Is it just me or does 8380 look like it has GE trucks?
|
Both have variants of the EMD Flexicoil truck. See the attached link for info on the variations.
http://www.hosam.com/emd/emd6a.html
|
Np, but I'll bet it's a former Conrail unit. CR ordered their SD40-2's with Flexicoil trucks like that used on the SD40. The HT-C was used on the SD40-2 models. I'd bet both units are ex-Conrail.
|
Nice side by side shot. The biggest difference between the locomotives is that the #8380 started life as a standard SD40 while #8835 is a true facory built SD40-2.
|
| Posted by FSWood on November 17, 2010 | |
Bright. Sort of a complementary colors theme with the blue and orange there.
|
Quite a few significant differences between the two locos when you look a bit closer, trucks, grills, fans, lights etc. Either way, the general design and look of an SD40-2 is i think a really aesthetically appealling one, what with the long frame and big 'porches'; an absolute classic. The newest CSX paint scheme compliments them well too, i think.
|
| Posted by Tie Guy on November 17, 2010 | |
8380 was an old original SD40. Note the shorter platforms and lack of Anticlimbers on the old goat. 8835 was a newer model SD40-2 with all the bells and whistles. Extended dynamic brake grid to accommodate an exhaust silencer and the larger platforms and high adhesion trucks.
|
To clear a couple of things up, both units in the picture are rostered as SD40-2s.
CSXT SD40-2 8835 was built in September of 1978 as CR #6452, a phase 2a2 EMD SD40-2. Yes 8835 is newer, but it does not, however, have high adhesion trucks or an exhaust silencer. Any locomotives produced prior to phase 2c specs had no exhaust silencers. The reason for the larger dynamic brake blister on 8835 is because of the extended range dynamic braking features that were widely introduced with EMD's Dash 2 line. This allowed the dynamic brakes to perform their maximum braking effort at lower speeds. As far as high adhesion trucks go, I'm not sure where you got that information, but it is incorrect. The standard trucks for EMD's six axle Dash-2 series locomotives was the EMD HTC truck, which was an improvement upon the older Flexicoils as it allowed for all three traction motors to be mounted in the same direction, along with many other notable improvements such as shock dampers on the center axle bearing end caps. Though they were an improvement, they were not high adhesion. EMD did not develop high adhesion technology until the radial steering trucks were introduced in the early 90s, which can be seen on the SD70 series. Conrail's mechanical department, however, was not convinced all of these improvements to the truck side frames were beneficial, as Amtrak had lots of trouble with an early hollow-bolster version of the HTC truck on their SDP40Fs that caused them to derail at certain speeds coupled with certain cars. As a precaution to this bad reputation, it was decided that all of Conrail's six axle EMDs up until their second to last order of SD50s were to come equipped with the older Flexicoil C2H trucks. This spotting feature is evident on 8835, as it still rides on those old Flexicoils.
CSXT SD40-2 8380 was built in July of 1970 as C&O #7521, a phase 2b2 EMD SD40. It was rebuilt sometime in the late 1980s or 1990s to SD40-2 specs, but it retained its external appearance of an SD40. Note that the side frames of it's trucks are identical to that of 8835's trucks. The difference between the two is that 8380 has Flexicoil C2L trucks, which differ only in that the brake cylinders are mounted low on each side frame, as opposed to above the #1 and #3 axle of each truck, as seen on 8835. Also note that over the years, 8380 picked up two later model open top radiator fans somewhere during it's rebuilds.
|
All differences aside, this is a great picture with vibrant colors. I think this is the best CSX paint scheme since the stealth version.
|
|