ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern will continue to modernize its locomotive fleet in a deal announced on Monday with Progress Rail, which will convert 96 of the railroad’s SD70M-2 models to AC-traction SD70ICCs.
Deliveries of the Tier 2 locomotives will start in 2027 and run through 2029.
“By modernizing existing units, Norfolk Southern is taking a significant step toward a more efficient future,” Jack Zhang, locomotive executive vice president at Progress Rail, said in a statement. “Our SD70ICC conversions deliver the performance and reliability railroads need while helping them meet their sustainability goals. This order underscores Progress Rail’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that help customers strengthen performance across their network.”
With the upgraded design, three modernized SD70ICC units can do the work of four legacy SD70M-2s, allowing NS to move the same tonnage with fewer locomotives, Progress Rail said.
The upgraded locomotives will feature:
- Individual axle control for superior traction.
- Caterpillar Advanced Diesel Engine Management (ADEM) for improved performance.
- Remanufactured 16‑cylinder EMD 710 engines producing 4,300 horsepower.
NS said the SD70ICCs will be 40% more reliable than the SD70M-2s, increase haulage capacity by 55%, and improve fuel efficiency by 3%. The modernizations extend the life of each locomotive by 20 years.
“These conversions are a tangible example of how we’re modernizing our fleet to drive safe, reliable, and efficient operations for the long term,” NS Chief Mechanical Officer Brian Barr said in a statement. “By upgrading to AC traction, we’re strengthening network resilience, improving fuel efficiency, and extending the life of our assets — while giving our customers greater haulage capacity and the consistent service they need to support their own growth and sustainability goals.”
Through a combination of DC-to-AC modernizations, new locomotive orders, and retirements NS aims to reduce the number of models in its fleet to four from the current 13.
Today, nearly 90% of the railroad’s in-service road locomotives are AC traction, and the entire fleet uses energy management software, making NS the only railroad using the fuel efficiency technology across its entire roster.
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Had to chuckle on the note that these AC locos will have individual axle control. That was one of the main differences between EMD and GE AC locos. GE established fine control of each axle on the AC4400s (that big cabinet on the “fireman’s” side) while EMD controlled by truck on the SD70MACs, presumably to reduce electrical component costs. The flexibility and benefits from the GE approach was one key reason that GE (Wabtec) became the AC loco sales leader. Another was the lost time and high cost of EMD’s effort to create a Tier 4 two-cycle prime mover, which failed.