locomotives with single letters in their types

[Lord Atmo]

ok i get it. but i still dont know what controlled traction effort IS.

'sides, Alec, you're not on so much anymore. so i just post questions here. and cuz it ups my post count and i can get multiple answers etc.

anyhoo, i dont know what controlled traction effort is.

[coborn35]

Post counts dont mean squat man.

Controlled Tractive Effort. (CTE) A computer software package that gives the crew the ability to reduce the tractive effort of a locomotive for use in distributed power situations. The reduced tractive effort reduces the possibility of the helpers from pushing to hard and derailing the train.


Method for controlling the level of tractive efforts in a train having a first locomotive at a head end of the train, constituting a lead locomotive, and a second locomotive positioned in the train behind the lead locomotive, constituting a remote locomotive, with the remote locomotive being configured to selectively operate in either of two modes of operation, such as a first mode in which the locomotive operates at a full tractive effort level of operation and a second mode in which the locomotive operates in a partial tractive effort level of operation producing a tractive effort which is less than the full tractive effort of the locomotive. The method allows selecting (e.g., at the lead locomotive) one of the two modes of operation for producing a level of tractive effort appropriate for conditions as the train moves along a length of track. The method further allows transmitting a signal indicative of the selected mode of operation from the lead locomotive to the remote locomotive. The signal is received at the remote locomotive. The tractive effort generated at the remote locomotive is controlled so as not to exceed the selected level.

[Lord Atmo]

i see. where have you been on AIM lately, Max?

thanks for that info

[coborn35]

Its down.

[trainboyH16-44]

geez, get MSN, it's much better. Seriously.
GE actually doesn't have two systems for naming locomotives, but some railroads prefer swapping some letters around.
GE's name: AC4400CW. UP's name: C44AC
GE's name: Dash 9 44CW. Railroad's name: C44-9W

[BentnoseWillie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44
[GE actually doesn't have two systems for naming locomotives, but some railroads prefer swapping some letters around.
GE's name: AC4400CW. UP's name: C44AC
GE's name: Dash 9 44CW. Railroad's name: C44-9W

Actually, I have seen GE materials using both nomenclatures.

[chad thomas]

Hey Max, where did you get the CTE info from? The way I understand it (as explained to me by a UP conductor) CTE is for pairing up AC units with DC units so they don't burn out the DC units at low speed, that is speeds in the short time rateing of the DC units. When all the units in the consist are AC the CTE feature is not needed.

[trainboyH16-44]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BentnoseWillie

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44
[GE actually doesn't have two systems for naming locomotives, but some railroads prefer swapping some letters around.
GE's name: AC4400CW. UP's name: C44AC
GE's name: Dash 9 44CW. Railroad's name: C44-9W

Actually, I have seen GE materials using both nomenclatures.

Wonder how long that's been going on..in that case, I reformat my previous statement to this:
"Yes, GE is now having trouble settling on locomotive designations..."

[beaulieu]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

You mean the whole GP40-2L vs. GP40-2W thing? Trust me, he's right. I have no idea why they did an SD40-2W and a GP40-2L, but they did..

The builder's plate on CN's built new for them SD40-2s do not have any reference to a "W" either. The plate reads just SD40-2. As for CN GP40-2s only one batch has the "L" in the official model designation, all the other orders just read GP40-2. The "L" stands for Lightweight Frame. All of the locomotives with the widenose cabs are a lot heavier than those equipped with the spartan cab. This isn't much of a problem on the SD series locomotives. This is a big problem on the Geeps, in order to keep the weight on axles within accepted limits they were built with small fuel tanks. The simple way to spot the CN GP40-2L locomotives from those that are just GP40-2 is to look for the next size larger fuel tank. This same problem also afflicted Santa Fe's GP60M, compare the size of the fuel tank on the GP60Ms with those on the GP60Bs.

[beaulieu]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

Hey Max, where did you get the CTE info from? The way I understand it (as explained to me by a UP conductor) CTE is for pairing up AC units with DC units so they don't burn out the DC units at low speed, that is speeds in the short time rateing of the DC units. When all the units in the consist are AC the CTE feature is not needed.

Chad, the CTE is only used when GE AC units are used as DPUs on mixed manifest trains so as not to pu***he train over on curves, as some of the cars ahead of the DPU may be empties, with bulk trains this is less of a problem. The CTE effectively limits the TE to that of a Dash-9.
All modern DC locomotives have MTP in some form or another, what this does is monitor the temperature of the traction motors so that the locomotive can put out its maximum pulling power for as long as possible. It is no longer necessary to guess using an ammeter and a short time rating table or red-line on the guage.

[chad thomas]

OK, I stand corrected. Thanks.

[Lord Atmo]

is there such a locomotive as a C44-9 (no W)? or did GE only make those as widenoses?

[coborn35]

Yes, yes, I believe NS has few standard cabs.

[wctransfer]

Not quite. There has never been a C44-9, but there has been a C40-9.

Alec

[coborn35]

Yes, the photo had incorrect info.