced them with new LED signals when CP took over. I really miss those old searchlight signals 😢😢😢😢😢

[@UPRailfan]

Yeah that's Tower A-2 nearing the city

[@davidng2336]

Those are definitely some killer horns!

[@dominican_has_ptsd9191]

I cant be the only one who loves how shiny and clean they are right?

[@SturtevantRails]

Great video, those things are sharp!

[@ericschwartz3559]

I don’t care how everybody’s saying how much they love the sd70’s, I much rather prefer the f40ph. They are awesome locomotives in my opinion. And since metra rebuilt them by progress rail in patterson, georgia, their new paint scheme is eye catching and looking awesome these days. Metra is also the commuter agency that has been operating the f40 for the longest time having some of their units in service since 1977, which means they’re a whopping 47 years old. 😮

[@ericschwartz3559]

Wow, love those metra sd70mach locomotives, they are looking very sharp. Former kansas city southern freight locomotives get a new refreshed life in passenger commuter rail service. 👍

[@ericschwartz3559]

ex-amtrak pacific surfliner f59phi now in metra service. Amtrak phased out the f59s in late 2018 for sc44s and sold them to chicago with the first unit entering metra service in late December 2018. To get the units service ready, metra had to inspect them for any corrosion damage and fix it if they spotted some, paint to units from their previous amtrak scheme to metra colors which includes blue and gray and a little bit of red as well as black on the roof and a bit down the sides, then test them on a doubleheader out on the main line to see if they provide successful, then release them into revenue service. This was all done at the railroad’s 49th street car shop in chicago. They eventually run solo if they can prove to not breakdown and manage to pull trains by themselves, without a backup engine being needed to assist.

[@Jackyliu009]

Can't wait to catch them, they were initially supposed to run on the BNSF but they moved to Western Avenue Yard. At the very least you will see them operating on various lines rather than the BNSF alone.

[@cincycubfan23]

@@Tomthesmartestcat405I missed this - was there a reason why?

[@hansbjarning]

The K5LLA horn is crazy for a passenger locomotive because the K5LLA horn is mostly on a sd70ace locomotive.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

As far as I know, Metra is the only passenger railroad in the US to use locomotives with K5LLAs for that matter

[@evangouldtransit]

​@@adventuresofamtrakcascades301 LIRR and NJT have a few.

[@sandiegotrafficlightstrain354]

Wow, they still have those vintage train signals at 3:37? Awesome. Do you have any videos of them in action?

[@acerailfan1536]

I have a handful of videos of trains passing it don’t believe i have a video specifically of the signal in action

[@intrepidfox37]

If you want to watch color light signals progressing frequently, Roosevelt Rd is a good spot 👀

[@capecodcentralcam]

The new F40s look amazing as well!

[@kansasstatealerting2874]

Awesome!! I love the way this thing looks.

[@shed66215]

Looking forward to the day when one is released in n scale. That paint scheme just ripples in the light. Nice to see them working on the Milwaukee District North and West lines.

[@glenbard657]

Nice video. I like that you captured them at all hours of the day. I was at Racine Avenue yesterday (3/11/24) and I saw six of them in action.

[@BrianHolzheimer-mg4qt]

Wow that's a big engine for the comuter train 🚃🚂

[@traininman5335]

GREAT footage! 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@sandiegotrafficlightstrain354]

The scenery reminds me of the Train sim world video game.

[@kristoffermangila]

Now there would be guys who would make Metra skins for the SD70 on Train Sim World...

[@MarcelosalivaTRENESArg]

Awesome capture my friend

[@vernongoodey5096]

Visiting from the UK in May will be arriving into Chicago on the Empire Builder from Seattle then hoping to ride behind a SD70MACH . I see from the webcam at Power House they run North out of Union Stn at about 5 pm is that correct?

[@intrepidfox37]

That horn is serious!

[@mitchsterling3266]

yeah train life is the good life

[@lashendawest7509]

Great catches and awesome video

[@Teoz_Prod]

Nice ! Greetings from France !

[@NS6677]

Great video! Where is that location with the tower in Chicago?

[@acerailfan1536]

Western Avenue Metra Station on the MDN/MDW/NCS lines

[@F40M07]

Are these going to be on the BNSF line?

[@kevinhoward9593]

love the livery

[@ericschwartz3559]

Wow, an SD70 pulling a passenger train, that’s wild.

[@JoryNinoFlores]

The Metra SD70MACH 506 sounded like a SD70ace lol

[@XShadowX682]

K5LLA Metra is the best 👍😎

[@tedm5398]

A trivia question about the oscillating headlight. It’s not mechanical, just electronically simulated movement, correct? Either way, it’s fantastic.

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

So how do they provide HEP? Were they retrofitted with a HEP generator during the rebuild?

[@lorthathmerthy]

HEP is created by the prime mover. No generator. 2 of the 6 axles are "unpowered" in terms of tractive force. Thus, the 2 inverters for those 2 axles are now used to supply HEP while the other 4 axles are creating tractive effort. The 2 HEP inverters still receive current from the generator that is rotated by the prime mover. However, instead of that current being used to generate tractive force, it is distributed throughout the consist as HEP. Hope that helps!

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

@@lorthathmerthy ohhh neat!

[@ns2527]

Thanks

[@opvjg]

So they just tap off where the traction inverters connect, let the power supply regulate the voltage, and let the engine controller figure out how hard to turn the axle? Although it sounds like the engine is constantly turning at high RPMs like other passenger locos

[@kristoffermangila]

That means these MACs has an A-1-A wheel arrangement?

[@Bellman84]

New favorite passenger loco.

[@MrCeodad96]

Sounds like a kitten purring!!!

[@Anthony2959-h5x]

It's seems to me riding on this train sees fun to get on.

[@sernajrlouis]

Cool video and channel just subscribed

[@dawdawes]

Have they been fitted with head end power, HEP, for the passenger cars?

[@MapleSyrupAddict]

The 'H' in it's name designation refers to HEP so it is HEP equipped

[@anjshakes]

Yes

[@pattywingfield7278]

Sounds like an sd70ace flying by

[@anthonyhunt701]

Former frieght master here❤️ meets Tier 4 as well

[@anjshakes]

No, not tier 4

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@anjshakes Tier 1+.

[@terrywebb8636]

She's a beauty, can anyone tell me how much fuel she burns, and her long wheel base, the EMD FL9's and FL8'S are the only ones, that i remember researching, and the AMTRAK F45PH and they didn't do so good on the double slip switches. Just wondering how she's going to do. ❤

[@vze428s7]

Very powerful passenger train if I may say!!!

[@jourdanshepard31]

The K5LLA on the SD70 >

[@ericsundell9978]

neat. Only thing that would make these cooler is a full cowl haha

[@throttle289]

What services does the metra SD70MACH usually run on?

[@ChargerusPrime]

Aah the sweet sounds of the SD70 complete with the best train horns available. Gevo horns are annoying now, sad we don't have anymore Nathan M5s or Leslie RS5ts on normal freight engines as standard. They sound even better.

[@romaricquerson6165]

Hy , what is the point of having such a locomotive for such a small train of passenger cars?

[@intrepidfox37]

It was cheaper to retrofit these and also avoided having to wait on new locomotives to be built.

[@coolleo149]

Why do I keep on thinking that it almost looks like the UP SD70M?

[@realadrieno]

My god, metra will do anything to avoid buying siemens chargers😅😅

[@acerailfan1536]

I believe their main focus currently is buying new railcars

[@kristoffermangila]

If they had the dough they would have bought F125s... but then again those locomotives are CAT - powered, so they wouldn't buy it anyway.

[@maas1208]

​@@kristoffermangila Also they would die in The Chicago Winters

[@Thunderhawk-fr6qv]

The SD70MACH, in my opinion, is a much better locomotive than the Charger. With the exception of 504 recently breaking down, they run excellent from what I have heard. And with Metra's fleet being all EMD 645 and 710 prime movers, it would not make any sense in investing in Chargers or F125s. There are no interchangeable parts between their current fleet and non-EMD units along with F125s. Metra was smart in purchasing the SD70MACHs, and other transit agencies can learn a lesson or two from them

[@evangouldtransit]

I'll take this over a Charger any day.

[@SamtheUtahRailfanGuy]

Made me subscribe!

[@GoogsMindbent]

i call it a Kuh-Five-L'Lah! i know another guy that calls them a different funny name too... what ever they are, i sure don't know what a K 5 L L A is or WUTEVER!🤪🤣 Super nice engines though! nice and shiny 😄

[@BNSFBishop]

K5LLA is train horn you hear on the shiny rebuild MACHs.

[@coleallen3895]

Their nickname should be the “Stomach” units since the name SD70MACH almost spells the word stomach with 70 replacing “TO”

[@2dayrailfan841]

Which station was the second clip at?

[@acerailfan1536]

Downtown Elgin station

[@Trainbuff26]

While I understand that two of those axles aren't powered, it's still weird to see a six-axle, modern diesel locomotive being used in passenger service.

[@opvjg]

Why do they need another locomotive when a SD70MAC is up front? It can handle a generator to power 50 cars without breaking a sweat

[@acerailfan1536]

They only had another locomotive during the initial weeks of running in case of failure. They have since proven themselves and are now mostly on their own.

[@vistalite-ph4zw]

What railroad did Metra buy the SD70MACs from???

[@TrainsAreReallyCool]

A lot of them are former Kansas City Southern units.

[@vistalite-ph4zw]

@@TrainsAreReallyCool oh ok, thanks!!

[@kristoffermangila]

From the KCS grey or heritage "Southern Belle" colors, these are now in Metra heritage sky blue!

[@BowenAV]

It's weird seeing 6 axle power with HEP connectors

[@cincycubfan23]

If you remember E-Units in Chicago commuter service, then you’ve seen 6-axle HEP action 😎

[@dwkcamman611]

Nice!!

[@RailfanBrenden.]

5:31 K5LLA horn echo

[@nong1993h1]

Nice railway locomosie

[@superiorjr154]

0:21 driving when the bar opens

[@Chris-xc5lg]

How many Macs did Metra get?

[@RailfannerMetra614]

Maybe 15 or 17

[@AaronNanneman-k8g]

I wonder if they have a new metra sd9043mac #900 with metra sd70mach 500 with a metra sd70ace 600 metra sd75m 400 metra sd70mac 300 metra sd80mac 700 metra es44ac 200 metra sd40-2 100 metra sd40t-2 800

[@electroscribe]

Great, except for the anemic LED imitation of a Mars light.

[@charlesreineke8386]

Oh yeah Highball!!!!!!!!!!

[@hobog]

Using the long distance horn point blank at stations is barbaric

[@2trainz906]

Does anybody know if metra but the sd70mach on the racetrack line yet. Please let me know. Thanks

[@acerailfan1536]

They were testing but it seems like the BNSF crews rejected it so they will run on the MDN/MDW/NCS lines for now

[@2trainz906]

@@acerailfan1536 thacks that sucks tho for the sd70mach not going one the racetrack. Thacks for the info again

[@Mauscmkwk]

Now if it only had a cowl body

[@transitoftheeast927]

Would be cool if it had a P5A on it

[@a81517]

Should I give up on wanting metra to become fully electrified? It's feeling like a lost cause at this point.

[@kristoffermangila]

If Metra owns the RoW, they can do so... but the vast majority of Metra routes are still owned by the freight roads, and overhead wires are an obstruction to their precious (insert Gollum style pronunciation) stack trains.

[@intrepidfox37]

Honestly I don't think it's worth the expense for the less busy lines. The newer locos are more efficient than their predecessors and lower emissions too.

[@ericschwartz3559]

Jesus, these locomotives have loud horns. 🤮 They’re also very powerful.

[@mylesgarcell9597]

6:24 that is NOT a gyralight ❌❌❌❌🙅‍♂🙅‍♂🙅‍♂🙅‍♂😡😡

[@hiawathafilms]

Yes it is

[@csxtfarmer]

Rape airchimes

[@PapyrusCUT]

They should get chargers

[@kristoffermangila]

Don't expect Chargers at Metra... darn agency's a diehard EMD loyalist.

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@kristoffermangila they gotta have a loco with some git-up and go!!

[@kristoffermangila]

@@rearspeaker6364 true, and they could get Chargers, but does EMD have any fast passenger locomotives in its catalog to satisfy one of its most loyal customers?

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@kristoffermangila nothing with a 2-cycle in it.

[@clinttheweldor2653]

These units are awesome for sure, but it looks like it belongs at the head of a 2 mile long freight train. I guess we wouldnt be AMURICA without such examples of overkill.

[@intrepidfox37]

Lol. All that power keeps the commuters on time! I wonder tho if that 1st one was MUed to the unit behind it or just pulling it in tow.

[@mitchsterling3266]

they are easy trains with easy peasy panels to open, the more rounded the more expensive panels sadly. I feel you though. glad we have rideable trains and they are extremely nice examples too

[@fcjose31]

Aquí son distintos, van motorizados, si alguno es de 2 plantas pero van motorizados no es como esos, son estos. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWqYeoR_ZdyBY7ssi=Ks5k2TPtMOml0fAB&t=1