I started a Theard in Model railroader general dissicion( http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1093988/ShowPost.aspx#1093988 ) on why there is so much SOO locomotives around. There was a question thought that really bugged me(Whell Andrew Falconer segusted I should start this). Why is CN more determind to have more of a unified apperance than CP. You look around at CP and still see SOO locos still around, and even Milwaukee Road Bandits ariound. But on CN you don’t see any WC locos that often. Why does CN want the more Unified apperance. Also, why does CN scrap the WC SD-45s, when I see Tons of CN SD-35s, SD-40s, and SD-40-2s. Why would they scrap the more powerful locomotives. Is it because of a mantince issue?(Take in the fact that I don’t live on a subdivision and don’t see much) Correct me if I’m wrong with any of the informatition above please.
Part of the answer is in the origional CP fleet. You can still see multimarks on some of the units. They havent been applied since the mid 80’s! The last units to take on the origional action red scheme are the SD40-2fs (1989) and they didnt include multimarks. In the early 90’s CP introduced the ‘Dual Flag’ scheme (with an Canadian and US flag). The mid to late 90’s introduced the ‘Golden Beaver’ scheme. Here we are in 2007 and we still have Multimarks on alot of the older locomotives.
As per the Soo units…probably comes down to the ‘if it aint broke’ addiage. I am sure that someday we might see an SD60 with the Golder Beaver on its sides…but that will probably happen when the unit gets a complete overhaul…that is typically when a repaint happens.
David
Re: SD45.
Only my opinion. The SD45s, if still equipped with original prime movers, are 20 cylinder units. From what I’ve read in books and magazines they require more maintenance than 16 cylinder EMDs and the fuel consumption is higher.