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Motive Power naming system

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  • Member since
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Motive Power naming system
Posted by Paddy M on Monday, August 5, 2013 4:26 PM

Please explain  the difference between  a E-7;    E-9;    EMD GP-28 and  EMD FP-45  are ? 

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  • From: US
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Posted by PNWRMNM on Monday, August 5, 2013 5:52 PM

Paddy,

All are EMD diesel-electrics, sort of.

The E series are double engine passenger units riding on two 1-A-1 trucks. E-7 is late 1940's while E-9 is last of the series and built ca. 1950-59. 

GP series are single engine, typically freight service, units on B-B trucks. GP 28 was a late model, 2000 HP with 645 engine IIRC.

I do not recall any FP-45 model. The FP series were F units stretched about 4 feet to provide room for steam boilers for passenger service. They were relatively rare as the western roads that favored F units for passenger service like GN, NP, and ATSF managed to get boilers in the basic F unit car body before EMD came out with the FP series.

Toward the mid to late 1960's a few SDP-40 and SDP-45 units, which were six axle SD units with steam boilers for passenger service, were built. These were to replace aging F units and could be easily converted to freight service when the carriers exited the passenger business. The GN bought a few F-45 units which were basically SD-45 mechanical parts with a wide car body. The idea was to allow crews to access the machinery in an enclosed environment, a big plus in the northern winter.

Kalmbach's Diesel Spotters Guide should cover these and many more, and more accurately as this is all by memory.

Mac

  • Member since
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  • From: SE Minnesota
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Posted by jrbernier on Monday, August 5, 2013 6:17 PM

  These are EMD model designations:

E - Twin engine passenger engines built from the late 30's through the early 60's.  Model E-7 was a 2000 hp unit, and model E-9 was a later 2400 hp unit.  They rode on 6 axle trucks, with only 4 powered axles.

GP28 - Part of the General Purpose line.  The GP28 was rated at 1800 hp.  These are 4 axle units.

SDxx - These are similar, but are 6 axle units. The 'SD' stood for Special Duty

FP45 - a 6 axle unit enclosed in a 'cowl' car body.  Only Santa Fe & Milwaukee Road purchased them in the late 60's.

  You might want to pick up a copy of Kalmbach's Diesel Spotters Guide for additional information.

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

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Posted by NorthWest on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 7:18 PM

Hello,

Maybe some pictures would help?

FP45

GP28

E7

E9

(Note, these are not my pictures)

I third the motion to find a Kalmbach DSG, but if you can't (as they are out of print), I recommend The Modelers Guide to Diesel Locomotives, by Jeff Wilson, as a good place to start.

NW

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 10:05 AM

As a Christmas gift to my adult stepson, who is getting into our hobby, I was able to find copies of the "Second Diesel Spotters Guide" and Greg McDonnell's "Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives" on Amazon without paying an arm and a leg.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

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