Re: You're hired!

Old GE 44-tonners have the Caterpillar D-17000 engine, which has been obsolete for at least 20 years. It is very difficult to locate parts for the engine. The 45-ton version more usually had Cummins HBI-600 engines, also quite obsolete but not quite as much as the D-17000. Both are normally aspirated and would be panting for breath at 10,015 feet. The other problem with both locomotives is the traction motors, which were not designed for power braking. I know of a tourist line in New England which regularly fried traction motors in its 44-tonner until someone rigged up a relay to drop power when the amperage approached the flash-point. Using such a locomotive to drag ballast could be disastrous unless the engineer is very careful and watches his load meter like a hawk.