| Posted by on September 7, 2008 | |
Ed, how much additional HP do those lightning bolts stenciled below the engine number give these locos. I've heard that when applied properly they can deliver up to a 20% HP gain using special carbon graphite aerodynamic paints. Any truth to this rumor ???
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I saw this loco on the Hudson one time. And that'd be cool if that rumor was true!
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The lightning bolts were started, I think, with this engine. On CSX engines, it signifies that the locomotives are AC, and in the mountains here, the increased "dig" if you will, and the better dynamics of AC work well hauling coal up and down grade.
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I think the lightning bolts were first applied to the AC44CW's and AC60CW's on CSX.
Orginally CSXT #9100 got it, but CSX renumbered those engines and now CSX #1 has it. The SD70's didn't come out till the late 1990's, or at least CSX didn't order them till then.
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You are correct about the lightning bolts. However, the 4500 (700) was the first CSX EMD70 AC, but of course not the first CSX SD70.
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