No doubt this has been answered before but since I am new please excuse my re-asking. I live on the BNSF mainline through central California's San Joaquin Valley. I noticed the GE Dash 9-44 CW are almost exclusively used on this route. My question is what is the difference between the Dash 9 with two large (air?) tanks located on top of a cutout above the fuel tanks and the other style without these tanks? I hope someone knows what I mean.
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BNSFCA No doubt this has been answered before but since I am new please excuse my re-asking. I live on the BNSF mainline through central California's San Joaquin Valley. I noticed the GE Dash 9-44 CW are almost exclusively used on this route. My question is what is the difference between the Dash 9 with two large (air?) tanks located on top of a cutout above the fuel tanks and the other style without these tanks? I hope someone knows what I mean.
Pictures would help illustrate your question!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Those tanks are the air tanks for the brake system. On Older GEs, those tanks are located one to the front and one to the back of the fuel tank.
On EMD locomotives, they are longer and thinner and located just to the top of the fuel tank on either side.
There is no difference in functionality. It's just a matter of figuring out where they best fit especially as fuel tanks grow larger.
As far as I know, the Air tanks are in the same location for Dash9s, AC4400s and GEVOs.
The Only Wide Cab GE's that the BNSF is still running that the Air Tanks are NOT located in a Notch in the Fuel Tank would be the Old B-40-8W's that they got from the Santa Fe that they got in 1991-92 IIRC. Beyond that everything is a C Trucked with the Air tanks in a Notch in the Fuel Tanks. The B40's would be in Front of the Fuel Tank and on the B40-8W they were together as a Pair compared to the Normal B-40-8 with a Spartan cab that had them Separate one in Front of the tank and one Behind it.
And they were put in the front to move the fuel tank back and offset the weight of the Wide nose.
Thanks to all of you who took the time to reply. I did not know the locomotives with the notch for the air tanks, above the fuel supply tanks, were newer units. Thanks again.
The first SF 100 Dash 9's had this fuel tank arrangement without the cut out. Most of these are still running but I do not know if they were modified or not.
CZ
By this time era after the BNSF was receiving the new Dash 9's, the notch was in the tank.
Detailed picture of notch and pipes or sensor conducts. This practice of having the notch started with the C44AC models and the convertable so called units for the Union Pacific. I have never heard an explanation for the change.
The notch probably accepts the dimensions of (beer-barrel) sized air driers.
Usually driers were below the frame ahead of the fuel tank within the clearance diagram.
Their size limited truck swing, necessary for curved track negotiation.
By notching one side of the fuel tank to fit the drier and gaining the fuel tank's width 'tween the truck and fuel tank, side to side, probably gonna get a bunch of gallons of fuel supply.
Extend the fuel tank to occupy the drier space between the truck and fuel tank and gain fuel capacity with little weight gain.
Maybe?
Pioneers....one more ride...way out there.
You may also notice that both tanks are tilted downward slightly. This is to drain water into the spit valves.
Thanks so much for the pictures!
I did not notice the slight tilt downwards so thanks for pointing it out.
BNSFCA Thanks so much for the pictures!
You are welcome. CZ
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