It's my understanding that the crews don't like them and that they don't ride well at speed.
Which is probably why you seldom see them as the only or lead loco. On 19 and 20 they're always second out.
What are the problems with them? That could, perhaps, use modifications?
The other reason (obvious, too me anyway) is that if a switcher is needed they are better suited than a cowl loco. Another less obvious possibility is they are at the end of their service life and with the light switching duties they can perform in that capacity for may years and avoid an investment in a dedicated switcher.
Why?
Because think of other Class I railroads such as CSX using GEVO's and AC4400's or C40-8W's or any widecab locos as switchers! Lol
CCC 1007 has it right, POOR ride quality. The engineers dislike them.
They're approaching 26 years of age. Would you take a 26 year old automobile on a cross country roadtrip if you had something newer? If Amtrak wasn't short of power, I wouldn't expect them in road service at all.
Well, it happens.
Most of the switchers I see out here in UP land are six axle mainline behemoths. Extremely rare to see a purpose built switcher locomotive around here. Heavy reliance on dedicated unit trains and growing indifference to smaller shippers means very few manifest freights and very little switching required.
