Tunnel motors?

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CopCarSS

A question I've always been curious about:

What necessitated the tunnel motor revisions on the 40 and 45 series locos, but nothing before that? How did SP's hoards of SD-9s survive in the tunnels? Thanks in advance for all info!

Apparently not that well but at the time I'm sure they were better than the steamers they replaced, at least from the crews point of view.

[CopCarSS]

A question I've always been curious about:

What necessitated the tunnel motor revisions on the 40 and 45 series locos, but nothing before that? How did SP's hoards of SD-9s survive in the tunnels? Thanks in advance for all info!

[jsoderq]

Larry's Truck and Electric out of Ohio

[kenneo]

I don't know who LTE is, but these locomotives are ex SP motors that have been shed by the UP over the past year or so. They are being leased back to railroads for operation. I saw one about 2 weeks ago on the BN at Willbridge on the point of a pig.

[ddechamp71]

A few days ago I was railfanning at Cima Hill, California, and I saw an UP consist, including a completely black Tunnel Motor, wearing letters like LTEX, or sthg like this.

Some of you have ideas about what these engines are?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

Nothing can replace a tunnel motor.

Yep, I think your right-on with that statement! So, here is a photo taken 20 years ago of a SSW SD45T-2 moving through Nevada's "Great Basin."



Jim

[coborn35]

Well if you want to see tunnel motors operating day to day, come up here to the CN (DMIR) where the tunnel motors are painted for DMIR and were reclassified SD40-3's.

[ericsp]

Nothing can replace a tunnel motor.

[TheS.P.caboose]

I think the tunnel motors will be remembered like the SD40-2. They are classics.

[chad thomas]

Plus there are not as many trailing locos these days due to higher horsepower of individual units.

[zapp]

I doubt you'll see anything like that again due to the fact that most locomotives nowadays can operate over most any terrain without suffering any ill effects.
They are tested in different conditions by the manufacture.
I like running the tunnel motors. They have a really long wheelbase and they ride really smooth.

[Anonymous]

With many of the tunnel motors being retired out of Class I railroads, what current locomotives are taking their place? Do the current generation of locomotives already have provisions built in for extended tunnel operation? Will there ever be another locomotive specifically designed for tunnel use?