Union Pacific SD70Ms

This page was last updated on February 3, 2006.

From a news release dated March 30, 2000:

SD70M Production on Schedule
First Unit Expected in April

Production of the SD70Ms at EMD-London is proceeding on schedule, with the first of the 1,000-unit order scheduled to be delivered the last week of April, said Mike Iden, general director- locomotive engineering and quality.

The first unit, number UP 4000, underwent final tests March 23. "Units 2 through 9 are in the assembly lines," Iden said. "Numbers 2-5 are near-complete, 6-9 are platforms in various states of assembly. Cabs through unit 19 are assembled.

"Production is still on-schedule for delivery of the first five units during the last week of April," he said.

With EMD production under way, UP began making weekly inspections at London, including certification of all EMD test procedures for voice radios, event recorders and cab signals, Iden said.

"There were several specification compliance issues identified during visits, but no major issues," he said. "All variations were corrected. We also have identified several design changes with positive benefit to reliability and, in some cases, manufacturing efficiency, all of which are being processed with EMD."

Iden said an SD70M Integrated Service Team was formed, consisting of representatives from UP, EMD, Wabtec, and Harmon and Dayton-Phoenix. "They will focus specifically on SD70M reliability, availability, maintainability and parts issues on a daily basis in a proactive, quick-response manner," he said.

The team's overall goals are to: maintain availability at the required 93-95 percent level; address long-term reliability issues; address SD70M shop counts and dead-in-consist with UPRR shop management and Harriman Dispatching Center personnel; manage parts support to avoid deficiencies and units-held; manage warranty parts handling; and make SD70M maintenance proactive.

"All four suppliers readily and enthusiastically supported establishing the team," Iden said. "They all agreed to have each team member enter Six Sigma training so all have the same set of statistical analysis and root cause tools."

As of June 2004, UP has 1,454 SD70Ms, numbered from 3778 to 5231, including 25 ex SP units numbered UP 3974-3984, 3986-3999 (leaving an empty slot for UP's steam 4-6-6-4 3985). (UP 4141 is a specially painted SD70ACe.)

(See "Union Pacific Locomotive Directory 2003-2004" by Paul K. Withers for additional information.)

Click here for a summary of the locations where UP's SD70Ms were manufactured.

Sorted By Road Number

Road Number	*Qty.*	Order Number	Build Location	Year Built	*Notes*
UP 3779-3822	44	20036559	London	2004
UP 3823-3835	12	20036559	Mexico	2004
UP 3836-3873	38	20036559	Mexico	2004
UP 3874-3970	97	20006271	London	2003
UP 3971-3973	3	20006271	London	2002	Equipped with newer cab design, to UP in 2004
UP 3974-3984	11	936438	London	1994	Ex SP 9800-9810
UP 3986-3999	14	936438	London	1994	Ex SP 9811-9824
UP 4000-4074	75	996164	London	2000
UP 4075-4088	14	996172	Mexico	2000
UP 4089-4118	30	996192	London	2000
UP 4119-4164	46	996190	SSSI	2000
UP 4165-4274	110	996172	Mexico	2000
UP 4275-4278	4	996164	London	2000
UP 4279-4284	6	996168	London	2000
UP 4285-4522	238	996188	Mexico	2001
UP 4523-4634	112	996168	London	2001	UP 4526-4528 (3 units) have a slightly different version of the new flag decal
UP 4635-4639	5	20006233	London	2000	Pre-production flared radiators
UP 4640-4709	70	996168	London	2001
UP 4710-4849	140	20006271	London	2002	UP 4837-4839 (3 units) equipped with newer cab design. Flared radiators UP 4735-4849 (115 units) have flag decals
UP 4850-5102	253	20006223	Mexico	2002	Flared radiators From UP 4868 and up have flag decals
UP 5103-5126	24	20006271	London	2002	Flared radiators Flag decals
UP 5127-5205	79	20036562	Mexico	2004
UP 5206-5231	26	20036562	London	2004