Always Eight Notches?

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Aug 24 2004 1:40 PM

Have diesel locomotives always had 8 notches?

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Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Aug 24 2004 2:31 PM

GE's early U-Boats had 16. I forget exactly why but I think it had to something with the prime mover RPM.

Posted by ndbprr

on Tue, Aug 24 2004 3:20 PM

Not only that but Baldwins had pneumatic systems. In the early days it was pretty much every brand was different and only similar engines from the same manufacturer would mu. In fact I would say that most first generation engines would not MU the way we know it today. GG1's by the way (not diesel) have/had 24 notches. Eight seems to be more than adequate for all applications. No need to add complexity not needed.

Posted by csxengineer98

on Fri, Sep 10 2004 2:47 AM

reading trains mag once...they had an artical about the UP gas turbin locomotives...if i remember correctly..they had a 75 notch throttle..but dont quote me on that...
csx engineer

"I AM the higher source" Keep the wheels on steel

Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH

on Fri, Sep 10 2004 10:08 AM

Jerry Pinkepank's article "Lash 'em Up" int TRAINS in 1968 or 1969 had an excellent explanation of multiple unit control. He mentioned that with the GE 16-notch throttle, only every other notch was activated when controlled by a locomotive with an 8-notch throttle. The article also mentioned that the Baldwin pneumatic system was only good for about four units in multiple.

What I would like to know is how straight electrics and diesel-electrics were controlled in multiple and if anybody besides Milwaukee Road did it.

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

Posted by Anonymous

on Sun, Sep 12 2004 10:00 AM

GE's U25 series had 16 notches and I have an operating manual for this series locomotive. The early U28s may have been the same way, before GE went to the 8 notch throttle for all units commencing with late U28/early U30 series engines, where GE road locomotives have been ever since. I noticed that the manual for the U25 shows the air horn being operated with a pull cord much like those found on the F units and other cab units. This pull cord is in front of the engineer and to his right in the cab. The manual shows the U25 with a pair of Leslie A200RR 'duckhorns" in a sketch. Actually most U25s had the Leslie 3 chime horn, though I did see CR 6519 with one of the single note Leslie' duckhorns' when they were still running.

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Sep 28 2004 5:06 PM

Some locomotives have a continuous throttles. These were mostly yard switchers like the NW, SW, SC, S-series and so on.