CSX takes delivery of first SD40E3 ‘Eco’ units NEWSWIRE

ATLANTA – CSX Transportation is the latest Class I railroad to take possession of six-axle ‘Eco’ locomotives for use in local and yard service. Progress Rail recently rebuilt 13 former CSX EMD SD40-2 locomotives into a new locomotive class known as SD40E3s at its Muncie, Ind., facility. The locomotives are assigned numbers in the 1700 series.

CSX Media Relations Manager Laura Phelps tells Trains News Wire that the low emission locomotives will be assigned to Atlanta; Chicago; Camden, N.J.; and New York.

“The low emission locomotives are ideal for moving and sorting freight in our yards, providing a more environmentally friendly way to build trains around the clock and efficiently serve customers,” Phelps says.

The new SD40E3s are a separate program from the railroad’s own SD40-3 rebuild program. Wabtec’s MotivePower Inc. in Idaho has been rebuilding retired SD40-2s into SD40-3s for several years. The SD40-3s are in the 4000 numbering series.

When asked if the SD40-3s will continue being rebuilt, Phelps says that the Eco units “are not intended to replace the SD40-3 units” and that CSX is still “evaluating how the [SD40-3] units might be used to fulfill our future needs.”

The first batch of rebuilt SD40E3 locomotives were recently spotted at the railroad’s Tilford Yard in Atlanta.