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EMD JOULE SD40J caught in the Wild

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  • Member since
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EMD JOULE SD40J caught in the Wild
Posted by YoHo1975 on Thursday, April 13, 2023 10:51 AM

Edited after further study of photo.

 

I cannot share the photo as it isn't mine, but if you follow the loconotes group, someone posted a picture of the EMD Joule SD40J in the BNSF Pueblo Yard on the way to PHL.

 

Of note and the reason I posted despite not having permission to post the picture, the trucks look like modified or different HT-C trucks that it is riding on. 

Obviously there's no Snubber/Shock absorber on the center axle, but also the brake lines are routed differently. My initial take if you read this post was that they were not HT-C, but I'm second guessing myself now. 

 

 

 

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Thursday, April 13, 2023 10:52 AM

There are some other pictures on Trainorders from when the unit went to Pueblo in January, but I don't have an account and none of the pictures appear to have a good angle.

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Posted by bogie_engineer on Thursday, April 13, 2023 11:22 AM

I looked at the picture on LocoNotes and those are definitely HT-C trucks, the 3 core holes in the sideframes are visible to confirm as is the end transom. The brake cylinder piping though is not the usual above the cylinders but runs below them. Don't know why, perhaps in Brazil they don't worry about condensation freezing the piping. We always designed the piping to drain to the brake cylinders.

Dave

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Thursday, April 13, 2023 12:15 PM

I wonder why the "snubber" was removed? I've seen plenty of "Blomberg M" trucks with that removed, but never an HT-C. Change in the way the unit behaves due to lack of fuel tanks and weight distribution of the batteries? 

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Posted by bogie_engineer on Friday, April 14, 2023 9:29 AM

I don't understand either why there are no primary vertical dampers on this loco. Without them, it depends on the friction at the journal bearing adapter-pedestal liner interface for any damping. With new parts, there's plenty of friction, fully worn and coasting there is a minimal amount. I am told this unit is expected to only work at lower speeds on PHL so it probably won't be a problem; if it is, it's easy to remedy.

Dave

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Posted by rdamon on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 8:12 PM

Caught in Flagstaff @20:54 

 

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Posted by GrandTrunkWestern on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 1:07 PM

rdamon

Caught in Flagstaff @20:54 

 

 

So like... someone paid money for that? Seems to me like you would have to pay someone to take it Big Smile

"I Drink From The Keg Of Glory. Bring Me The Finest Muffins And Bagels In All The Land." - Josh Lyman

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Posted by YoHo1975 on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 1:44 PM

A comment made about nearly every locomotive made since at least the end of the F-unit.

 

I don't see why it looks particularly ugly. 

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 3:21 PM

GrandTrunkWestern
 
rdamon

Caught in Flagstaff @20:54  

 

So like... someone paid money for that? Seems to me like you would have to pay someone to take it Big Smile

Locomotives are designed and built to be economical workhorses not to be 'bathing beauties'.  They are judged on how well and how efficiently the perform the duties for which they were purchased.  Remember, those that sign the contracts for the purchase of locomotives most likely have ABSOLUTELY NO ABILITY to operate the lococomotives.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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