The first SD70ACe made in Brazil

[pedrop]

The first SD70ACe assembled in the new EMD plant in Sete Lagoas, MG Brazil are ready for deliver. The plant is assembling a diferent SD70ACe using parts from other plants from Mexico and US. The locomotive uses a SD80ACe body with ten doors in the long hood and three fans in the radiator section. The model using 16 cylinder engines will be SD70 and the ones using 20 cylinders engine will be SD80.
The plant is working in a order of twenty one units to Eldorado Celulose and forteen units to VLI. Eldorado is a wood pulp mill that bought the SD´s to ALL uses in the cellulose trains. VLI is a division of Vale for general cargo.

 

[UP Scott]

Nice looking units. Sure would like to see a close-up of what's behind the access panel under the cab??? It's the electronics guy in me...

 

[Damon Hill]

Me, two! I'm especially interested in power electronics, and it hardly gets more powerful than this...

Must be an awful lot of wood and chips they're hauling to need this kind of power.

 

[pedrop]

The first two units did a test run yesterday and we could read the model written at the side of cab: SD70ACe/45. Now, I am wondering if it has a 20 cylinder prime mover downgraded to 4500 HP or a 16 one upgraded.

 

[pedrop]

Nice looking units. Sure would like to see a close-up of what's behind the access panel under the cab??? It's the electronics guy in me...

I will provide a close up photo of that electronic system soon.

 

[UP Scott]

Pedrop,
That would be really cool to see those parts. Something I never really noticed until I was looking at your last set of photos, was the nose on the SD70's and how flat they are. I had to go look at some others just to see if they were different than your shots or was I sleeping all this time and didn't pay attention. I guess I wasn't paying attention! Anyway, looking forward to seeing those shots and now I'm even going to be looking into those long bars on the roof that I believe are the radio antennas. Boy, locomotives are sure getting more modern in the controls and in technology these days. Kind of wondering if we'll see computer controlled bulldozers some day?
Later...

 

[pedrop]

Here is a close on the electronic cabinets. The small pic is the electronic brakes, like we see in the third photo. In the fourth photo we see the common pneumatic brake used in the old sd40-2´s

 

[UP Scott]

Pedrop,
NICE WORK!!! Looks like some impressive power electronics and control stuff in the cabinets. Thanks for the closeups on those panels and such good ones too. That first one looks to be some kind of 3 phase control setup or a power supply to the boxes? Pretty neat stuff there. Thanks again for the great pictures.
Later...

 

[pedrop]

I took these pics yesterday at the new EMD plant in Brazil. The official opening of the plant happened last week, on November 29. They used VL! 6514 in the show as the first unit to be deliverd to the customer. EMD announced intention to produce 90 SD70ACe/45 per year. Also, they intend to built new narrow gauge models to South America, like the GT46ACe.

 

[UP Scott]

One word, NICE!!!

 

[Damon Hill]

Ha, just as expected, looks very aerospace under the hood.

 

[pedrop]

The electric cabinet and electronic brake.

 

[pedrop]

An general view of the SD70ACe/45 under assembly at EMD plant.

 

[pedrop]

Interesting to see the batteries and electronic brake system to be assembled before the cab.

 

[UP Scott]

Pedrop
You never disappoint in your photos! That's really nice to see the inner workings without the cab and hood like that. I would think it's easier to get the big chunks of equipment in before the hood and perhaps the batteries are there for testing, etc.? Nice shots and thanks for sharing them too!
Later...

 

[pedrop]

Pedrop
You never disappoint in your photos! That's really nice to see the inner workings without the cab and hood like that. I would think it's easier to get the big chunks of equipment in before the hood and perhaps the batteries are there for testing, etc.? Nice shots and thanks for sharing them too!
Later...

I work with airplanes and sometimes I think they built a entire system before the fuselage (airframe), because it is very difficult to have access to do maintenance in some parts. I think the mechanic of these locomotives will find similar problems

 

[pedrop]

Interesting to note that one of the first parts to be added is the door. I could never imagine this.

 

[UP Scott]

I guess you got to start someplace? Just think, you're getting to create a photo gallery of the birth of a locomotive! Pretty cool. Keep them coming when you can. I'm really enjoying your pictures.
Later...

 

[Trainfanne54]

Cool Units pedrop.

 

[pedrop]

Cool Units pedrop.

EMD is trying to solve a problem to deliver the locomotives; there is a narrow tunnel in the mainline that they think do not have cleareance to these big engines. The SD70ACe/45 are wider and heigher than the normal GE AC44´s. The MRS old GE´s we see in the pictures at EMD plant were sent there to receive a template of the new SD70ACe/45 to check if they can run through the tunnel. It was said that the test with the template will be today.