SD38T-3

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

are these locomotives real or are they just made up, if they are real can you please give some info on these locos. thanks

2

Never heard of them before. If they do exist, they sound like they would be rebuilds of old tunnel motor units, SD40T-2’s or SD45T-2’s, derated to 2000hp and rebuilt to dash-3 standards. But again, I’ve never heard of something like that.

3

There definitely were not any locomotives built as SD38T-3s. If any tunnel motors were rebuilt with 2000HP available to the traction motors and with post -2 electronics, it seems likely that they would just be called SD38-3s, as it seems to be common practice for most railroads to drop the T. Where did you hear of such a locomotive?

4

never heard of such a unit

5

No such beast existed as built, but you might get an approximation of one if UP derates any of its SD40-T2’s to 2000 HP for hump duty and renumbers them in the UPY series.

If you feel like modeling such a locomotive, go right ahead. We’ve given you plenty of justification for doing so, and after all, it’s YOUR layout.

6

I have to wonder if North Little Rock has contemplated such a machine.

7

I’ve never heard of that engine. Some SD40s were rebuilt to -3 standards…making them, in effect SD40-3s, but I think those are the only ones. More info on SD40-3s here:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9034

8

Thanks for the input

9

Didn’t BL&E or DM&IR rebuild some of their ex SP Tunnel Motors to SD38 standards?

10

As far as I know all of the DM&IR and B&LE Tunnel motors are still turbocharged.

11

I believe thay had SD45T-2s rebuilt to SD40-3 standards.

12

Most up-to-date details available are: (Edited 3-13-06)

B&LE, while under the management of Transtar and then Great Lakes Transportaion, began moving towards newer motive power. They aquired old Southern Pacific SD45T-2’s (under the management of Union Pacific) and had them modified into SD40T-3’s…They now have road numbers 900 through 910. This will seem confusing since I did say SD40, thats four-zero, not 45. Athearn and others are modeling these road numbers as B&LE SD45T-2. Bessemer doesn’t, nor have they ever run an SD45 of any type. Also, Bessember is vacating all their SD38’s and seems to intend to run only trios and quads of SD40T-3’s. Also, DM&IR is owned by the same company as the B&LE, and has been the sister RR of the B&LE for many years. They on occassion loan motives to one another. Currently, these RR’s are owned and operated by Canadian National RR.

Some Great pictures of them here:

http://www.bessemerjunction.com/

Also see this site ref B&LE under CN:

http://www.cn.ca/about/special_interest/gltacquisition/backgrounder/en_Background.shtml

There is also a great article with photos and the story of the Tunnel Motors Inception and conversions as SD45T-2’s via the Southern Pacific. See the Feb 2006 issue of Model Railroading Magazine, pages 19-21.

Regards,

Robert

13

If it was real it’d be a Tunnel motor SD38-2 upgraded w/ -3 electronics making it a SD38T-3. I’ve never heard of them though.