Electric, Diesel and Steam Locomotives

[railman]

all very good questions, all very good answers. Keep them coming-for all of us.

[Sterling1]

I was wondering in my teenage head about the M640 made by Montreal Locomotive Works. I know it had an 18 cyclinder engine but what I am really curious about is that it was first loco that produced 4000 HP in North America. I checked my other records and found that there was in France at least at the same time period one locomotive with a 12 cyclinder engine producing 4800 HP. I wonder if there was any difference in the engine, and equipment design for that particular unit?
Thanks in Advance

"They will we are Christians by our love, by our love . . . " Audio Adrenaline

[broncoman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by M.W. Hemphill


This isn't unusual. In any mature, technologically demanding, capital-goods market there is rarely more than two major players in the open market. In large passenger aircraft, there are Boeing and Airbus; large tracked machinery, Caterpillar and Komatsu; large lattice-boom cranes, Manitowoc and Liebherr; and so forth.

And if there is more than two, they will either merge or be bought up by others until there is, Its making life these day not too fun![:D]

[daveklepper]

Marc, does your per-cent figure of GM and GE include as GM the GM powered Alstom and possibly other locomotive builders? I know Japan builds its own rolling stock, including locomotives, but then there practically all passenger service is by mu cars (even the high speed train power cars carry passengers) so there are not too many locos produced and few of them are diesels, but what about China, and South Korea, and India? Aren't Alco's (essentially) still being made in India? Don't all these countries export? But how many of them, like Alstom, end up with USA diesels inside?

[Anonymous]

Sterling1 -

The Fairbanks-Morse diesel was called the "Opposed Piston" engine, and had two crankshafts, one in the normal position and an upper crankshaft (it was an inline engine). The upper crankshaft had rods and pistons just like normal except they worked in the same cylinder bore as the lower pistons. The two pistons came together at the same stroke, and the fuel charge explosion forced both pistons away from each other.

The crankshafts were timed so that the major job of the upper piston was to help with compression of the fuel/air mixture; the lower piston (and therefore the lower crankshaft) produced 80% of the power.

These engines were prominent in marine use; their long, high, narrow configuration adapted well to everything from tugboats to submarines.

FM made a pretty good diesel locomotive, but the maintenance requirements of the opposed piston engine with its plethora of moving parts (would you rather maintain a couple of camshafts and their valves, or a whole "nother" crankshaft and set of pistons?) meant that it would never compete favorably with EMD's 567 engine of the era.

One problem was that they used GE's governor, which made them idle somewhat like early Alcos. The Virginian Railway was so displeased with this aspect of its first order of FMs that it specified EMD-style Woodward governers on its subsequent orders. FM balked at first, but VGN threatened to buy somebody else's diesels, so they came with the Woodwards. VGN retrofitted its first order with Woodwards.

FMs had a nice sound when working, too.

Old Timer

[Sterling1]

How many MK2000C exist and when were they made?

[Sterling1]

What's a Long Island DE30AC?

[Sterling1]

I saw a 'recent' photo on railpictures.net of a NS GP59. Behind the blower casing on the walkway there's this box with what appears to be grating. What exactly is that? Also I have seen some AC44CW and C44-9W with low rectangular box behind the air conditioner/ battery box/ inverters box. What's in it?

[Sterling1]

What exactly is a SD20 loco? I see pics of them on railpictures.net and the pretty exterior is nice but what classifies them as SD20?

[Sterling1]

In the Fairbanks-Morse loco , the engine is sadi to have two pistons in cyclinder. How exactly is that possible? Are there any diagrams or pictures to show this?

[Sterling1]

What did the Union Pacific build their SW-10 from and why for what reason(s)? What was their horse power rating, dimensions, etc.?

[Sterling1]

Out of all the loco manufacturers how many of them built loco demonstrators and who were they? Did they do this for every model they offered? What happened to these locos aftera period of time of demonstrating being cut up or in lease fleet service, and how many of these demonstrator still exist?

[Sterling1]

I know there's a dmeonstrator for the SD90MAC-H-II GM 90 but was there ever one for a SD90MAC-H?

[Sterling1]

Are there any horsepower and detail changes between the SD90MAC-H-II, SD90MAC-H, SD9043MAC. What does the H stand for and how many of these locos have been built

[Sterling1]

What was the reason for Conrail's use of red marker on both ends of their modern locos? Some the newer units had them and after the CSX-Conrail-NS split a lot of the untis had their markers removed. What's the rule for having red markers on any road?

[Sterling1]

What's the deal with SD70ACe GM72 the demonstrater wrecked in Colorado, how long is it going to take to repair the loco?

[Sterling1]

I wonder, what kinds of equipment manufactures exist in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, all over the world?
How much of the market does General Electric or General Motors have?

[Sterling1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hugh Jampton

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1

What kinds of brakes were availiable to the railroads? How many versions of air brakes are there and what are the current ones now?

For brakey type stuff check out:
http://www.railway-technical.com/brake1.html

This website is cool drool if brake equipment is what you are looking for . . .

[Sterling1]

Does anyone know the weights of the prime mover, radiator equipment, dynamic brakes, cabs, traction motors, chassis of an SD40-2?

[Sterling1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hugh Jampton

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1

What do the railroads use foe killing weeds and trees? Is there any railroad based equipment that's used?

Weedsprayers, usualy a hy-rail vehicle with booms on the back that spray a noxious chemical onto the tracks.


piccy nicked from; http://www.btny.purdue.edu/staff/dirks/about_me.html

All I have to say to that oufit is CCCOOOLLL!!!
Drool's dirppin' down out from my mouth!

[Hugh Jampton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1

What do the railroads use foe killing weeds and trees? Is there any railroad based equipment that's used?

Weedsprayers, usualy a hy-rail vehicle with booms on the back that spray a noxious chemical onto the tracks.


piccy nicked from; http://www.btny.purdue.edu/staff/dirks/about_me.html

[Hugh Jampton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1

What kinds of brakes were availiable to the railroads? How many versions of air brakes are there and what are the current ones now?

For brakey type stuff check out:
http://www.railway-technical.com/brake1.html

[bobwilcox]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1

Does anyone know why Southern Pacific didn't like their passenger trains that much?

The SP had a fine passenger service from at least the Daylights in the 1930's untill about 1955. The invested millions in new train sets, etc. in the period after World War II but their customers discovered cars and planes. They decided they had poured their money down a rat hole and wanted out. They way they tried to get out was very ugly and probably shortsighted.

[Sterling1]

What kinds of brakes were availiable to the railroads? How many versions of air brakes are there and what are the current ones now?

[Sterling1]

What do the railroads use foe killing weeds and trees? Is there any railroad based equipment that's used?

[Sterling1]

Does anyone know why Southern Pacific didn't like their passenger trains that much?
What are most common mechanics' complaints about the rolling stock and the locomotives?

[Sterling1]

Does anyone know of extremely powerful locomotives outside and/or inside North America? I know of the DD40AX and Big Boy but are there any elsewhere?

[Sterling1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Guilford350

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1

Does anyone know if there are design papers for the control stands knee knockers and all the others?

Control stands for older locomotives? If you're looking for photos, then check out these operator manuals: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/manual/manual.html

I mean what kind of design of loco control stand I hear about AAR versions and the most recent (1980-90ish) desktop controls?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Sterling1

Does anyone know if there are design papers for the control stands knee knockers and all the others?

Control stands for older locomotives? If you're looking for photos, then check out these operator manuals: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/manual/manual.html

[Randy Stahl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jruppert

I used to work in a shop where the owner deliberately kept the toilet nasty as possible because he didn't want his employees taking long breaks.

That trick don't work on me !!!!
Randy