DD40X Air gap in the middle WHY was it put there

[Anonymous]

I have always wondered why the DD40X had an air gap built in the middle dose anyone know the reason for this?????[:D][8D]

[Darth Santa Fe]

Most likely so that you could get to the other side of the engine without having to walk all the way around it. That might get a little exhausting.

[Anonymous]

DO you think the reason could be that simple? i thought it was so when the engins were lined up in the yard you could look past them....glennbob

[Anonymous]

WHO is an anonymous member??? and how do you get to be one????

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by glennbob

WHO is an anonymous member??? and how do you get to be one????

Go to your profile and uncheck "Allow user name to be displayed on Active Users list". Your name will still be put on your posts.

[Anonymous]

THANK YOU i have wondered that for some time glennbob

[Anonymous]

Wasn't the gap, because the first unit was two diesels stuck together?

[espeefoamer]

There are two diesel engines on one frame.The gap is between the diesels.

[Anonymous]

According to the Kalmback book, Diesel Locomotives: The First 50 Years (A guide to diesels built before 1972)

On page 84 they list the DD35B, which was built in 63-64, about 6 years before the DD40's, the caption on the picture says "The DD35 was the ultimate B unit for B unit enthusiast Union Pacific. The machinery is laid out with the generators at the outer ends and the radiators at the center. There is a transverse passageway under the radiators.

DD35A



I would imagine it would stand the same for the DD40, the book doesn't mention any big differences.

[cacole]

The gap was probably for fresh air intake to the radiators and engines, something like the later tunnel motors.

[Anonymous]

Glen

You may get some better insight from the guys on the Train forums, they seem to be pretty insightful on the prototype stuff.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=111

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

The gap was probably for fresh air intake to the radiators and engines, something like the later tunnel motors.

Probably not as there aren't any intakes or filters in the area in question.

Until an EMD engineer gets on the thread, I'm going with the "convenient access" theory.

[West Coast S]

I know the DD35B had hostler controls located here . The space is too narrow for servicing or removing the generators.Somewhere I have closeup shots of this area, i'll have to do a look up on this one.

Dave

[Anonymous]

dthurman
Is the fourth unit in the photo a U50?

[TrainFreak409]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Darth Santa Fe

Most likely so that you could get to the other side of the engine without having to walk all the way around it. That might get a little exhausting.

This is what I have read over and over and over, so that's what I have always believed.

Verse; that looks like a U50 to me as well.

[Anonymous]

Now that you mention it, it does look like some BIG GE, I grabbed the pic from railpictures.net.

Can you imagine the sound/vibration and look of that lashup rolling by [:p]

[mcouvillion]

The "gap" between the two prime movers of the DD35 and DD40 is a passageway. As mentioned earlier, it prevents having to walk all the way around the end of the engine to get to the other side. Models of these engines are open in the shell because of the drive train. The real ones are closed toward the diesel compartments.

Mark C.

[West Coast S]

Look what else is present: Two GP30B's and a U50C, one big GE unit indeed, these GE units suffered from the use of Aluminum wiring which resulted in electrical fires as well as a Turbo assembly that had the popensity to explode without prior warning, all were retired by 1977. I'm glad I had the oppertunity to observe and photograph them working Cajon Pass and Echo Canyon.

Dave

[miniwyo]

Im not exactly sure, but I believe all EMD did was took 2 SD40s and put them on the same frame with some modifications. But i bet on of the people over on the trains mag forum will be able to tell you.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your input some very good answers>>> glennbob[^][:D][8D]