The EMD SD70 is a series of
diesel-electric locomotives produced by the US company
Electro-Motive Diesel
Electro-Motive Diesel (abbreviated EMD) is a brand of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products and diesel engines for the rail industry. Formerly a division of General Motors, EMD has been owned by Progress Rail since 2010.
Electro-Motive ...
. This locomotive family is an extension and improvement of the
EMD SD60 series. Production commenced in late 1992
and since then over 5,700 units have been produced; most of these are the SD70M, SD70MAC, and SD70ACe models. While the majority of the production was ordered for use in North America, various models of the series have been used worldwide. All locomotives of this series are
hood unit
A hood unit, in North American railroad terminology, is a body style for diesel and electric locomotives where the body is less than full-width for most of its length and walkways are on the outside. In contrast, a cab unit has a full-width ca ...
s with
C-C trucks
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport freight, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construction ...
, except the SD70ACe-P4 and SD70MACH which have a
B1-1B wheel configuration, and the SD70ACe-BB, which has a
B+B-B+B wheel arrangement.
Superseding the HT-C truck, a new bolsterless radial
HTCR truck was fitted to all EMD SD70s built 1992–2002; in 2003 the non-radial HTSC truck (basically the HTCR made less costly by removing radial components) was made standard on the SD70ACe and SD70M-2 models; the radial HTCR truck remained available as an option.
Models
SD70 (1992–1999)

The EMD SD70 typically has the smaller
''spartan cab'', typical on preceding
SD60 models, instead of the larger ''comfort cab'' used on later models. Notable differences between the SD70 and SD60 are the
radial steering EMD HTCR truck instead of the older HTC truck, and the SD70's overall length of , with the older SD60 being 2 inches shorter. The SD70 also rides higher as its frame is approximately higher than the SD60. This model is equipped with
direct current
Direct current (DC) is one-directional electric current, flow of electric charge. An electrochemical cell is a prime example of DC power. Direct current may flow through a conductor (material), conductor such as a wire, but can also flow throug ...
(DC)
traction motor
A traction motor is an electric motor used for propulsion of a vehicle, such as locomotives, electric vehicle, electric or hydrogen vehicles, or electric multiple unit trains.
Traction (engineering), Traction motors are used in electrically powe ...
s, which simplifies the locomotive's electrical system by obviating the need for computer-controlled
inverters (as are required for
alternating current
Alternating current (AC) is an electric current that periodically reverses direction and changes its magnitude continuously with time, in contrast to direct current (DC), which flows only in one direction. Alternating current is the form in w ...
(AC) power). It is equipped with the , 16-cylinder
EMD 710 prime mover. One hundred and twenty-two examples of this model locomotive were produced for
Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company was formed in 1982 with the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. The comp ...
(NS),
Conrail
Conrail , formally the Consolidated Rail Corporation, was the primary Class I railroad in the Northeastern United States between 1976 and 1999. The trade name Conrail is a portmanteau based on the company's legal name. It continues to do busine ...
(CR),
Illinois Central (IC) and
Southern Peru Copper Corporation (SPCC).
Conrail
Conrail , formally the Consolidated Rail Corporation, was the primary Class I railroad in the Northeastern United States between 1976 and 1999. The trade name Conrail is a portmanteau based on the company's legal name. It continues to do busine ...
's assets were split between Norfolk Southern and
CSX
CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Railroad classes, Class I freight railroad company operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Operating about 21,000 route miles () of trac ...
in 1999, and all 24 of Conrail's SD70 units went to NS. Other than the CR paint scheme these units were built to NS specifications and numbered (2557 - 2580) in series with Norfolk Southern's already purchased SD70s.
Production of the standard cab at EMD's
London, Ontario
London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River (Ontario), Thames River and N ...
plant ended in 1999. The 24
Conrail
Conrail , formally the Consolidated Rail Corporation, was the primary Class I railroad in the Northeastern United States between 1976 and 1999. The trade name Conrail is a portmanteau based on the company's legal name. It continues to do busine ...
SD70s were assembled from kits at Conrail's
Juniata Shops in
Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona ( ) is a city in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 43,963 at the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Altoona Metropolitan statistical area, metropolitan area, w ...
, while the IC and SPCC SD70s were assembled from kits at Super Steel Schenectady. Most SD70s are still in service with
Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company was formed in 1982 with the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. The comp ...
and
Canadian National (CN), which merged with
Illinois Central in 1999. In February 2017, NS began a program to convert its SD70s from DC to AC, which will also have a new wide-nose cab, and several other upgrades. They will be designated as SD70ACC.
SD70M (1992–2004)
The SD70M has a
wide nose and a large ''
comfort cab'' (officially known as the "North American Safety Cab"), allowing crew members to ride more comfortably inside of the locomotive than the older standard cab designs. There are two versions of this cab on SD70Ms: the Phase 1 cab, which was first introduced on the
SD60M, and the Phase 2 cab, which is a boxier design similar to the original three-piece windscreen on the SD60M, which is shared with the Phase 2
SD90MAC,
SD89MAC, and
SD80ACe. The Phase 2 cab has a two-piece windscreen like the Phase 1 windscreen but the design of the nose is more boxy, with a taller square midsection for more headroom.
The SD70M is equipped with D90TR DC traction motors and the
710G3B prime mover.
They are capable of generating of continuous
tractive effort
In railway engineering, the term tractive effort describes the pulling or pushing capability of a locomotive. The published tractive force value for any vehicle may be theoretical—that is, calculated from known or implied mechanical proper ...
.
From late 2001, the SD70M was produced with
SD45-style flared radiators allowing for the larger radiator cores needed for split-cooling. Split-cooling is a feature that separates the coolant circuit for the prime mover and the circuit for the air pumps and
turbocharger
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into th ...
. There are two versions of this radiator: the older version has two large radiator panels on each side, and the newer version has four square panels on each side. This modification was made in response to the enactment of the
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it began operation on De ...
's (EPA) Tier 1 environmental regulations. Also the truck was replaced with HTCR-4, instead of HTCR-I on former model.
Production of the SD70M ceased in late 2004 as production of the SD70M-2 model began (the EPA's Tier 2 regulations went into effect on 1 January 2005). 1,609 examples of the SD70M model were produced. Purchasers included
New York, Susquehanna & Western (NYSW; part of EMDX order no. 946531),
Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company was formed in 1982 with the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. The comp ...
and
Southern Pacific (SP; now part of the Union Pacific Railroad), but the vast majority were purchased by
Union Pacific
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...
.
In 2000, an order of SD70Ms made history when
Union Pacific
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...
ordered 1000 units of the model (UP 4000 through UP 4999, inclusive, although 4014 was renumbered 4479 to accommodate
Big Boy 4014 in 2019). This order was later extended by nearly 500 additional units (UP 3999 and below, UP 5000 and above, except for 3985, which was left vacant for
Challenger 3985).
This locomotive model is also built for export, and is still catalogued by EMD (at ).
CVG Ferrominera Orinoco has 6 SD70Ms that were built as an add-on order to UPs FIRE cab equipped SD70Ms.
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) in
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
has ordered 55 of this model for service for the
Carajás mine pulling trainloads of
iron ore
Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the f ...
. Since CVRD track is
gauged at , a wider
bogie
A bogie ( ) (or truck in North American English) comprises two or more Wheelset (rail transport), wheelsets (two Railroad wheel, wheels on an axle), in a frame, attached under a vehicle by a pivot. Bogies take various forms in various modes ...
, the HTSC2, was designed for these units by EMD.
SD70I (1995)

The SD70I is a version of the SD70 which has been fitted with a cab that is isolated from the frame of the locomotive with rubber gaskets (officially known as a "WhisperCab"). The isolation reduces noise and vibration from the prime mover. A seam is visible across the nose and on the long hood where the cab connects with the body. 26 examples of this model locomotive were produced, all for
Canadian National. The WhisperCab feature was incorporated into some SD70MACs and was standard on both the SD80MAC and SD90/43MAC models.
SD70MAC (1993–2007)
The SD70MAC uses three phase
AC traction motors. Production of the model commenced in 1993, competing against the
GE AC4400CW. The majority of SD70MAC models were produced with the EMD 710 prime mover while later units are rated at and feature
EMD SD45-style flared radiators. Starting in 1993, the Alaska Railroad ordered SD70MACs with
head-end power
In rail transport, head-end power (HEP), also known as electric train supply (ETS), is the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive (or a generator car) at the front or 'head' of a train, ...
to make them suitable for both freight and passenger service; no other railroad ordered this variant. Due to the Alaska Railroad's satisfaction with these locomotives, they specially ordered additional models after EMD had transitioned production to the
SD70ACe.The last order of Alaska Railroad SD70MACs was built/delivered in late 2007. The trucks were replaced with HTCR-4, instead of HTCR-I on former model.

The SD70MAC is no longer produced due to EPA regulations, and was replaced by the SD70ACe in 2004. In total, 1,109 SD70MACs were produced, purchased by
Burlington Northern (and its successor,
BNSF
BNSF Railway is the largest freight railroad in the United States. One of six North American Class I railroads, BNSF has 36,000 employees, of track in 28 states, and over 8,000 locomotives. It has three transcontinental routes that provide ...
),
Conrail
Conrail , formally the Consolidated Rail Corporation, was the primary Class I railroad in the Northeastern United States between 1976 and 1999. The trade name Conrail is a portmanteau based on the company's legal name. It continues to do busine ...
,
CSX
CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Railroad classes, Class I freight railroad company operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Operating about 21,000 route miles () of trac ...
,
Transportación Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM; units now owned by
Kansas City Southern Railway
The Kansas City Southern Railway Company is an American Class I railroad. Founded in 1887, it operated in 10 Midwestern United States, Midwestern and Southeastern United States, Southeastern U.S. states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Ark ...
(KCS)), and the
Alaska Railroad.
SD70ACe (2004–present)

The SD70ACe is the successor to the SD70MAC with design changes to comply with emission standards. The engine fires with 15% lower internal pressure to improve emissions and features fewer internal components in the inverter. The SD70ACe is equipped with EMD's 16-710-G3C-T2 prime mover, rated at ; later Tier 3 models are rated at , and have a
thermal efficiency
In thermodynamics, the thermal efficiency (\eta_) is a dimensionless performance measure of a device that uses thermal energy, such as an internal combustion engine, steam turbine, steam engine, boiler, furnace, refrigerator, ACs etc.
For ...
of almost 36%.
They are rated at starting tractive effort and continuous. Braking effort is rated at . Early models featured a bad cab design which was noticed first on CSX as crews reported annoying disturbances such as prime mover noises, traction motors and more. The cab was also known for rattling, leading to the nickname "Thundercabs". As a result, these units are also not approved for leading trains.
[
In 2012, EMD also built four models known as the SD70ACe-P6. These units, unlike previous SD70ACe's, have one inverter per axle on the trucks, rather than EMD's traditional one inverter per truck design. Four of those (EMDX 1206, 1208, 1209 and 1210) were sold to Canadian National Railway and renumbered to CN 8100–8103.
In 2014, BNSF Railway took delivery of 20 SD70ACe-P4 units, numbered 8500 - 8519. This model was designed with a B1-1B wheel arrangement to compete with GE's ES44C4 model, which has an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. Both wheel arrangements mean that there are only two traction motors per truck instead of three, those being the ones next to the fuel tank. Two SD70ACe-P4 demonstrators began a 5-year lease at Tacoma Rail in late 2014, and were later sold to Arkansas & Missouri Railroad in late 2023.
On January 1, 2015, the ]United States Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it began operation on De ...
's Tier 4 locomotive emission regulations went into effect. EMD could not successfully modify the SD70ACe's 2-stroke 710 series prime mover to be Tier 4-compliant; thus, the Tier 3 SD70ACe was succeeded by the SD70ACe-T4 in late 2015. However, US production of the Tier 3-compliant SD70ACe continues with Tier 4 'credit units' (new Tier 3-compliant units EMD is entitled to build based on previously earned emissions credits). Union Pacific
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...
and Norfolk Southern are currently the only US roads to own Tier 4 credit unit SD70ACe's. Additionally, EMD has continued building Tier 3 SD70ACe's for Ferromex (4100–4118), Ferrosur (4119–4133), and Kansas City Southern de Mexico (4200–4224) at Bombardier Ciudad Sahagun. These locomotives are restricted to Mexico-only operation and cannot cross the US border (just as Canadian National's newest Tier 3 GE ES44AC's are restricted to Canadian use only).
In March 2016, EMD replaced the standard cast HTCR-4 trucks on NS SD70ACe 1000 with the new fabricated HTCR-6 trucks for testing. UP and BNSF plan to test the new HTCR-6 trucks on some of their SD70ACe units also.
Union Pacific
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...
received 281 additional SD70ACe units, numbered 8824 - 9104, in 2014, 2016 and 2018. These are referred to as SD70AH (T4C), H for "heavy", because they are ballasted to rather than .
2TE3250 (2021)
In mid-2021, the Yakutian Railway received two SD70ACes, designated 2TE3250 () by Yakutian Railway itself. These units, numbered 0001 and 0002, are currently in use in Yakutia
Sakha, officially the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), is a republics of Russia, republic of Russia, and the largest federal subject of Russia by area. It is located in the Russian Far East, along the Arctic Ocean, with a population of one million ...
, and are operated as a two-section locomotive.
In November 2021, Yakutian Railway announced a tender for 6 more, single-section locomotives. However, as of 4 February 2022, it has been unable to make an order for them.
SD70M-2 (2004–2011)
The SD70M-2 is a DC traction version of the SD70ACe. The "-2" in the model name indicates that the units are EPA Tier II compliant and that the locomotive has upgraded electronics, which was true for older models (EMD SD40-2
The EMD SD40-2 is a AAR wheel arrangement#C-C, C-C diesel–electric locomotive built by Electro-Motive Diesel, EMD from 1972 to 1989.
The SD40-2 was introduced in January 1972 as part of EMD's ''EMD Dash 2, Dash 2'' series, competing against t ...
). SD70M-2 models are equipped with the 16-710G3C-T2 or 16-710G3C prime mover which is rated at .
In total, 331 SD70M-2s were built, with Canadian National owning 190 units. Eight units owned by Electro-Motive Diesel
Electro-Motive Diesel (abbreviated EMD) is a brand of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products and diesel engines for the rail industry. Formerly a division of General Motors, EMD has been owned by Progress Rail since 2010.
Electro-Motive ...
and four units owned by CIT Financial were leased by Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida, currently owned by Grupo México.
Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a p ...
until early 2015. Canadian National 8964 was the last SD70M-2, built in February 2011. Vermont Railway owns 2 units numbered 431 and 432. Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company was formed in 1982 with the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. The comp ...
ordered 130 SD70M-2s, of which 46 remained in service as of July 2023 with 2 units rebuilt with AC traction.
Currently, NBM Railways owns 13 SD70M-2, former NS units, numbered 6401–6413 with plans for six more rounding it out to 6419. All are marked for the various NBM companies, New Brunswick Southern Railway, Eastern Maine Railway, and Maine Northern Railway.
SD70ACe-T4 (2015–present)
The SD70ACe-T4 is the Tier 4 emissions standards-compliant successor of the SD70ACe. The first locomotive, EMDX 1501, was built in summer 2015, and made its debut at the Railway Interchange Expo in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the weekend of October 3–4, 2015. It features a new 4-stroke engine called the EMD 12-1010 "J" series - a V12 with 1,010 in3 displacement for each cylinder. This new prime mover has a two-stage turbocharger system consisting of three turbos; one turbo (the primary/high pressure turbo) for low-mid RPM and two turbos (the secondary/low pressure turbos) for mid-high RPM. The results of this setup are higher power throughout a broader RPM range, better fuel efficiency, and lower emissions. An EGR system is applied as well, allowing the engine to achieve Tier 4 without the use of urea aftertreatment. Another new feature of this engine is the Double-Walled Fuel Injection System that increases safety and provides simplified maintenance works.
The EMD 12-1010 is capable of producing total, is used for traction. With a new computer software for the on-board computer and one inverter per axle (or "P6"; EMD named it "Individual Axle Control") - unlike most of previous EMD locomotives that use one inverter per truck, the SD70ACe-T4 is capable of generating of starting tractive effort, and of continuous tractive effort. Meanwhile, its dynamic braking effort is as much as . The amount of starting tractive effort is equal to that of the SD90MAC-H while, on the other hand, its continuous tractive effort is higher than that of the SD90MAC-H ( vs. ). The units are also equipped with "radial bogies" which offer increased adhesion and better ride quality.
While it retains the basic SD70 designation, the locomotive has several major new features that set it apart from its successful ancestor such as a vibration-isolated powertrain, and alternator start capability. In addition, it features a newly redesigned cab reminiscent of the earlier SD70M, featuring the classic "teardrop" windshields first introduced on the FP45 in December 1967; new fabricated trucks; a longer frame at ; longer radiators with three radiator fans instead of two; an additional step on the front and rear; and a smoother long hood roofline.
Fifteen SD70ACe-T4 demonstrators were built at Muncie, Indiana by November 2016. Union Pacific
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...
was the first customer to order SD70ACe-T4's. UP 3012–3014, the first production SD70ACe-T4's, were assigned to active service in early November 2016.
Union Pacific acquired 100 SD70ACe-T4's: 12 former demonstrators rostered as UP 3000–3011, and 88 production units (3012–3099). 3012-3056 were built at Bombardier's Sahagun, Mexico plant. 3057-3099 will be built at Muncie, IN, following completion of the Tier 4 credit SD70ACe's UP 8997–9096. All UP SD70ACe-T4's are classified as SD70AHs.
SD70ACeP4-T4's EMDX 1603 and 1604 were built and painted as demonstrators for the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway is the largest freight railroad in the United States. One of six North American Class I railroads, BNSF has 36,000 employees, of track in 28 states, and over 8,000 locomotives. It has three Transcontinental railroad, transcontine ...
. These units have a B1-1B wheel arrangement akin to the SD70ACe-P4.
In August 2018, CSX Transportation ordered 10 SD70ACe-T4's. They were classified by CSX as ST70AH. In July 2023, CSX Transportation sidelined their ST70AH locomotives due to the leasing agreement being expired. All 10 have been taken back to PRLX and will more than likely be used as parts or on the lease fleet.
Norfolk Southern originally ordered 10 SD70ACe-T4's, but opted for more SD70ACe Tier-4 credit locomotives instead. The cancelled units are currently part of the Progress Rail lease fleet.
EMDX 1501 will remain in Progress Rail Services ownership as a test bed.
SD70ACe/LCi (2005–present)
The SD70ACe/LCi is a low clearance, export version of the SD70ACe. The ''LCi'' in the model designation stands for ''Low Clearance international'' as these locomotives are designed to negotiate the tight clearances under the mine equipment. External differences between the SD70ACe and SD70ACe/LCi models include the addition of marker lights, number boards located lower on the nose rather than on top of the cab, windscreen protector panels (to deflect abrasive iron ore when in mid train position), fire suppression canisters, louvre style vents, different horn and subtle differences with handrails.
In 2004, BHP Billiton ordered 14 SD70ACe/LCi locomotives for use on iron ore trains in the Pilbara
The Pilbara () is a large, dry, sparsely populated regions of Western Australia, region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal people; wealth disparity; its ancient landscapes; the prevailing r ...
region of Western Australia
Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...
. The first member of the class (4300) was purchased for parts and dismantled upon arrival in Australia. This was because it was cheaper to purchase a complete locomotive than buy the components individually. They were named after sidings on the BHP system. Since they did not have the newer, isolated cab of the second and subsequent batches, 4301–4313 were traded in to Progress Rail for locomotives with newer cab assemblies and repatriated to the United States in January 2015 being taken to Muncie, Indiana
Muncie ( ) is a city in Delaware County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. It is located in East Central Indiana about northeast of Indianapolis. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 65,195, down from 70,085 in the 2010 c ...
for store. They were overhauled and sold to Chemin de fer Arnaud (4), Montana Rail Link (4) and Quebec North Shore & Labrador (5).[Motive Power Roundup ''Motive Power'' issue 128 March 2020 page 74]
BHP operated in 2015 a fleet of 23 SD70ACe/LCi locomotives beside of 142 standard SD70ACe, from which the newest locomotives are built in 2014.
The second batch of 10 SD70ACes (4314–4323) arrived between August and November 2006. An order for a third batch of 13 SD70ACe/LCi's (4334–4346) was placed in August 2007, but such was the demand for locomotive power in the Pilbara
The Pilbara () is a large, dry, sparsely populated regions of Western Australia, region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal people; wealth disparity; its ancient landscapes; the prevailing r ...
region, a deal was done with BNSF
BNSF Railway is the largest freight railroad in the United States. One of six North American Class I railroads, BNSF has 36,000 employees, of track in 28 states, and over 8,000 locomotives. It has three transcontinental routes that provide ...
for BHP Billiton to purchase ten standard North American SD70ACes (4324–4333) that were in build as their 9166, 9167, 9184–9191. Construction was sufficiently advanced when the deal was concluded for them to have been painted, hence they were delivered in BNSF orange livery. Some modifications have been made to bring them in line with the rest of the fleet. A fifth batch of SD70ACes (Numbers 4347–4355) was delivered in July 2009.
An additional 18 units (numbers 4356–4373) were delivered in the second half of 2010, bringing the total of SD70ACe type locomotives in service to 72. In March 2012, BHP Billiton ordered a further 80. As at October 2020, BHP operated 10 SD70ACes (4324–4333) and 174 SD70 Ace/LCis (4314–4323, 4334–4497)
In July 2012 fellow Pilbara operator, Fortescue Metals Group, took the delivery of the first of a fleet of 19, later extended to 21 (701–721).
SD70ACS (2009–present)
The SD70ACS is a AC variant for heavy haul freight, used in desert environments. The first 25 units were ordered for Saudi Railway Company in April 2009 and assembled in the London, Ontario
London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River (Ontario), Thames River and N ...
, plant for delivery in the second half of 2010. Special features include a pulse filtration system, movable sand plows, EM2000 control system and FIRE
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a fuel in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products.
Flames, the most visible portion of the fire, are produced in the combustion re ...
display system.
Mauritania's Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière placed a contract for six SD70ACS locomotives in October 2010.
In July 2011 Etihad Rail ordered seven SD70ACS locomotives for delivery in 2012. Seven locomotives were delivered in 2013.
SD70ACe-BB (2015–present)
In October 2015, EMD started producing SD70ACe-BB locomotives for Brazilian railroads. Unlike the standard SD70ACe, the SD70ACe-BB has a B+B-B+B wheel arrangement, meaning that it has eight axles instead of six. To fit the B+B trucks, the SD70ACe-BB was elongated to , making it longer than the standard SD70ACe.
SD70ACe/45 (2004–present)
The SD70ACe/45 is a diesel-electric locomotive built by EMD plant in Sete Lagoas, MG Brazil. Different from the SD70ACe in North America, the SD70ACe/45 has a longer frame (76 ft. 6 in.) and three radiator fans on the radiator section since it uses the same car body of the SD80ACe produced by EMD plant in London, Canada to Vale mining in Brazil. It uses gauge. 80 SD70ACe/45s had been built.
SD70IAC (2019–present)
In early 2019 with the delivery of the new SD70ACe-T4C locomotives to Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company was formed in 1982 with the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. The comp ...
, a new type of the T4C (Tier 4 Credit) locomotives was rolled out of Progress Rail in Muncie, Indiana. IAC stands for Individual Axle Control. They are still classified as SD70ACe's on the side of the locomotive but are designated as SD70IAC within the cab controls. The new IAC system improves the existing traction system.
SD70ACe/LW (2007, 2021–present)
The SD70ACe/LW is designed specifically for rail networks using Russian gauge, featuring a new isolated cab similar to the flat nosed cab of the GT46C-ACe Gen-II. The SD70ACe/LW has a 16-710G3C-T2 prime-mover with 4,500 horsepower. It uses an AC traction system with a top speed of 74 mph (120 km/h). Although it was designed in 2007, the first orders only occurred in mid-2021, when 16 were purchased for the Mongolian Tavan Tolgoi-Gashuunsukhait Railway project.
Rebuilds
SD70ACU
The SD70ACU is a rebuild performed by Norfolk Southern
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company was formed in 1982 with the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. The comp ...
and Progress Rail Services. It is originally an SD90MAC (or better known as a SD9043MAC) that has been rebuilt to replace its Siemens electrical components with equipment from Mitsubishi and replace the cab with the new EMD Phase-II cab to comply with the most recent safety requirements.
100 of the 110 units Norfolk Southern purchased were originally SD9043MACs previously operated by Union Pacific
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...
. The other 10 units were acquired by a trade with Cit Group for MP15DCs. All NS-owned SD9043MACs were rebuilt by NS at its shops in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona ( ) is a city in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 43,963 at the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Altoona Metropolitan statistical area, metropolitan area, w ...
. The first locomotives were released from the shop in January 2016. By May 7, 2019, all 110 SD70ACU units owned by Norfolk Southern were completed and released to active service. 46 of these were sold in November 2020 with 30 of them going to Ferromex in 2024.
Canadian Pacific has also begun a program to convert their SD90MAC units into SD70ACUs, but unlike Norfolk Southern, Progress Rail is performing the rebuilds. The initial order was for 30 units and then increased to 60. Canadian Pacific originally rostered 61 SD90MACs, which spent much of the 2010-decade parked in long-term storage, with the exception of three, which were retired and scrapped in 2012. The remaining 58, along with two surplus Union Pacific SD90MACs, will be used as cores for the 60 SD70ACUs. These units began delivering in 2019.
From this order came numerous heritage units. Namely: CP 7010-7014 in CP's tuscan red, gray, and gold paint scheme with script lettering, CP 7015-7019 in the same paint but with block lettering, CP 7020 in NATO green representing temperate climates, CP 7021 in the sand color used for arid climates, CP 7022 wears the grey, red and black colour pattern of modern warships, CP 7023 wears a two-tone gray paint scheme inspired by fighter jets, CP 6644 wears the camouflage colours applied to Royal Canadian Air Force “Spitfire” fighter planes flown at the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944 and is numbered in remembrance of that date. CP 7015 led the CP business train for a short time due to a mechanical failure with the regular units and then returned to freight service. The remaining units received the standard CP red paint scheme.
In 2021, Canadian Pacific purchased 40 more SD90MACs from the Union Pacific for further rebuilding into SD70ACU engines.
SD70ACC
The SD70ACC is the latest rebuild in Norfolk Southern's DC to AC program. It has the new EMD safety cab, similar to the SD70ACe cab, but with the “teardrop windshield”, much like the SD70ACe-T4. The SD70ACC has been rebuilt with AC traction motors, an AAR-style control stand, an electrical cabinet with Mitsubishi electronics, a new main alternator, and additional weight to increase the maximum weight to . The SD70ACC is rated at 4,500 horsepower (3,355.649 kilowatts), has a fuel capacity of , and has dynamic braking, cab signals, and LSL (Locomotive Speed Limiter). The first locomotive was released to service in November 2018.
Norfolk Southern is rebuilding its fleet of SD70s into SD70ACC specifications. The first two units, 1800 and 1801, were unveiled in a special yellow and grey paint scheme to promote the DC to AC program, similar to the paint schemes used on the first GE AC44C6M. As of 2024, 52 Units have been rebuilt and have since been released to service.
SD70MACe
The SD70MACe is a rebuilt SD70MAC locomotive with new Mitsubishi electronics and traction motors to replace the Siemens traction motors. It was first rebuilt for the BNSF Railway, and later rebuilt for CSX (classified as SD70AC) and KCS.
SD70MACH
The SD70MACH is an SD70MAC rebuilt by Progress Rail for Metra
Metra is the primary commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area serving the city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs via the Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, and other railroads. The system operates 243 train station, stati ...
. A purchase of 15 SD70MACHs for passenger service has been approved, with options of up to 27 more. The first unit was delivered in 2022 and entered service in late 2023. They are the first six-axle passenger locomotives since the EMD F40C and the Alaska Railroad's HEP-equipped SD70MACs.
The rebuild includes the addition of head end power (HEP) along with meeting Tier 3 emissions. The axles are configured in a B1-1B configuration as one inverter is repurposed for supplying HEP. The SD70MACH is designed to be significantly quieter than older freight models, generating 85 dBA Of noise during idle and operating which is 40% quieter than the SD70AC. This quieter operation is achieved through various design elements, including the Engines, the longer wheels and treatment to the engines. The SD70MACH family is also designed to have a 50% smaller noise footprint compared to the F40PHs.
SD70ICC
The SD70ICC is an SD70M-2 rebuilt with AC traction by Progress Rail. Units are rebuilt from Norfolk Southern & PRLX SD70M-2's. Norfolk Southern is currently the only operator of these units.
Operators
Preservation
On November 8, 2019, Union Pacific donated SD70ACe No. 4141 to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The locomotive, painted in honor of George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker BushBefore the outcome of the 2000 United States presidential election, he was usually referred to simply as "George Bush" but became more commonly known as "George H. W. Bush", "Bush Senior," "Bush 41," and even "Bush th ...
, was unveiled in October 2005 and was in active service until 2009, when it was placed into storage due to the 2008 financial crisis
The 2008 financial crisis, also known as the global financial crisis (GFC), was a major worldwide financial crisis centered in the United States. The causes of the 2008 crisis included excessive speculation on housing values by both homeowners ...
. It was brought back in 2018 to participate in Bush's funeral train on December 6, 2018. The locomotive subsequently remained in active service following the funeral until its last run between November 8 and November 9, as part of the Union Pacific 4014
Union Pacific 4014 is a preserved 4884-1 class 4-8-8-4 "Union Pacific Big Boy, Big Boy" type steam locomotive owned and operated by the Union Pacific (UP) as part of Union Pacific Heritage Fleet, its heritage fleet. Built in November 1941 by Am ...
Southwest Tour, in which the plans for the display were unveiled. The locomotive arrived back at College Station on March 12, 2021, and the Marine One/4141 Locomotive Pavillion, where the 4141 is displayed, opened on June 13, 2024.
Gallery
File:BNSF 9819 EMD SD70MAC.jpg, BNSF
BNSF Railway is the largest freight railroad in the United States. One of six North American Class I railroads, BNSF has 36,000 employees, of track in 28 states, and over 8,000 locomotives. It has three transcontinental routes that provide ...
SD70MAC No. 9819
File:Train Q410.jpg, CSX
CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Railroad classes, Class I freight railroad company operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Operating about 21,000 route miles () of trac ...
SD70ACe No. 4845
File:Norfolk Southern Railway SD70M-2 2700 leads train 21M through Easton PA July 2006.jpg, NS SD70M-2 No. 2700
File:SD70ACe45 6518 VLI.jpg, VLI SD70ACe45 No. 6518
File:BNSF 9211 Lincoln, NE 10-19-2014.jpg, BNSF
BNSF Railway is the largest freight railroad in the United States. One of six North American Class I railroads, BNSF has 36,000 employees, of track in 28 states, and over 8,000 locomotives. It has three transcontinental routes that provide ...
SD70ACe No. 9211
File:2 UP 4141 Leads 21 Car Officer Special returning from Bush Funeral Stilwell, KS 12-8-18.jpg, UP SD70ACe No. 4141
File:Trainspotting CN -8903 EMD SD70M-2 leading CN -2561 GE C44-9W (Dash 9-44CW) (8098478098).jpg, CN SD70M-2 No. 8903
File:EMD SD70ACe Truck.jpg, A radial steering truck on the UP SD70ACe No. 1988
File:BHPB Iron Ore 4352.JPG, BHP SD70ACe/LCi No. 4352
File:Up-sd70-model-wp.jpg, A comparison of the various versions of the SD70's as operated by Union Pacific
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...
Footnotes
References
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* Kansas City Southern 4006 Salutes Veterans Past and Present: https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/kansas-city-southern-4006-salutes-veterans
Further reading
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Canadian National Railways: Electro-Motive SD70M-2 Locomotive Operator's Manual (First Edition, November 2005)
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