There was a refinery that leased a switcher from the Santa Fe which was the last EMD switcher on the roster because the curves were too sharp for bigger locomotives. The industry shut down and the switcher was cut up. Gary
7j43kI look forward to the OP responding on this matter. And perhaps explaining the needs for his project.
You would remember: wasn't there a SW that was modified (longer truck cables?) to operate on the Baltimore street trackage that the famous 'Dockside' 0-4-0s were built to serve? That would be a useful example for him.
What trucks did that Baldwin 660 have? I dimly remember the Reading having a couple with really short minimum radius listed...
Overmod 7j43k I would hope that whoever you talked to would not tell you to pound sand or ignore you Progress is not run by particularly nice people. On the other hand, if you had plenty of money in your checkbook or account, they might tell you about practical alternatives to what is a relatively nonsensical railfan idea as expressed. I'm still trying to figure out why a derated prime mover is supposed to help with getting a double-truck switcher around tight curves... and not succeeding in the effort. The cause of patience would likely be better served by stating the desired operating characteristics up front, and not prescribing locomotive parts that won't go well together even if directed by James Whale on a dark and stormy night.
7j43k I would hope that whoever you talked to would not tell you to pound sand or ignore you
Progress is not run by particularly nice people.
On the other hand, if you had plenty of money in your checkbook or account, they might tell you about practical alternatives to what is a relatively nonsensical railfan idea as expressed. I'm still trying to figure out why a derated prime mover is supposed to help with getting a double-truck switcher around tight curves... and not succeeding in the effort. The cause of patience would likely be better served by stating the desired operating characteristics up front, and not prescribing locomotive parts that won't go well together even if directed by James Whale on a dark and stormy night.
That is too bad. I have worked for people like that, and it is disappointing, to say the least.
I will point out that an EMD GP20D has a minimum radius of 150'.
And that a UP SW10 had a minimum radius of 104' (unit only).
And that a Baldwin 660 HP switcher had/has a minimum radius of 50' (locomotive alone) or 120' (with train).
Leaving out management attitudes, it would seem that the used locomotive market would supply many opportunities.
I look forward to the OP responding on this matter. And perhaps explaining the needs for his project.
Ed
7j43kI would hope that whoever you talked to would not tell you to pound sand or ignore you
I would hope that whoever you talked to would not tell you to pound sand or ignore you.
But I think they would tell you nicely the same things mentioned in the previous posts.
I've run into some very nice corporate folks who didn't HAVE to be nice but were anyway. Kaiser, for one, once sent me a pound of 256A aluminum alloy, just to play with.
IA and easternIf i went to EMD and wanted SW600 with 6-645 750 hp engine for tight curved trackage.
In fact what you want might better be answered by someone like Dave Goding, who has in fact commented already on EMD's attempt to build a switcher with special trucks to accommodate very sharp radii (it was not of interest to any railroad and I believe he said it was 'not proceeded with' accordingly, but the design was an interesting one while it lasted). If I remember correctly there actually were some 6-645s produced (for use in export equipment) but certainly nothing more recent -- and in any case no locomotive of that horsepower would be built today with that size frame and power assemblies; you'd use a Cummins, Cat or MTU high-speed diesel, or in fact a prime mover derived from OTR truck practice, instead, and benefit from all the parts and service and repair know-how costed down in 'other markets'.
The 'correct' answer is that you'd go to LTE, or perhaps the fire sale at NRE as they close Silvis and Dixmoor, and buy the parts of some old SW you want for a pittance, then find and integrate whatever truck designs you need to get around curves and the prime mover and generator of your choice.
Out of curiosity -- what is the intended service you need a locomotive of this kind to perform? Curves too sharp for an 'ordinary' SW are getting into Trackmobile territory...
They'd ignore you or tell you to go to GE and bother them. A custom locomotive for only one sale isn't profitable.
If i went to EMD and wanted SW600 with 6-645 750 hp engine for tight curved trackage. Would EMD sell this locomotive or would sell SW600 with no engine and tell me to import the engines.Gary
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.