I’ve just bought a Kato CNW SD38-2 … unlike previous UP of the same I straight away put it with an SD40 and SD45… so I noticed that they forgot the dynamic brakes[/b[]]!
…UM… didn’t notice on the UP…
Seriously… it made me think…
okay dynamics started in the hills and CNW ran a lot of flat track… so:
a. when did dynamics get everywhere?
b. were SD38-2s (and others) retro fitted?
were dynamic braked locos kept seperate from dynamics…
a. by area?
b. by useage?
c. in consists
if both dynamic and non in the same consist…
a. I assume that nons reduced available dynamic brake force… put the
other way total dynamic brake force could only add up to total of
dynamic fitted locos. Did dynamic braked locos have to be cut in
together or could control signals be passed via non-dynamics?
b. Would lead loco have to be dynamic equipt fo dynamics to work?
Not all SD38s were dynamic-brake equipped (Detroit, Toledo & Ironton’s and Bessemer & Lake Erie’s, for example). Many were used for hump yard service, where dynamic brakes wouldn’t be needed anyway.
To answer some of your other questions, North American road units with dynamics brakes weren’t universal until the “third-generation” diesels were introduced beginning in the late 1980s. Some so-called “second-generation” SD38s may have been retrofitted, but I don’t have any information immediately available to support that.
Non-dynamic and dynamic locomotives can operate in the same consist. For dynamic brake operation, though, the lead unit must be equipped with dynamics to control other dynamic-equipped locomotives placed elsewhere in the consist.
On new orders, the C&NW specified no dynamic brakes (at least usually). I remember reading that the C&NW’s order for SD-45’s was the only time EMD built the SD-45’s without dynamic brakes.
The C&NW SD38-2 were bought for ‘hump yard service’. That said, the C&NW was not big on D/B’s starting with GP7’s through the SD45’s. Starting with the SD40-2 orders, C&NW ordered D/B’s for most ‘road power’.
Okay… thanks guys… was only kidding about forgetting the Dynamics… BUT… should Kato’s and other CNW SD45s have no dynamics… does anyone make a non dynamic braked SD45 or a conversion part?
At the same time CNW got some high short hood SDs … can’t recall whether they were 45s… from NW I think… they were black… does anyone do a model or do I need to convert a low nose to a high? Has anyone done this?
Oh yes… I also read that early SD45s had an L shaped cab window but this was modified for safety reasons / maintenance costs. Is this right? Did CNW have them… if so… did they last or were they modified? Big question… does anyone model them… or a conversion cab?