EMD showed this off at the 1992 Railway Association Show. Did they find any takers for EMD's own take on the -3 concept for updating pre-Dash 2 power? Or did this die an orphan, much like the BL20-2 from the same time period?
Also, what retrofits were done? Pictures online appear to show that it has SD40-2 style trucks, so I'm assuming the unit was retrucked. Was the electrical system replaced and a microprocessor based control system installed like we now associate with -3 rebuilds?
The article I'm reading in the January 1993 issue of Trains doesn't elaborate on what all was done to this SD40.
EMD SD40-3MPR 2000, rebuilt lease fleet SD40 6340-BN 6340-C&S 880 Rebuild included EM2000 microprocessor controls and wheel slip system,increase to 3300hp,shortened fuel tank to accomodate HTC trucks,Extended range dynamic braking, SD70 demonstrator style paint.after demo period placed in EMD lease fleet.another failed attempt at offering remanufactured Locomotives which resulted in EMD agreement with MPI to market their line of Caterpillar powered with Kato electricals GP1500D/GP2000D that used recycled 2nd gen GP frames and trucks.
The GP15D/GP20D didn't do that well either. Only 10 GP15D's and 40 GP20D's were built and they were all wound up in CIT Financial's lease fleet.
There was a good story about a shortline's experience with those CAT-engined units on Loconotes a little while ago.
Essentially, they gave good service as long as you religiously followed the maintenance regulations, which include changing the engine oil regularly. This shortline was later bought out by RailAmerica, who cut back on maintenance to save money. The CAT engines responded by having crankcase explosions, and RailAmerica's response was to prohibit employees from using the locomotive side walkways when the engine was revved higher than notch 3, or something like that, before eventually getting rid of those units.
EMD and GE engines are far more tolerant of poor maintenance practices.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
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