The first being is there a site out there that can tell you the type of whistle on certain locos. And i was wondering what is the difference between AC and DC on locos and how do u know which locos are what? For example the difference between the SD70MAC and teh SD70M or the Dash 9’s and Dash 8’s…? Finally, does anybody know if CP is planing on purchasing new locos anytime soon?
Thanks
CPRS8622
CP buying new loco’s?
CP has the youngest fleet of locomotives out of any of the Class One’s in North America.
Though, they did just purchase a whack of green goat yard locomotives, they are currently undergoing testing, and if they are a success, CP will be buying more.
The 6-axle Dash 8s and the Dash 9s have a couple of differences- for one is the trucks. Dash 8 trucks more resemble EMD-style trucks, while Dash 9s have Hi-Adhesion trucks that are a bit more rounded.
Five-Chime Airhorn Consultants for airhorns http://atsf.railfan.net/airhorns/
And CP is getting 60 ES44AC’s next year…
::edit:: Fixed Dash 8s and 9s to read the 6-axle units
…and that isn’t true all the time either.
What you need is to just start looking at photos and pick up the details as you go along. Some might suggest a “diesel spotters guide” but i never used one. Put the money to trucks instead.
Adrianspeeder
Are there Dash 8s with Hi-Ad trucks, or Dash 9s without them?
Ok I’ll explain the some of the differences between AC vs. DC.
alternating-curent traction on todays locomotives is far more superior to the conventional direct current traction. Things you can do with AC that you can’t with DC: you can run trains under heavy load at very slow speed, you get more adheasion, therefore you are able to get extra horsepower to the rail, your able to acheive greater dynamic brakeing effort, you have more tractive effort. This is so because, alternating current constantly changes in amplitude and direction, unlike direct currnet which is constant. Because DC is constant the amperage and voltage stays at the same altitude. Therefore when a DC motor is at slow speed very little counter electromotive force is developed to oppose the line voltage, which in turn allows very dangerous currents to flow through the armiture, commutator, burshes, and magnetic feild coils. Then bye bye traction motors.
AC motors are induction motors acting off of the principle of mutual and self induction. Induction basicly means that a voltage will be 'induced" through a rising or collapsing magnetic feild when current is passed through a conductor. Induction motors don’t have communtators, or bushes. Because of this AC traction motors are able to provide full power all day long at any speed without overheating.
I hope thats a little more info for you on AC vs. DC, cprs8622.
Dash 9s did come without hiad trucks if they were not spec. by the RR.
Adrianspeeder
Thank you for all the responses, they helped a lot…
CPRS8622
Right, right, but which rr’s ordered them without Hi-Ad trucks?
CSX’s C44-9W’s, 9000-9053, have Dash-8 trucks. 9000-9002 were built on the shorter Dash-8 frame while the rest had the longer Dash-9 frame.
Thank you. I believe some conrails were like that too.
Adrianspeeder
Well, CSX does call these units C44-8Ws…
But just to say, I wasn’t saying you were wrong, was just curious as to what engines you meant.
Thank you, cprs8622, for asking about AC and DC – and thanks to you, too, CSXrules4eva, for your great explanation. After spending several days at Rochelle, IL, I was quite curious about the AC/DC dichotomy myself.
This is my second post and I’ve been a member only a few days. I don’t know how to start my own thread yet, and don’t know how interventionist any Site Monitoring person at kalmbach might be–
Forgive me if I ask who manufactures loco’s in the USA alongside Electro-Motive (EMD) and GE? cprs, flame me off if you feel I’m stepping on yr toes; in which case some of you more experienced folk might help me start my own newbie-needs-answers Topic.
smalling_60626
Besides Railpower with their Green Goat and Turbo Genset Inc with their TES switchers, GE and EMD are the only ones.
Hummm…
I guess Boise Locomotive doesn’t count?
Ed
Can`t forget the Boys in Boise.
Kurt
Except, again, AC motors used on railroads today are not pure induction motors. They are hysterises non-synchronous motors with the rotating bars slanted instead of straight. Greater load reuslts in greater lsippage.
Smalling_60626, welcome to the forum. To start a new topic just click on Post new topic beside the purple file.
For members under 40 please remember AC vs DC now mostly refers to traction motors but in the 1970s it was about Generators vs Alternators.
Oh you are more than welcome for that explanation. I tried my bestest. hehehe lol. I was a little worried it would be a little bit to technical. But anyway WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!!! [#welcome] you should stop by the Depot Diner and Coffee Shop sometime. [:D]