GP39M Horsepower

[caldreamer]

When  the GP30 and 35's were rebuilt inot GP39M's and GP39E's did they keep their same horspower rating or was it changed in any way?

[NorthWest]

I think they have 2300 HP turbocharged 16-645s, but I am not sure.

[erikem]

Ummm - 2300HP turbocharged 12-645s?

[NorthWest]

Yep, thanks for catching the slip.

[Leo_Ames]

No, they retain their 16-567D, but have 645 power assemblies installed. The engine is now classified as a 16-645D.

So while they're desiginated GP39 in deference to their new 2,300 horsepower rating (which is the same as a stock GP39), it's created on a GP39M/V/E via the original 16 cylinder 567 engine block instead of a 12-645.

[M636C]

As GP30s they would also have been 2250HP, but former GP35s were 2500 HP as built. The big problems with the GP35 were getting the 2500 HP through the D32 generator and the switchgear.

By fitting an AR10 alternator, the switchgear could be altered to match the simpler arrangement used in the GP39 which always used the AR10.

So although they kept the old 567 crankcase, electrically they were now GP39s and more reliable as a result.

M636C

[caldreamer]

I am now confused.  So the GP30's were bumped up to 2300 HP from 2250 and the GP35's were derated to 2300HP or did they stay at 2500 HP iwth AR10 alernator?

[D.Carleton]

Were any GP35s rebuilt into GP39s? BN's GP39 program involved GP30s.

[jrbernier]

BN used both GP30 & GP35's as the base 'core' for these engines. Several vendors did the work:

GP39M - MK
GP30E -- EMD
GP39V -- VMV

The upgraded powerplants turned new AR10 alternators with upgraded 'dash 2' compatible electicals. BN was looking for medium HP locomotives, and this was a low cost way to upgrade the roster. BN/BNSF has also purchased used GP38 'cores' and had them upgraded to GP38-2 equivalent locomotives.
EMD's current offering is to use the 710eco powerplant in existing 'cores'.

Jim

[NorthWest]

Thanks, guys. I shouldn't have attempted to post from memory.

While the units recieved new prime move assemblies, they also recieved other changes. GP35s had their small fans removed, and they recieved new air filter assemblies.

Some of the most interesting are units that started out as Southern GP30s. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=480298&nseq=6&favsearch=1

[Leo_Ames]

Might be of some interest to add that Burlington Northern, as part of this same program, also had their remaining GP40's rebuilt and upgraded to Dash 2 standards.

To BN, they were just GP40-2's afterwards, but sometimes, they're labeled by railfans as GP40E's or GP40M's depending on which vendor did the work (Matching GP39 practice). VMV didn't do any of the GP40's as I recall, so there shouldn't be any GP40V's. 

And a year or so afterwards in a sort of continuation of this program, they started a GP9/GP18 rebuild program. These GP28's are still at work for BNSF, where as a sizable chunk of the GP39 fleet was let go a few years ago (And the ATSF GP30's went too; Where as I think they've rebuilt yet again at least some of the Santa Fe GP35's into GP39-3's). 

Too bad the SD9 and SW1200 programs never went too far. BN and BNSF considered a rebuild program several times and one even prototyped some SD9 rebuilds (Which are still active the last I heard, unlike stock SD9's), but a full fledged production run was never commissioned. 

And the SW1200's were being considered as part of their Caterpillar program, but that never came about. I think a few of these still are active in their original configuration for BNSF today (Despite being slated for retirement in the early 1990's if BN decided against the Cat repowering project), although it's hard to find details about BNSF's current switcher roster. 

jrbernier

BN/BNSF has also purchased used GP38 'cores' and had them upgraded to GP38-2 equivalent locomotives.

More variety than that.

This program from 2006 that provided BNSF with 40 new GP38-2's consisted of 20 GP40 cores, 10 GP35 cores, 8 GP38 cores, and two GP38-2's that were rebuilt in-kind.