Trains.com

Canadian Pacific donates SD40-2

2909 views
15 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 5:12 PM

SD70Dude
While grimy, faded paint is authentic, a shiny EMD would go very nicely with their pair of big MLW's:

I don't like that super shiny stuff. 

 

Jsut looks unnatural.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 5:00 PM
Some of the "Fast Forties" had 166" low hoods
  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,269 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 3:35 PM

I think they have been shuffling some stuff around recently, but the buildings are probably full, they have quite a bit of stuff stored outside too.

While grimy, faded paint is authentic, a shiny EMD would go very nicely with their pair of big MLW's:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/606844/

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/342229/

4744 is the one-of-a-kind M640, with a 18 cylinder 251 engine.  Also the first AC traction road locomotive in North America, having been rebuilt later in life to a A1A-A1A configuration with AC motors.

Perhaps it should have been called the M640-C4?

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Canterlot
  • 9,575 posts
Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 12:09 PM

Does the museum have space inside for that engine?  Be cool to see it perserved as it is.  So many places either have engines that are either unidentifiable rusting hulks, or are in brand spanking new fresh paint.  Nothing in between.   I get it - people like shiny engines - but c'mon, they didn't stay that way very long.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 7:39 AM

Paul_D_North_Jr

I thought it was some of UP's that were geared for faster speeds than usual.  About half of the posts in this thread are about them - set-up to run at the max speed of the Centennials:

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/741/t/217346.aspx 

- PDN.

 
The UP "fast forties" were SD40-2's with a higher-speed 59:18 gear ratio and were numbered for a while in the 8000 series.
The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,269 posts
Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, October 1, 2018 9:23 PM

I always thought the "fast forties" were UP's 80 mph geared units.

To me a "snoot" refers to the longer nose which was used by UP to house cab signal equipment, and by CP and several other railroads for the bulky Locotrol I master equipment (the remote receiving and control equipment was even larger, and required its own separate "Robot Car").

GP40-2's automatically derate to 2000 HP below something like 20 mph, but are still quite slippery and pretty gutless at low speeds and when switching with any kind of tonnage.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, October 1, 2018 9:03 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
I thought it was some of UP's that were geared for faster speeds than usual. 

I was always under the impression that both -40's  (GP and SD) were considered fast because of the horsepower, which was at the top of the scale for a while.  GP-40's were often used for fast freight for that reason, although I guess they also had a reputation for being slippery.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, October 1, 2018 8:24 PM

I thought it was some of UP's that were geared for faster speeds than usual.  About half of the posts in this thread are about them - set-up to run at the max speed of the Centennials:

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/741/t/217346.aspx 

- PDN.

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Monday, October 1, 2018 8:15 PM

IIRC only UP had Fast Forties and only the SP and DRGW had snoots.

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Kenosha, WI
  • 6,567 posts
Posted by zardoz on Monday, October 1, 2018 7:30 PM

tree68

Ahhh, the "fast forties."

 

An SD40-2 running light: 0-60 in less than 45 seconds!

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Monday, October 1, 2018 3:31 PM

So, Tree.  Wonder how many don't know what a "fast forty" really was.  Some of them were "snoots" as well.

NDG
  • Member since
    December 2013
  • 1,620 posts
Posted by NDG on Monday, October 1, 2018 3:26 PM
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, October 1, 2018 2:21 PM

Ahhh, the "fast forties."

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 2,631 posts
Posted by Backshop on Monday, October 1, 2018 12:20 PM

I'm glad this is happening.  We always lament which steam or early diesels weren't saved, yet there are plenty of newer diesels that were made in the hundreds that will be gone in a few years.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Monday, October 1, 2018 11:50 AM

Quoting SD70Dude: "Does this make anyone on here feel old?" Make me feel old? I know I'm old--just look at my picture.Big Smile

Johnny

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: I've been everywhere, man
  • 4,269 posts
Canadian Pacific donates SD40-2
Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, October 1, 2018 11:33 AM

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42517&sid=bb511efb7e0bc6fb81886baf71800dde

Probably one of the newer museum pieces around, but it is good too see this preserved.  One of the more significant locomotive models of the post-steam era.  

The Canadian Rail Historical Association runs a great museum (Canadian Railway Museum or ExpoRail) in Delson, QC, on the south side of Montreal.  The have a massive indoor exhibition hall, and will be a good home for this unit.

Does this make anyone on here feel old?

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy