The Centennials (EMD DD40X) have an unusual feature. Along the outside of the walkway on each side about 3/4 of the way towards the rear, there is a pointed rectangular structure, perhaps 6 feet long by 5 feet tall and 5 inches deep.
I don’t remember seeing anything like it on any other engine. What is it and what does it accomplish?
I may very well be wrong but I think there is one on each side and they are reservoirs for sand and have filler caps on the top of each box.
That’s what I have been told too…
Phil
Depending on where you are standing when you photograph, you’re a fan of either the U ON PACIFIC or the ION PACIFIC.
Not exactly a brilliant move by the designer/paint crew. Might I suggest a smaller font, next time, Uncle Pete?
Yup its the sandbox one for each side Larry
i think shields on the sandboxes would’ve accomplished that oversight better. i’ve seen the big units with the smaller font for their hood text (hell, if you’ve ever fanned the UP, then you probably have too. they’re swarming with SD70Ms that have it) and they look really boring
Out of curiosity I went and found a recent picture of 6936, the remaining operating engine of this class. It has the same lettering scheme as the one above.
I like Atmo’s suggestion about putting the shield on the sandbox. I seem to think that in the SD40-2’s there were several lettering schemes over their lifetimes, but rigid adherance to the current one seems to be the goal. UP 6900 (the one on display at Omaha) was right out of the paint shop when it was placed in the park.
Now if that isn’t one cute little engine, what a sweetheart, shouldn’t it be out in some rail yard shunting around a few boxcars??? what a magnificent switcher it would make, forget Thomas and the gang, This is what a locomotive should look like.