Did Amtrak SDP40F's operate in the East Coast before 1976?

[HO Hobbyist]

I'm wondering whether the EMD SDP40F's operated on the east coast prior to 1976. I am looking for something for early Amtrak and the Athearn model is great.

[DrW]

Search

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net

for SDP40F. In just a few minutes, I found 1975 pics from Harrisburg, PA, Altoona, PA, and Clearwater, FL.

JW

[mbinsewi]

Check out what Wiki has to say.  They talk about how changes were made after the first 40 were issued, mainly lower fans and horns, for low clearance on Eastern railroads.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_SDP40F

I'm NOT an Amtrak follower, I don't keep up with phases, equipment, etc., so anything I need to know about Amtrak, I search for.  Google is your friend.

Mike.

[HO Hobbyist]

Hey Mike it's you again! We had a forum conversation earlier on my other thread.

The model won't reflect the changes so it doesn't matter to me. I'll just buy a later road number.

[SSW9389]

HO Hobbyist

I'm wondering whether the EMD SDP40F's operated on the east coast prior to 1976. I am looking for something for early Amtrak and the Athearn model is great.

 

Yes, starting April 15, 1974. The SDP40Fs #540-550 were assigned to Seaboard Coast Line- Hialeah, Florida. These units operated generally between Chicago and Miami. As the second order of SDP40Fs delivery progressed more units were assigned to east coast runs. The #588-601 were assigned to Penn Central-Harrisburg for maintenance. The #602-611 were assigned to SCL-Hialeah. The #633-649 were assigned to SCL-Hialeah. By September 1974 #600-601 were assigned to PC- New Haven. And those units were joined by #648-649 in November 1974. In January 1975 the James Whitcomb Riley was observed regularly operating with a single SDP40F. New Haven based Amtrak #601 was fitted with PC style ghetto bars across the windshield by January 1975. All data from Extra 2200 South. 

 

Ed in Kentucky