What type of loco is this? And, I am seeing alot more of this type lately than a few years ago. Is the NorFolk and Southern bringing these back into style?
THE PHOTO LISTED BELOW IS NOT MINE. IT IS TAPOOLE’S PHOTO!
Uh,what photo ? I don’t see anything other than what’s in
your signature.
Sorry, I forgot to put it in their.
This photo was taken by tapoole.
I’m going to guess;a GP-50. I don’t have an NS roster,and really can’t
see enough of the trucks to see if they are 4 axle,or 6 axle.(looks like 4 axle)
Two good giveaways that it’s a ‘newer’ unit;the mounting of the headlight,
and the ‘brake wheel’ on the short hood. The GP-7/9s & SD-9s had a ‘lever’ on
the long hood for the brakes.
And for all you people out there that are going to tell me I’m wrong,you are
probably very correct. If it’s later than a GP-40,I don’t have much interest
in keeping up with model numbers.[:D]
That is NS SD40-2.
3308 is an SD40-2. It was built in March of 1979 and part of a 110 unit group of SD40-2’s numbering between 3201 and 3328, built in sequence between Dec 1972 and June 1979…all high hoods.and from Southern heritage. 3329 starts the ex-Conrail low hood group which runs to 3447. NS also owns its own heritage of low hood SD40-2’s…1625-1652 are NW heritage…and 6073 through 6205 are another group of low hood SD40-2’s of NW heritage. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown
the 3308 is a ns sd40. old southern long hood forward. I dont know about the -2 part as nothing seems to be updated on this engine.
As referenced from NS Rosterbook…3308 is an SD40-2…built March 1979…builders number 786184-6. It is not a straight SD40 as SD40 production ceased around 1972 with the beginning of SD40-2 production. The ‘raised rib’ radiator grills are evident of later SD40-2 production as SD40’s and early SD40-2’s used the flat chickenwire type radiator grills. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown
dave
that might be true and the book might say so but the blue cab card says sd40 and that is what i go by. but it dont really matter cause i have never seen a tonage rating for a dash 2 anyways. as far as ns bringing them back well they never left. these are the units the ns is making into remote control.
Well, I have seen stenciling mistakes on locos,I saw a picture of an NS unit stenciled SD60-2! the cab card may be one of these type of errors… 3308 should have an SD40-2 frame…longer porches…it also should have the SD40-2 electrical cabinet…I can also see the radiator grills in the picture showing it to be a Dash-2…Looking at the book, the`last Southern High hood SD40 built was the 3200. built 1/72. It was from a group of 25 that began with 3170. I am looking at pictures on both pages showing a side by side comparison of an engine from the SD40 group with an engine from the SD40-2 group, which began with engine 3201 and ran through 3328. The longer porches are quite evident on the group which includes 3308. However, from an operating standpoint, it would be easier for a crewmember to simply call it an SD40, since aside from the frames, and electricals, and some other minor things, the two groups are basically the same. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown
The unit is an SD40-2, a Phase II SD40-2 to be precise. HT-C trucks, the type used by 6 axle Dash-2’s as well as later EMD’s, and corrugated radiators are evedent. An SD40 will have only 11 handrail stanchions while an SD40-2 will have 12. This is because the SD40-2 is longer than the SD40. Count the stanchions on the locomotive in the photo and you will see there are 12.
Thank you for the answer, now a new question. Why did railroads take away the GP7 and, GP9?
The major reason I see: is their age. Cost to rebuild;1500hp,and 1750hp.
As compared to the higher horsepower units available now.
Now,do you spend money to rebuild something 50+yrs old,or spend the
money on ‘newer’ technology ? (hopefully better)
No, in fact, they are getting rid of most of them.
Do anyother railroad lines have the “high hood” SD40?
Thanks for the previous answers.
The only roads that I know of,that’ bought’ high hoods in the ‘newer’
models;were the Norfolk & Western,and the Southern.
I don’t see NS getting rid of the High-hood SD40-2’s any time soon, if anything, I would think that they would be fodder for a chop nosing rebuild program. NS has been rebuilding their older Highhood GP38’s and chopping the shorthoods. They are now in the 5500 NS number series and number 80 units, a couple of ex-Conrail low-hoods made it into this rebuild program too as part of those 80… NS’ latest rebuild program is GP50 High-hoods. They are chopping the short hoods on these and rebuilding them mechanically and classifying them as GP38-3’s. They are being numbered in the 5800 series. All the work on the 5500’s and 5800’s is being done at the Juniata Shops in Altoona, Pa. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown
IIRC, CP used to have a few high hood SD40-2’s. They were purchased from NS and eventually turned into B units.
B units. Do you mean something like this Union PAcific one?
For Newbies, one more 1st generation / 2nd generation spotting feature.
The GP7s though 20s and SD7s through 24 had rounded cab roofs. (The GP30 is the oddball with the funky design). From GP35 and SD35 forward, the EMD Spartan cab roofs have the attractive sheet metal angles that you see on the above pictures and still used today on Spartan Cabs, though most new locomotives purchased now have the “Safety Cabs”
Cheers!.