Before the “wide bodied” EMDs and GEs came out, what was the most powerful loco of the two?
EMD built 6600 hp DDA40X Centenial locomotives for Union Pacific, one of which still operates.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=17202
EMD also built electric GM10B (10000 HP?), but it required electrical power from elsewhere and merely converted it.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=74637
GE built 10000 HP gas turbines for UP.
I knew somebody would bring them locos up!!! [(-D] [;)] I forgot to make myself clear, anything but them locos, mabye U boats or SD series. Sorry about that. [:D]
For a single locomotive without double engines the most powerful before the modern age was probably the SD45X, which had 4200 horsepower even though it was never put into production. It was basically an SD45 really beefed up.
What about the GE U50’s? Or don’t those count?
The U50 was a dual-engine unit, so I don’t think it counts.
As mentioned above, EMD topped out with the SD45X at 4200 HP. With GE, it’s a bit tricky since NS stuck with standard cabs. If they count, GE topped out with the B40-8/C40-8/C40-9 at 4000 HP. With Alco/MLW, they topped out with the M640, powered by a V-18 251 at 4000 HP.
GE possibly the GG1 (for short time loading only).
DOH! I knew I forgot something…LOL!
In the modified category Santa Fe’s SDCAT #5855 pushed out 4250 horsepower. This SD45-2 was modified in July 1987 with a Caterpillar 3612 engine installed in place of its 20V-645E3.
On the SDCAT subject how was that engine different than the CNW 6000 (their SDCAT)? Was the ATSF’s engine simply bigger or rated for more power?
C&NW 6000 (ex 6547, ex Conrail/PC) had a 12 cylinder 3600 series engine rated at 3800 traction hp.
Was the ATSF listed at 4250 brake horsepower, or traction ?
Grayson:
Although it was a small manugacturer of locomotives and rebuilder–Morrison-Knudson [ and thru sever incarnations-- later MPI in Boise, Id.] and introduced in Sept 1994.
M-K manufactured approximately 6 units of their MK-5000 C- all surviving are now working on the Utah Railroad. They were Caterpillar [3612 engine- 5000hp] powered , and the first three were leased to Souther Pacific.
Some hold that this 5000hp engine was what kicked off the high hp race that produced at GE and EMD the 6,000 hp engines in their Catalogs.
What would that difference be?
GE turbines [;)]
GE verandas turbines single unit turbines at 4500 HP all in one unit.
I thought the EMD SD90MAC would top the list on one side of the ledger at 6,250 HP…not sure about the G.E. units but seem to recall a few years back that G.E. fielded the AC6000W at 6,000 HP to counter the SD90MAC. I think some of each are still around but not, as I recall, on the U.P. (Carl, am I correct?)
The SD90MAC HII operated by Canadian Pacific I believe tops out the EMD power for a single block engine. Although I’ve heard they have some rather serious reliablity problems.
In GE’s Corner the AC6000W, which I believe CSX still operates top out at 6000 HP as well.
MLW made the M640 which was the world’s first 4000 hp single block.
The FM Trainmaster, which is sometimes credited with starting the horsepower race, topped out at 2400 hp, but laid down traction effort that was compairable with a higher horsepower engine.
Baldwin never topped the 2000 hp mark with a single block locomotive but their dual block Centipedes hit 3000 hp.
Cheers!
~METRO
IIRC UPs C60/43ACs are in Texas on rock train duty. No SD90/43MAC-H supposedly in their ranks any longer. Subject to correction by those that know more than I!