Good Day,
Swafford’s imagination at work…ES55AC with Hi-Adhesion Trucks
With the railroads demanding more powerful and more fuel efficient diesel locomotives I think there is a potential North American market for an 8 axle diesel locomotive. The GE Transportation tagline is “imagination at work”.
Regards,
Swafford
If I recall correctly, EFVM and the other Brazilian railroads use 8-motor locomotives because meter gauge constricts the size of the traction motors. I recall a comment in TRAINS’ “GM Scrapbook” series about the DDM45 that it wouldn’t be copied Stateside because it isn’t necessary.
Where did you get this? Is this actually on GE’s drawing board? If so…cool!
If I’ve done my math correctly, 5500 horsepower (maybe even 6000) could be achieved with one 16-cylinder prime mover. Don’t know why added axles would be necessary, even though the unit would possibly be a bit heavier than current ES44 units. If the units have to be lengthened, I suspect that increased fuel capacity would be desirable.
Ultimate curve & switch wrecker … the “thing” would be an absolute menace off the main line. The limited coupler swing GE’s are already a pain in the *ss.
I could be wrong, but I think the Brazillian locos are B+B-B+B, so they wouldn’t be as hard on the track structure.
Our line has some 5.5 degree curves - I suspect that this loco would not do well. Even C-C’s have their issues here, which is one reason we don’t run any.
…It looks like the locomotive shown in the visual…has one piece trucks to support 4 axles. I don’t see how that makes any sharp curves…I would have thought something like that would have two trucks, each with a pivot pin, and then a pivot pin where the upper structure pivot pin fastens to the engine base.
What kind of arrangements did the UP “DD” units have with the trucks…?
D-D. Same as the GE in the pic.
Good Day,
Swafford’s imagination at work again…
Presenting my new Radial-Steering Truck design. Maybe this could take the curves better.
Texas thinks BIG…How about building the ES55AC in Fort Worth! The new GE plant opens in 2012!
On a side note: The drawings presented were digitally painted by me and were created by modifying a drawing from Michael Eby at trainiax.net
Regards,
Swafford
The Brazilian meter gauge locomotives are a mixed bag. The GE’s, both new and rebuilt, have a B+B-B+B wheel arrangement. The re-trucked and re-gauged second-hand EMD’s also have the same wheel arrangement. The DDM45’s were all built with a D-D wheel arrangement.