B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
- John Ashworth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23606
- Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Contact:
B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
http://roberttennyson507.rrpicturearchi ... ?id=102212
Pictures taken by Robert Lee Tennyson at National Railway Equipment Co. n Mt. Vernon, Illinois on June 12, 2014, which include some of B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge C-C for RVR Kenya.
Pictures taken by Robert Lee Tennyson at National Railway Equipment Co. n Mt. Vernon, Illinois on June 12, 2014, which include some of B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge C-C for RVR Kenya.
- John Ashworth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23606
- Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 123
- Joined: 13 Jun 2008, 07:18
Re: B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
Numbered upward from 9600 or 9601?
Any confirmation if either 10 or 20 in order?
Initial reports from the States said 20 and gave these numbers
BNSF 4200, 4209, 4210, 4214, 4216, 4220, 4226, 4236, 4238, 4248, 4254, 4256, 4261, 4262, 4271. NS 4030, 4083. MNNR 40.
RFRX 4203, 4205 (orange livery - ex BNSF - numbers unchanged).
Any confirmation if either 10 or 20 in order?
Initial reports from the States said 20 and gave these numbers
BNSF 4200, 4209, 4210, 4214, 4216, 4220, 4226, 4236, 4238, 4248, 4254, 4256, 4261, 4262, 4271. NS 4030, 4083. MNNR 40.
RFRX 4203, 4205 (orange livery - ex BNSF - numbers unchanged).
- John Ashworth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23606
- Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Contact:
Re: B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
More photos of these units:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3888805
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873379
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873385
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873386
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873400
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873401
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873402
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3874006
Some reports suggest that these locos are not receiving a major overhaul, just a minor mechanical overhaul lasting around two months, before being tested and repainted.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3888805
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873379
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873385
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873386
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873400
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873401
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3873402
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3874006
Some reports suggest that these locos are not receiving a major overhaul, just a minor mechanical overhaul lasting around two months, before being tested and repainted.
- John Ashworth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23606
- Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Contact:
Re: B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
From a reliable source:
9610 has been parked in the open at Paducah this week, been tested on SG C-C bogies
New tan/green livery, white 45deg slash about 1.8 meter wide on side for RVR logo, looks smart
-
- Posts: 123
- Joined: 13 Jun 2008, 07:18
Re: B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
9613 passing Kansas City, MO, 10/08/2014, leroy brandenburg, rrpicturearchives.net
http://bnsf62.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=3929353
http://bnsf62.rrpicturearchives.net/sho ... id=3929353
-
- Posts: 123
- Joined: 13 Jun 2008, 07:18
- John Ashworth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23606
- Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Contact:
-
- Posts: 123
- Joined: 13 Jun 2008, 07:18
Re: B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
The amount of farcical information circulating about these locomotives in the Kenyan press beggars belief
These units were built between 1977 and 1984 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GE_B23-7 In age these fall between the Class 93 (delivered in 1977) and 94 (delivered in 1987)
All of the cores were pulled from long term storage (up to 10 years). The US mainline companies auctioned the units following withdrawal at scrap pricing, which is why US pre owned loco dealers can afford to keep them sitting around for so long. Large used loco dealers in the States do not own their stock, they operate on floorplans from banks and financiers (similar to car dealerships), so when the core is sold they require a healthy margin to cover their risk and interest payments. In the US it is a legal requirement that all locomotives with a financial encumbrance be periodically reported to the Surface Transportation Board. These returns are public documents, so if you know the system, it is relatively easy to track core
A number of B23-7 have been broken up for parts, the Grindrod/NREC locomotive building JV in Pretoria is currently building locos using salvaged B23-7 prime movers in new fabricated frames/bogies (RL22SCN). The 7FDL-12 rated @ 2250HP was not overly stressed, so does not have the same tendency to stretch the bottom end that occurs in this family of engines at high HP settings. The crankcases of 7FDL-16 @ 4020HP in Australian NR Class are not salvageable when the locos receive half life rebuilds at 16/17 years, and are replaced with new. This crankcase stretch problem is why higher HP GE 7FDL powered locos in the States have a finite life, when compared with EMD
My gut feeling is that the RVR purchase was rushed in order to get locos on the ground to appease political aspirations, and keep the more belligerent law makers off the company's back. Quality sacrificed to obtain locos in quantity for a quick political fix. There will be no learning curve associated with these units, under the tin they are U26C with the engines rated at a lower HP. With a higher center of gravity compared with the U26C, it will be interesting to see how they rock and roll on poorly maintained track
These units were built between 1977 and 1984 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GE_B23-7 In age these fall between the Class 93 (delivered in 1977) and 94 (delivered in 1987)
All of the cores were pulled from long term storage (up to 10 years). The US mainline companies auctioned the units following withdrawal at scrap pricing, which is why US pre owned loco dealers can afford to keep them sitting around for so long. Large used loco dealers in the States do not own their stock, they operate on floorplans from banks and financiers (similar to car dealerships), so when the core is sold they require a healthy margin to cover their risk and interest payments. In the US it is a legal requirement that all locomotives with a financial encumbrance be periodically reported to the Surface Transportation Board. These returns are public documents, so if you know the system, it is relatively easy to track core
A number of B23-7 have been broken up for parts, the Grindrod/NREC locomotive building JV in Pretoria is currently building locos using salvaged B23-7 prime movers in new fabricated frames/bogies (RL22SCN). The 7FDL-12 rated @ 2250HP was not overly stressed, so does not have the same tendency to stretch the bottom end that occurs in this family of engines at high HP settings. The crankcases of 7FDL-16 @ 4020HP in Australian NR Class are not salvageable when the locos receive half life rebuilds at 16/17 years, and are replaced with new. This crankcase stretch problem is why higher HP GE 7FDL powered locos in the States have a finite life, when compared with EMD
My gut feeling is that the RVR purchase was rushed in order to get locos on the ground to appease political aspirations, and keep the more belligerent law makers off the company's back. Quality sacrificed to obtain locos in quantity for a quick political fix. There will be no learning curve associated with these units, under the tin they are U26C with the engines rated at a lower HP. With a higher center of gravity compared with the U26C, it will be interesting to see how they rock and roll on poorly maintained track
-
- Posts: 123
- Joined: 13 Jun 2008, 07:18
Re: B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
Photo from the States of one of the Kenyan cores prior to receiving a lick of paint, and fitting C-C bogies, and chopper couplers
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3693884
Plus shots of 9606 in transit to Kenya
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3962472
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3962473
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3693884
Plus shots of 9606 in transit to Kenya
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3962472
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3962473
- John Ashworth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23606
- Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Contact:
Re: B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
The first two arrived in Nairobi works yesterday - see http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ ... 18&t=12886
- John Ashworth
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23606
- Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 14:38
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Contact:
Re: B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
There's some video of them being unloaded in Mombasa at https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... dRrcZXmFL0
I saw one hauling a freight train towards Uganda yesterday, just west of Naivasha. Unfortunately I was busy changing a tyre on my Land Cruiser by the roadside at the time so I wasn't able to grab a camera or even get its number.
I saw one hauling a freight train towards Uganda yesterday, just west of Naivasha. Unfortunately I was busy changing a tyre on my Land Cruiser by the roadside at the time so I wasn't able to grab a camera or even get its number.
-
- Posts: 123
- Joined: 13 Jun 2008, 07:18
Re: B23-7s being cut down to metre gauge for RVR Kenya
This is a photo from NREC Paducah on the 31st
This loco (on standard gauge shop bogies) will become 9618
NREC are calling the locos C26-7, suggesting that the HP has been increased to 2600 to match the U26C
https://www.flickr.com/photos/locoslides/15539983513/
Of the 9 delivered in 2014, I have 9601/9605/9606/9609/9610/9613/9615/9617, does anyone know the number for the ninth?
This loco (on standard gauge shop bogies) will become 9618
NREC are calling the locos C26-7, suggesting that the HP has been increased to 2600 to match the U26C
https://www.flickr.com/photos/locoslides/15539983513/
Of the 9 delivered in 2014, I have 9601/9605/9606/9609/9610/9613/9615/9617, does anyone know the number for the ninth?