I was watching the Pentex Video “Across Marias Pass” and they talked about back in the late 80’s that BN rebuilt some of their SD-40’s with CAT power. I found that strange as for all of the forum talks on EMD’s SD-40’s, I thought the SD-40 was one of the better engines built by EMD. Does anyone remember if BN was happy with the results?
Larry
The November 1991 Trains magazine (BN’s better mousetrap) only mentions 6330 being done and says there were a lot of problems with it. BN also had 10 GP20C built, and I think they all went to the Twin Cities and Western.
I’ve also read elsewhere that the Caterpillar 3500 and 3600 series engines in other usages are capable and operating costs are not out of line. The problem is that they were oddballs in an EMD/GE world and this drove up costs. It would be interesting to see how well they worked on a road where they comprised a reasonable percentage of the locomotive fleet.
But does an SD40 CAT sound as good as EMD???
Here in Peoria, the old Peoria & Pekin Union now a GW sub called TZPR that had a division call Peoria Locomotive Works which was doing rebuilt engines with Cat as the prime mover, I seem to recall they did one switcher, looked rather odd in design, and 2 GP-40 looking units. If I remember right they were much quiter. Not as much of a rumble.
Wernt those MK six axle units CAT powered?
I think a CAT diesel sounds pretty good.
Adrianspeeder
I believe it’s LTV steel that uses switchers with CATs. I’m not sure which model, but they didn’t sound very good to me. Not surprisingly, they sound like a bulldozer. But I guess they are better suited for being turned off for periods of time without restart problems.
Dave
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In 1987-88 Santa Fe tried to create an SD-CAT with 4000 HP in SD45-2m #5855 … it failed in that the crankshaft could not handle the constant loading/unloading of the throttle and transitions. At that time the big CAT’s were good at high speed constant running, but were not quite so good at variable speed and loadings. Became another “lesson learned” along with the Sulzers. Think this thing was created at Cleburne and Argentine/Topeka Shops jointly (could be wrong) so that the industrial engineers could monitor it and see if this could replace the troublesome SD45 power assembliesof the 20 Cylinder variety.
Also remember the CNW’s #6000, which was also an SDCAT but rebuilt from an SD45. I believe it had troubles with its AR-10 alternator working together with the CAT engine.
I couldn’t agree with you more completely. [:D] I honstly don’t know how it wouold sound under the hood of an SD40-2 or an SD40. I would like to see and hear that.
Did the locomotives look any different with CAT power in them?
No they dont look any differnt the CAT engine is the same size as the one that it replaces. Only way you can tell is open up the hood and see the yellow paint. Cat engine are 4 stroke so you dont get the supercharger whine however Cat does make some of the best engines for OTR trucking out there and they will flat out pull like no tomorrow. A 435hp 3406e engine type will run all day between 65-75 mph and maybe slow down 10-15 mph on some major grades. Ran team with my dad in the late 90’s and we had a 435 hp cat mated to a 13 speed trans 3.73 rear end and we could run 1400 miles a day plus. We used to go Chicago to Stockton CA in 33 hrs or less depending on weather over Donner Pass. It was nothing for us to go Cheyenne Wy to Seatlle overnight.
I had the opportunity to see and hear the BN SD-CAT 6330 in operation.
It looks different from a standard SD40-2 in that it was equipped with
an SD45 engine (long) hood and radiators-flared radiators. It sounded
like a VERY large highway truck-totally different than any stock unit
that I’ve ever heard, including GEs and ALCOs.
Ok, A: LTV Mining shut down in 2001, B, you are thinking of Northshore Mining, right next to LTV.
Actually, it was Inland Steel that has the switchers from Peoria rebuilt with Cat engines.
Well now, who let the CAT out of the bag? [:o)] [:D]
There are at least 6 BC Rail Alco units that are CAT powered.
How many other (locomotive) engines are CAT powered? [?]
I’m not completely sure but I believe that the various Boise-built switchers (MP1500, MK1500, GP15D, GP20D, etc.) are all powered with Caterpillar engines. Ed might be able to tell us how well they hold up in service.
All this talk about CAT powered units makes me wonder: is there any website where there are pics of these things and what they sound like . . .
thanks