I’ve witnessed on several occasions SOO/CP unit grain trains pulled by a single SOO SD60. I’ve noticed them on the former SOO main between Minneapolis and Glenwood, and also I saw one (while trying to keep from getting killed on a blizzard-covered Hwy. 52) between Kenmare and Minot. For a loaded grain train, one SD60 would seem almost inadequate - they’d have to hope that one unit doesn’t fail. Perhaps these are empties only? All of these trains I’ve seen are SOO locomotives in the red/white/black scheme. Might anyone know if this practice was common while the SOO was independent, or is it a recent procedure enacted by the CP?
The locomotives are SD60s. Very common for single locomotives on empty grain or potash trains, it has been that way since the SD40-2 era. The Soo Line SD60s are rated for 5100 tons or better on the mainline west of the Twin Cities.
On www.soolne.org is a section for links that has a link to an all time diesel roster for the Soo Line. It tells the details of the Soo Line SD60 fleet.
Andrew
If the trains were going towards ND they were empties. CP does like to use one engine whenever possible, east of St.Paul I often see what seems a pretty long train being pulled by one CP unit, while a similar BNSF train will have two or three pretty much all the time.
SD60 correction noted! I updated my posting.
Hey, speaking of… What are the spotting differences between the SD50 and SD60? I had a CRIX SD60 mis-identified as a SD50 for the longest time, I couldn’t really imagine SD60s having already been turned back to the lessor… But what are the actual spotting features?
The number of hood doors alongside the diesel engine, there is one more on the SD60. Its almost easier to just know your rosters. BTW the CRIX SD60s are former C&NW, they agreed to a bad end of lease buyout, just like the Soo Line did with their first batch of SD60s.
Fuzzy,
I believe it’s a matter of 4 (out of 6) latched doors under the rear radiator on an SD50, and 6 latched (out of 8) on the SD60.