NREX B units

[railroad65]

When did national start converting locomotives to B units? I just seen three of them(all ex-SOU high hoods) in a large power move on a northbound NS train, thru DANVILLE, VA. Found pictures of some on the net. They are not just SD40-2 high hoods from NS (ex-SOU) but ex-CSX SD-50's. The first picture is of a MEGA PORCH B unit, LOOK AT THE CAB DOOR.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=81510 "Do not occupy" on door but has a roof mounted Air Conditioner. Former TUNNEL MOTOR???

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=87937

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=97977

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=97734 the CSX unit


Just wondering about this, been reading on the forum about these type of engines are not flexible in service, can not lead.

railroad65

[eolafan]

A "classic" B unit has everything but a cab such as the GP-60B, F-3B, etc. but the units in your photos are likely units that have just about worked out their useful lives and are not worth the money needed to bring their cabs up to "standard" and so are used as "trailing" units in consists only and so are labeled "B" on their cab sides or (as in this case) doors. Other units that have been "A" units and have been involved in wrecks are sometimes converted to "B" units during rebuild by removing the cabs altogether. As an example there are at least several SD-40B units running around like this that we see here on BNSF.

[chad thomas]

The first one was a tunnel motor. You can tell by the shape of the anti-climber.

They are most likly B-units because the cabs will not meet labor agreement requirements. It's easier to just condemn the cab and call them B units then to bring the cab up to snuff.

[railroad65]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

The first one was a tunnel motor. You can tell by the shape of the anti-climber.

They are most likly B-units because the cabs will not meet labor agreement requirements. It's easier to just condemn the cab and call them B units then to bring the cab up to snuff.

You are right, I forgot that SOUTHERN locomotives did not have toilets in them, just the bag[xx(][xx(]. thanks for the reply's

railroad65

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

The first one was a tunnel motor. You can tell by the shape of the anti-climber.

They are most likly B-units because the cabs will not meet labor agreement requirements. It's easier to just condemn the cab and call them B units then to bring the cab up to snuff.

Plus no ditch lights to maintain.

[chad thomas]

Yea, and note the single bulb headlight instead of dual bulbs.

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

Yea, and note the single bulb headlight instead of dual bulbs.

I just noticed that. The plows have been removed also.

[chad thomas]

As long as the cab is still there they should sell tickets to railfans. Mabee remove all unnessasary equiptment and add a couple of lounge chairs. A wet bar would be nice too....OOPS, did I say that out loud ?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

D&RGW did a similar thing with some of its GP30's and GP35's in the 1970's. It removed the seats and certain other components from the cabs and turned the units into de facto B units.

[chad thomas]

UP did the same thing a while back with some SD40-2s. They added a B at the end of the road numbers, like 3434B.

[espeefoamer]

There were several comments on the second picture claiming that the unit was ex CP.When did CP buy high hood SD40-2s. Did CP buy these from Southern Ry. or N&W?

[Anonymous]

I think CP purchased the high hood SD40-2s in the early 1990's from NS, painted over the cab windows, and refered to the units as "B-cabs," or something like that.

[railroad65]

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

There were several comments on the second picture claiming that the unit was ex CP.When did CP buy high hood SD40-2s. Did CP buy these from Southern Ry. or N&W?

If I'm right, NS let a group of ex-SOU SD40-2's (aquired in 1975) ether go back off lease or sold out right to the CP in the 1990's. The CP blocked the windows (painted over???) and made them into B units, because of the high hood. So, does this mean these units are off the CP or NS or both. I'm glad to see the old high hoods live on without being chopped, a unique thing from the SOUTHERN and with some NW's.

railroad65

[BNSF_GP60M]

BNSF used to have former Santa Fe C30-7 that were regulated to B unit status. They were that way because of either faulty speedometers, no ditch lights, or other cab problems. They could be still used in the consist, but not as the lead unit.

[broncoman]

Where did the grande veranda porch come from on the first picture. A tunnel frame is the same size as a regular -2, so if you put a standard radiator section on a tunnel you should get a standard 40-2, yes? Could it be a sd50 frame witha 40-2 long hood?

[Gluefinger]

I think that T-2 frames are longer than standard SD40-2 ones though

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

Where did the grande veranda porch come from on the first picture. A tunnel frame is the same size as a regular -2, so if you put a standard radiator section on a tunnel you should get a standard 40-2, yes? Could it be a sd50 frame witha 40-2 long hood?

Tunnel motors are longer than the standard version.

[BNSF_GP60M]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

Where did the grande veranda porch come from on the first picture. A tunnel frame is the same size as a regular -2, so if you put a standard radiator section on a tunnel you should get a standard 40-2, yes? Could it be a sd50 frame witha 40-2 long hood?

Tunnel motors are longer than the standard version.

A tunnel motor frame is on the same frame as a standard 40-2.
Check out "The Field Guide to Modern Desiel Locomotives".

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kfuztv

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

Where did the grande veranda porch come from on the first picture. A tunnel frame is the same size as a regular -2, so if you put a standard radiator section on a tunnel you should get a standard 40-2, yes? Could it be a sd50 frame witha 40-2 long hood?

Tunnel motors are longer than the standard version.

A tunnel motor frame is on the same frame as a standard 40-2.
Check out "The Field Guide to Modern Desiel Locomotives".

If it says that, it is wrong. I checked with BNSF's "Equipment Characteristics" (SP 8268 and UP 3769). The SD40T-2 is longer than the SD40-2. The SD40T-2 is listed as 70'-8" long, the SD40-2 is listed as 68'-10" long.

[Kurn]

Not too long after GE came out with the Dash 8 40 CW's,I saw a couple of what appeared to be new CSX units with the windows plated over and "B-unit" stenciled on the cab side.Always wondered about these.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by kfuztv

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

Where did the grande veranda porch come from on the first picture. A tunnel frame is the same size as a regular -2, so if you put a standard radiator section on a tunnel you should get a standard 40-2, yes? Could it be a sd50 frame witha 40-2 long hood?

Tunnel motors are longer than the standard version.

A tunnel motor frame is on the same frame as a standard 40-2.
Check out "The Field Guide to Modern Desiel Locomotives".

If it says that, it is wrong. I checked with BNSF's "Equipment Characteristics" (SP 8268 and UP 3769). The SD40T-2 is longer than the SD40-2. The SD40T-2 is listed as 70'-8" long, the SD40-2 is listed as 68'-10" long.

Huh? I've always heard that they were the same. [?]

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

UP did the same thing a while back with some SD40-2s. They added a B at the end of the road numbers, like 3434B.

I beg to differ, I recall UP putting the "B" at the beginning of the number, e.g. UP B3434.

QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

There were several comments on the second picture claiming that the unit was ex CP.When did CP buy high hood SD40-2s. Did CP buy these from Southern Ry. or N&W?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cris Helt

I think CP purchased the high hood SD40-2s in the early 1990's from NS, painted over the cab windows, and refered to the units as "B-cabs," or something like that.

Yep, Chris had it right, they got 'em from NS. They ran around in black for a while, with "CP Rail" on the sides, just like the white ex-KCS SD40-2s they bought around the same time that ran around with red "CP Rail" on the sides for a while. Most of these ended up in the DualFlags paint scheme, like sister unit 5478 that I got a pic of in Milwaukee last year:
www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken/TC5.html (scroll to the bottom of the page)

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

QUOTE: Originally posted by broncoman

Where did the grande veranda porch come from on the first picture. A tunnel frame is the same size as a regular -2, so if you put a standard radiator section on a tunnel you should get a standard 40-2, yes? Could it be a sd50 frame witha 40-2 long hood?

The SD40T-2 is longer than the SD40-2. The SD40T-2 is listed as 70'-8" long, the SD40-2 is listed as 68'-10" long.

Huh? I've always heard that they were the same. [?]