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How does GE build Locos that withstand the Sahara Desert>

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How does GE build Locos that withstand the Sahara Desert>
Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 4:12 PM

You would think that the sand would grind most of the componets to a halt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEo-ykjmHgg

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Posted by Bryan Jones on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 10:02 AM

easy answer, they don’t. Those are EMD products in the video. they operate customized SD70ACS, SDL40 and GPL15 models.

Bryan Jones

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 11:04 AM

An earlier generation of 'Sahara-resistant' diesels came from Baldwin:

http://baldwindiesels.railfan.net/guide/drs-6-4-1500/index.html#roto

This was in the days before GE or others adopted the idea of the pressurized carbody. These used large Roto-Clone separation and filtration of sand out of the air (see detail pictures).

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 11:29 AM

The switcher type car body permitted installation of Roto-Clone air filters, installed forward of the electrical equipment cabinet to keep the entire engine compartment (including the electrical equipment cabinet and traction motors) under a positive pressure of filtered air to prevent the intrusion of dessert sand."
The Diesel Builders, Volume Three, Baldwin Locomotive Works [6]   Thats a mouthfull!"

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Posted by M636C on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 8:32 PM

Bryan Jones

easy answer, they don’t. Those are EMD products in the video. they operate customized SD70ACS, SDL40 and GPL15 models.

Bryan Jones

 

I think the older locos are SDL 50s, not SDL 40s.

New locomotives to this design were built until quite recently. Clearly they didn't have the problems of the standard SD50s.

Peter

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Posted by rrnut282 on Friday, July 27, 2018 3:03 PM

I wonder what a "dessert sand" tastes like? 

CandOforprogress2

The switcher type car body permitted installation of Roto-Clone air filters, installed forward of the electrical equipment cabinet to keep the entire engine compartment (including the electrical equipment cabinet and traction motors) under a positive pressure of filtered air to prevent the intrusion of dessert sand."
The Diesel Builders, Volume Three, Baldwin Locomotive Works [6]   Thats a mouthfull!"

 

Mike (2-8-2)
  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: South Central Virginia
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Posted by VGN Jess on Monday, July 30, 2018 6:02 PM

LOLLaugh

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