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sdl38 vs sdl39

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sdl38 vs sdl39
Posted by IA and eastern on Monday, March 21, 2022 1:10 PM

Which one weights more the sdl38 or the sdl39? Gary

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Posted by Leo_Ames on Monday, March 21, 2022 1:51 PM

The Progess Rail website lists for their "nominal weight" 284,396 pounds for the Saudi Arabian SDL38's built in recent years.

While I don't have a great reference for the Milwaukee Road SDL39's from 40+ years ago, a cursory internet search quotes 250,000 pounds at Wikipedia and the Diesel Shop.

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Monday, March 21, 2022 6:13 PM

The engine would weigh less on the 39s as it'a v12 all else being equal though obviously units fitted with intakes and radiator for the desert would have additional weight related to that. 

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Posted by Leo_Ames on Monday, March 21, 2022 7:32 PM

The SDL38 uses an 8 cylinder engine.

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Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, March 21, 2022 7:51 PM

The six original SDL38-2s built for Saudi in 1978 would have had a 2000 HP blower 16-645E engine.

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Monday, March 21, 2022 9:42 PM

Is the current SDL38 a rebuild of the originals or all new?

 

SDL38-2 was what I was referring to Root blown 16-645E vs SDL39 which is 12-645E Turbo. 

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Posted by Bryan Jones on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 2:06 AM

YoHo1975

Is the current SDL38 a rebuild of the originals or all new?

 

SDL38-2 was what I was referring to Root blown 16-645E vs SDL39 which is 12-645E Turbo. 

 

 

the current day SDL38 is entirely new, powered by a turbocharged 8-710 prime mover. Totally different beast from the old SDL38-2 with the Roots blown 16-645. 

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 9:11 PM
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Posted by Backshop on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 10:50 AM

A turbo "38"?  Sacrilege, I tell you sacrilege!!!

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Posted by bogie_engineer on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 11:31 AM

Backshop

A turbo "38"?  Sacrilege, I tell you sacrilege!!!

 

Agreed, it needs a T added as the MP15T and GP15T had.

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Posted by BEAUSABRE on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 10:00 PM

This actually hard to say. There may be a nominal weight, but railroads can and do specify an amount of ballasting to improve tractive effort. 

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