Reality check: The article was in the November, 2000 issue of Trains Magazine. It was a special 60th anniversary issue. Every article had a '60' relevence. The first GP60 demonstrators were on the railroads in December, 1984.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
You don't need speeds in the 100's for aero to make a difference in transportation...witness the aero mods that have been applied to over the road trucks in the past 30/40 years....the wind deflector's that have been mounted over the truck cabs, the 'skirts' that are being mounted under the trailer floors between the tractor & trailer wheels to minimize the under trailer drag.
With the amount of fuel that is used in transportation, OTR, rail, water....very small improvements can result significant fuel savings for the carriers when replicated across their fleet usage.
Considering the varieties of traffic that railroads handle and the reality that trains are mostly powered for the tonnage they can handle over a territory, rather than the speed that they can handle that tonnage. The reality is most of the aero drag that comes from a train is from the characteristics of the various cars and their combinations within the train, not from the locomotives and how efficiently they go through the air themselves.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
That was only ten years ago? I doubt it, Norris--ten years ago UP was getting its first SD70Ms.
CNW got some SD60s with "Spartan" cabs that were very normal looking--not the rounded-off edges. I don't think that many EMDs were built with noses and cab fronts with the rounded corners--probably no more than a dozen, tops. You're right--probably "overdesigning" for a scenario that rarely, if ever, could justify it.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
A 10 year old Trains Magazine I just read had an article anout the wonders of the EMD GP60 and SD60. If I understand it correctly, the first demonstrator units had the classic GEEP style cabs and short hood, but the corners had been smoothed, in order to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. I don't know if I've ever knowingly seen a GP60 or SD60. Did they retain the rounded corners for better aerodynamics? Does train aerodynamics have a big effect on locomotive performance? I thought a moving vehicle had to be moving somewhat over 100 m.p.h., before aerodynamics made much difference in performance?
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