I thought this would be appropriate to post here since there are a number of passenger rail modelers onboard.
I was VERY surprised to see MSN post a pictoral slide show on Amtrak’s locomotives and ads from the early days to current …and it’s actually in a positive tone! No slamming of the SDP40F or the E60 and you won’t see the usual deluge of heavily slanted (pro or con) political opinions. Refreshing![8D]
BTW: The E-unit on the 2nd page is ex-Seaboard Coast Line!
I just thought it would get some Amtrak modelers "enthusiastic since Athearn is gearing up to announce the HO SDP40F soon. From what I’ve read on other forums, interest in early and mid-era Amtrak has been growing.
Although I don’t model the modern era, I admit that Amtrak’s replacement for the AEM-7, the new ACS-64 electric, is a sleek looking creature. There are a number of YouTube vids featuring it hauling NEC trains at 100mph+.
However, (no offense to modern Amtrak fans) but to me the new diesel powered SC-44 Charger looks more like a streamlined UPS truck, LOL! [:P]
I know it’s a new generation and things must move forward…but seeing the Silver Meteor or Silver Star hauled by one or two of those European styled units is sure going to seem a bit strange. It took me a few years just to get used to the GE “P-something” Genesis units!
Its taken me nearly 15 yrs to get use to seeing the P42/P40’s on the Silver Fleet and AT.
And the good ole’ SDP40F’s… another failed EMD product (everyone will tell you I’ll always be GE man) they spent more time derailed than they did running. Nearly all the the ACL/SAL/SCL guys hated them with a passion, rode horribly according to them.
Always cool seeing another SCL fan onboard! [Y][8D]
Regarding the SDP40fs, not all train crew personnel disliked them. Photo below is of my friend, SCL Engineer Randal Hodge (r.i.p) in the cab of SDP40F #649. He ran The Champion, Silver Meteor, and Silver Star with these giants. (I even got a cab ride on one occasion!). He liked their ability to yank long trains from a stop with ease and found the F40’s to be bouncier. His hearing was permanently damaged due to the F40s operating in HEP mode with the gradual arrival of Amfleet II sets on Florida trains in 1981-82.
Still, having worked for the Atlantic Coast Line, Randal’s favorite passenger locomotives were, what he called the “500-class”, which were the E-units. As a young fireman, he got to experience 90-100mph speeds on those racehorses way back when before the FRA (or ICC?) imposed the 79mph speed restrictions for units without cab signaling.
I rode Amtrak a number of times behind the giants as well as viewing them very often as a railfan, since I lived near SCL’s “A-Line” at the time (after having moved from the big apple to FL). I know they occured but I didn’t experience nor see breakdowns or derailments.
Just my thoughts but after reading all of the info regarding the derailments that occured (on certain curves, 2 units back to back with a lightweight baggage car coupled to the trailing unit) I still think that if those two huge boilers, mounted on skids, had been eliminated from these ladies and then the electrical system modified for HEP they would have soldiered on in service (like the 18 SDP’s that Santa Fe got from Amtrak in a swap deal). I’m glad that one unit, #644, was saved and there is interest in restoring it to her original Amtrak scheme.
I’m thinking about adding some Amtrak to my roster. Might start with two Rapido F40PH’s in the Phase III Scheme or two Athearn P40’s also Phase III scheme and some Walthers Superliners in either Phase III or Phase IV.
Might add an Atlas Dash 8 in Phase IV if I can find one. They seem to have disappeared from evilbay! [:)]
Thinking back to that timeframe, almost every six axel locomotive was a rough rider, beginning with the SD35, the SD45, the SDP40F, The E44, the E60, and the P30CH. SD40s were not bad rides for some reason, nor were the big Alcos, or the E33s. There were a multitude of reasons for this, track surface, rail condition, wheel contour, balance, track superelevation. Even running on stick rail vs. ribbon rail was a factor. I don’t think the SDP40F was any worse than the others, in my memory.
Am here to say that in ALL cases at 70 MPH speeds, ALL six-axle freight units ride MUCH better than ant four-axle unit! Direct comparison would be SD40-2 vs. GP40-2, always and forever! And have run F40s & P42DCs in psgr sérvice. Oh God what a pleasure it is to have run the trio of E-9s for my RR on 2 occasions! The SD70M is another darn smooth-riding unit while we’re at it.my God how long it took for them to come out with a decent F40PH in HO (basically after they were retired in 2000?). Not talking about kitbash-required jobs! But THIS long of a wait for the SDP40F RTR? Praise the Lord. I give up on the P30CH which I’d like equally-rode behind 703-711 on No. 2. Rode many of then500-Class on the Lone Star. Love the F40s, and running them! In 2-unit sets, not wit a single unit screamer. But mostly a ft guy. And mgr.
