BNSF 6327 SDP40?

[edblysard]

Had this one in the yard today, and noticed the rear was a little different from the "normal" SD40s...the rads were moved forward, and and additional compartment was there instead.
Along with having the "white face" paint, the rear hood was flat as a pancake on the tail end...so the question is, where did this unit come from as in former owners, and what was in the compartment?(see the small louvers)
Didnt have the chance to climb around in it, but guessing a steam generator?

Ed

[CShaveRR]

BNSF 6327 was indeed an SDP40, having been built in May 1966 as GN 325 (later BN 9855, then 6399 when the steam generator was removed). It's considered a straight SD40 now. The steam generator was what was in the extension behind the radiators. This was what EMD's modern passenger diesels were supposed to look like--until somebody thought of cowl units, such as the FP45.

[BNSF_GP60M]

Yes BNSF #6327 was equiped with steam generators. They were ordered by Great Northern (#325) and used in passenger train service until Amtrak. They were transfer to frieght service when the generators were removed.

[mudchicken]

Well, at least it's back to having 6 axles under it instead of 7 like it had for a while.

Only NdeM (14)and GN(6) had SDP40s....

[edblysard]

I will bite...any photos of it with the seven axles?
Four on the rear, right?

Ed

[GN-Rick]

BNSF 6327 was never equipped with seven axles. You've got it confused
with the BN 6599, the former GN 333, an SDP45. In the middle 80s, that
locomotive was reworked to accept an experimental four axle self-steering
truck-sort of a predecessor to the current radial truck. Interestingly, the unit
was operated in this configuration as an A1A-B+B because it was only
wired for 6 motors. because EMD and BN were interestedin testing the
complete experimental truck under power, they removed the center traction
motor from the lead truck. After the testing period, 6599 was retired, though
EMD was returned the experimental truck. There are pics of the unit on
the 'Fallen Flags' site showing it back in C-C configuration, but in a
stripped for parts condition.

[M636C]

I saw one of these in storage in Denver CO in 1990 (or so). I looked at it for a while before I realised what it was. I am amazed that one is still around, (as I was then) but it is just another SD40 and it probably has a big fuel tank from converting the former water tank to fuel.

M636C

[GN-Rick]

The SDP40s have the same overall size of fuel tank as a standard SD40.
The frame lengths were the same on the two models. The difference with
the SDP40 is that all the machinery, hoods and cab were shifted forward
on the frame to gain space at the rear for the steam generator compartment.
You can notice this by noting that the SDP40 does not have the big porches
that the SD40s have. The SDP45s, on the other hand, did have a longer
frame and therefore a larger fuel tank.

[UPTRAIN]

UP has a few of them, SDP40 or SDP45's rebuilt to SD40M-2's still in service.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

UP has a few ex-EL SDP45's that came to it by way of SP. They were part of the fodder used in the large rebuilding program by MK/Boise/MPI for SP.

The ex-GN SDP40's eventually turned up on BNSF and MRL.

[CShaveRR]

The EL "SDP45"s weren't really passenger units, in that they never had the steam generators (or HEP). They were just built on the longer frame to provide increased fuel capacity.

[railroad65]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GN-Rick

BNSF 6327 was never equipped with seven axles. You've got it confused
with the BN 6599, the former GN 333, an SDP45. In the middle 80s, that
locomotive was reworked to accept an experimental four axle self-steering
truck-sort of a predecessor to the current radial truck. Interestingly, the unit
was operated in this configuration as an A1A-B+B because it was only
wired for 6 motors. because EMD and BN were interestedin testing the
complete experimental truck under power, they removed the center traction
motor from the lead truck. After the testing period, 6599 was retired, though
EMD was returned the experimental truck. There are pics of the unit on
the 'Fallen Flags' site showing it back in C-C configuration, but in a
stripped for parts condition.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=177846

[Anonymous]

I caught this unit in the lead of an M train through Minnesota last fall.



I knew it was a different unit when it went by...

Mike