GP vs SD

[Anonymous]

WAit i thought SD meant "Stupid Duty"

Ok, Jokes aside-

I'm very sure it means "Special duty"

[Anonymous]

WAit i thought SD meant "Stupid Duty"

Ok, Jokes aside-

I'm very sure it means "Special duty"

[Anonymous]

i think that 4 axle units are great . i remember when i was in tallahassee fl. i use to go to the SCL yard.. and see those GP-9's working that yard. those guys knew how to run those engines. and let me tell you they what they were doing.. i give respect too any engineer who is not afraid too handle his engines or train..

[Anonymous]

i think that 4 axle units are great . i remember when i was in tallahassee fl. i use to go to the SCL yard.. and see those GP-9's working that yard. those guys knew how to run those engines. and let me tell you they what they were doing.. i give respect too any engineer who is not afraid too handle his engines or train..

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by f14aplusfl

Come to Florida and check out the Florida East Coast Railway.... most of their fleet is 4axle locomotives and they are leading the FEC trains.... though I'd prefer to see them in the flashier red, yellow, orange scheme... the one the F-units and early Geeps wore but I'll take the blue and hurricane logo. I rarely see six axle locomotives and its SD-40s leased or bought from UP with FEC painted over the UP mrkings.

I went to Florida in 2000 for the Nascar race in Homestead. My friend and I went all the way down to Key West. LOVED IT [8D] It was November and the weather was wonderful. It was a good trip and a good time. Didn't have time to railfan, maybe if I ever get there again I will. [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by f14aplusfl

Come to Florida and check out the Florida East Coast Railway.... most of their fleet is 4axle locomotives and they are leading the FEC trains.... though I'd prefer to see them in the flashier red, yellow, orange scheme... the one the F-units and early Geeps wore but I'll take the blue and hurricane logo. I rarely see six axle locomotives and its SD-40s leased or bought from UP with FEC painted over the UP mrkings.

I went to Florida in 2000 for the Nascar race in Homestead. My friend and I went all the way down to Key West. LOVED IT [8D] It was November and the weather was wonderful. It was a good trip and a good time. Didn't have time to railfan, maybe if I ever get there again I will. [:)]

[joho2486]

The only possible way for the 4-axle power to make a comeback onto America's main lines is if there is a management style change from the top to the bottom. The management change would involve a change from large trains going between large yards to having small yards with smaller trains between the terminals. Yes, there would still be the large manifests that we see today, but I'm thinking of smaller trains going between the intermediate terminals to avoid the large terminals (In other words, having many small trains instead of having few, very large trains). Then, the 4-axle power makes sense; it's cheaper than the 6-axle power in terms of maintence costs for 2 extra traction motors, it's more flexible on curves, plus, if traffic is to be taken off of the highways, more short rail corridors need to be created. Since the traffic base is usually small to begin with, costs need to be kept at a bare minimum to allow the best cost-effective service. Therefore, smaller power, not bigger power, may be the better solution if traffic from the road is to be shifted to the rail.

[joho2486]

The only possible way for the 4-axle power to make a comeback onto America's main lines is if there is a management style change from the top to the bottom. The management change would involve a change from large trains going between large yards to having small yards with smaller trains between the terminals. Yes, there would still be the large manifests that we see today, but I'm thinking of smaller trains going between the intermediate terminals to avoid the large terminals (In other words, having many small trains instead of having few, very large trains). Then, the 4-axle power makes sense; it's cheaper than the 6-axle power in terms of maintence costs for 2 extra traction motors, it's more flexible on curves, plus, if traffic is to be taken off of the highways, more short rail corridors need to be created. Since the traffic base is usually small to begin with, costs need to be kept at a bare minimum to allow the best cost-effective service. Therefore, smaller power, not bigger power, may be the better solution if traffic from the road is to be shifted to the rail.

[gwjordan1950]

If you die hard GP lovers would like to see them in action everyday, you need to go to the NS yard,( old Nickle Plate Yard), in New Haven In. They use the 38's & 40's to do their everyday switching. When I work there, My shop was just behind the elevators to the Northy. You could here the gp's laboring and Smoking all day long. What would be nice to see out there on revenue frieght would be, the 700 series Berk's, on the Nickle Plate!!!!

[gwjordan1950]

If you die hard GP lovers would like to see them in action everyday, you need to go to the NS yard,( old Nickle Plate Yard), in New Haven In. They use the 38's & 40's to do their everyday switching. When I work there, My shop was just behind the elevators to the Northy. You could here the gp's laboring and Smoking all day long. What would be nice to see out there on revenue frieght would be, the 700 series Berk's, on the Nickle Plate!!!!

[f14aplusfl]

Come to Florida and check out the Florida East Coast Railway.... most of their fleet is 4axle locomotives and they are leading the FEC trains.... though I'd prefer to see them in the flashier red, yellow, orange scheme... the one the F-units and early Geeps wore but I'll take the blue and hurricane logo. I rarely see six axle locomotives and its SD-40s leased or bought from UP with FEC painted over the UP mrkings.

[f14aplusfl]

Come to Florida and check out the Florida East Coast Railway.... most of their fleet is 4axle locomotives and they are leading the FEC trains.... though I'd prefer to see them in the flashier red, yellow, orange scheme... the one the F-units and early Geeps wore but I'll take the blue and hurricane logo. I rarely see six axle locomotives and its SD-40s leased or bought from UP with FEC painted over the UP mrkings.

[eolafan]

You are right on, Trainnut484, I too think that GP60M's, in ABBA configuation are the best thing since the old F-7 and F-9 units in the same configuation leading manifest trains....those GP60's really are impressive when in a string and all in red and silver warbonnet paint! Jim

[eolafan]

You are right on, Trainnut484, I too think that GP60M's, in ABBA configuation are the best thing since the old F-7 and F-9 units in the same configuation leading manifest trains....those GP60's really are impressive when in a string and all in red and silver warbonnet paint! Jim

[Trainnut484]

It is sad that the ex-SF's GP60Ms and GP60Bs have fallen from glory. I've seen a picture of a GP60M leading a MOW train [V][V][V]. The trend of new locomotive manufacturing has turned to six axled monsters for coal and other commodities. It would be nice to see new four axle locomotives on the mainline again

Take care[:)]

[Trainnut484]

It is sad that the ex-SF's GP60Ms and GP60Bs have fallen from glory. I've seen a picture of a GP60M leading a MOW train [V][V][V]. The trend of new locomotive manufacturing has turned to six axled monsters for coal and other commodities. It would be nice to see new four axle locomotives on the mainline again

Take care[:)]

[eolafan]

We see a fair amount of the ex-SF GP60's (mostly in the safety or wide cab versions) and even some GP60B units, on the BNSF tripple track main through my town of Aurora, IL, and even an occassional Dash8. Jim

[eolafan]

We see a fair amount of the ex-SF GP60's (mostly in the safety or wide cab versions) and even some GP60B units, on the BNSF tripple track main through my town of Aurora, IL, and even an occassional Dash8. Jim

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that no new high-horsepower 4-axle EMD units have been built since 1994 when GP60 production ended. I wonder if we'll ever see another high-horsepower 4-axle road switcher in the near future.

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that no new high-horsepower 4-axle EMD units have been built since 1994 when GP60 production ended. I wonder if we'll ever see another high-horsepower 4-axle road switcher in the near future.

[Anonymous]

I Know gp 60's are i normaly see 4 gp60'S on NS 214 Intermodel

[Anonymous]

I Know gp 60's are i normaly see 4 gp60'S on NS 214 Intermodel

[Anonymous]

I'm sure they are being used somewhere. But they are slowly being replaced with newer models.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure they are being used somewhere. But they are slowly being replaced with newer models.

[Anonymous]

Are the GP 60s or the Dash 8-40B still used in mainline traffic (i.e. hotshot intermodals?) I live in Western Canada and we never see anything like that around here.

[Anonymous]

Are the GP 60s or the Dash 8-40B still used in mainline traffic (i.e. hotshot intermodals?) I live in Western Canada and we never see anything like that around here.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The FL9 is a B-A1A wheel arrangement. The extra unpowered axle is to reduce the axleload while on the Park Avenue elevated approaches to Grand Central Terminal. Some SD's, notably the SDL39 but also many SD7's and SD9's, were purchased to reduce axleloads on light rail branches in the Midwest. I've also noticed that many if not most export locomotives have C-C or A1A-A1A wheel arrangements, probably for the same reason.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The FL9 is a B-A1A wheel arrangement. The extra unpowered axle is to reduce the axleload while on the Park Avenue elevated approaches to Grand Central Terminal. Some SD's, notably the SDL39 but also many SD7's and SD9's, were purchased to reduce axleloads on light rail branches in the Midwest. I've also noticed that many if not most export locomotives have C-C or A1A-A1A wheel arrangements, probably for the same reason.

[eolafan]

arbfbe is bringing up an interesting variation on a theme with the F45 and FP45 beign "F" units but having six axles. Here's another interesting variation for you. When did an F unit have five axles, not four and not six...answer...the FL9 which had two axles up front and three in the rear! Jim