Trains.com

SP, Now UP, Cascade Tunnel Motors.

1669 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Norfolk Southern Lafayette District
  • 1,642 posts
SP, Now UP, Cascade Tunnel Motors.
Posted by bubbajustin on Friday, April 3, 2009 5:51 PM

I just finished watching the latest installment of The Ultamate Railroading DVD Series on the Cascade Crossing. I enloyed seeing the SP SD45T-2's and the SD40T-2's. Does UP use the tunnel motors anymore or is it all GE now? Well mostly GE. If thay do bet there still dirty as ever right?Smile Doesn't the 45 have 3 acess doors over the radaitor rather than 2 for the 40-2? Just thought I would see if anone had any info on them.

Thanks,

Justin

The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: West Coast
  • 4,122 posts
Posted by espeefoamer on Friday, April 3, 2009 6:20 PM

Youu are right about the SD40-2Ts having two doors and the SD45s having 3. I haven't seen any yellow tunnel motors for quite a while,but suppose that some of the SD40-2Ts are still in service.

Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Central New York
  • 335 posts
Posted by MJChittick on Saturday, April 4, 2009 5:46 PM

espeefoamer

I haven't seen any yellow tunnel motors for quite a while,but suppose that some of the SD40-2Ts are still in service.

According to "The Diesel Shop", UP still rosters several SD40T-2R units numbered in the 2881 to 2949 series.  All are former SP, SSW or D&GRW units.  The "R" in the unit designation indicates these were refurbished at the Jenks Shops in North Little Rock, AR.  The exact number of active units in this group is hard to determine and appears to be rapidly shrinking with the economic slowdown and several have recently been retired.

Until early 2009, UP still had around a dozen unrefurbished SD40T-2 units in the 8600, 8700 and 8800 series.  However it appears nearly all have now been retired.

Mike

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Norfolk Southern Lafayette District
  • 1,642 posts
Posted by bubbajustin on Saturday, April 4, 2009 7:05 PM

I think that when EMD constructed these units so that the radiator intake would suck in air from the bottom thay had a really good Idea. But from the looks of things theay aren't incredibly fuel-efficant, probably get that from their SD45 kin. It looks like thea burn a lot of oil. Not a good thing to have stacked against you in this day and age!

The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • 158 posts
Posted by Bryan Jones on Saturday, April 4, 2009 10:10 PM

An SD45T-2 is just as fuel efficient as an SD45-2, likewise comparing an SD40T-2 to an SD40-2. The Tunnel Motor simply has a different cooling system than the standard models. They were fuel efficient at the time they were introduced, but as time and technology marches on newer, more efficient models were introduced, its just as simple as that.

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Norfolk Southern Lafayette District
  • 1,642 posts
Posted by bubbajustin on Sunday, April 5, 2009 12:19 PM

Well I was really talking about the Plain Vanallia. The actuall SD45. People claim that the 45 is a fuel hog. The SD45 IS NOT a fuel hog, it has more hp than a SD40 so yah you are going to use a bit more fuel, but by no means do I see any reason to call the SD45 a fuel hog.

The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 624 posts
Posted by fredswain on Monday, April 6, 2009 9:30 AM

I know of 3 SD-40T-2's here in Houston. 2 of them are sitting on a siding at Englewood yard in a line of "stored" locomotives. The other one, number 2908, is doing yard work as a switcher north of Houston at Lloyd Yard in Spring. It's actually the one engine I always look for when I'm by there. The other yards here are dominated by Gensets but Lloyd has an eclectic mix of GP-38's, the tunnel motor, MP-15AC's, a GP-15, and a couple of old B-23's.

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Rhode Island
  • 2,289 posts
Posted by carnej1 on Monday, April 6, 2009 11:49 AM

bubbajustin

Well I was really talking about the Plain Vanallia. The actuall SD45. People claim that the 45 is a fuel hog. The SD45 IS NOT a fuel hog, it has more hp than a SD40 so yah you are going to use a bit more fuel, but by no means do I see any reason to call the SD45 a fuel hog.

 What they generally mean is that many railroads in the 1970's bought the SD40-2 rather than the SD45-2 and one of the major factors was fuel economy for the service they were used in. BTW all older locomotives are "Fuel Hogs" compared to modern power which is only natural given increases in powerplant efficiency (true also of cars, airplanes and anything else powered by internal combustion).

"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Rhode Island
  • 2,289 posts
Posted by carnej1 on Monday, April 6, 2009 11:53 AM

bubbajustin

I think that when EMD constructed these units so that the radiator intake would suck in air from the bottom thay had a really good Idea. But from the looks of things theay aren't incredibly fuel-efficant, probably get that from their SD45 kin. It looks like thea burn a lot of oil. Not a good thing to have stacked against you in this day and age!

 So you state above that the SD45s "aren't incredibly fuel efficient" yet they also aren't "fuel hogs"?

"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock

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