Okay – so I like the powerful rumbling sound that diesel locomotives emit – it shakes me and stirs me, captivates and fascinates me.
CP 6030, an EMD SD40-2
The EMD SD40-2 is a 3,000 horsepower (2,240 kW) model of C-C diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division between January 1972 and February 1986; 3,957 examples were built, and most larger North American railroads have operated the type. Part of the EMD Dash 2 line, the SD40-2 was an upgraded SD40 with modular electronic control systems, HT-C trucks, and many other detail improvements. The SD40-2 is one of the best-selling diesel locomotive models of all time. BNSF, Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific operate some of the largest fleets of the type.
The SD40-2 was not the most powerful locomotive type even when introduced; EMD’s SD45 and SD45-2 delivered 3,600 hp (2,680 kW), as did GE Transportation Systems’ U36B/C and MLW’s M636. However, the SD40-2 was significantly more reliable and economical than the higher-powered units, the latter becoming increasingly important with the oil crises of the 1970s.
The British Rail Class 59 was derived from the SD40-2.
Three cabless SD40-2Bs were also rebuilt from standard SD40-2s by the Burlington Northern Railroad in the early 1980s. The units had been in collisions and it was decided that it would be more economical to rebuild them without cabs. Canadian Pacific also owns a few SD40-2Bs. These were created by welding metal plates over the cab windows of many of its ex-Norfolk Southern and some of its original SD40-2s.
CP 9675, a GE AC4400CW
The GE AC4400CW is a 4,400 horsepower diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems between 1993 and 2004. It is similar to the Dash 9-44CW but features AC traction motors instead of DC, with a separate inverter per motor. 2598 examples of this locomotive were produced for North American railroads. As a result of more stringent emissions requirements that came into effect in the United States on January 1, 2005, the AC4400CW has been replaced by the GE ES44AC.
As of 2005, every Class I railroad with the exception of Norfolk Southern and the Canadian National Railway, owns at least one AC4400CW. These units quickly gained a reputation as powerful freight haulers, especially in heavy-haul applications.
The AC4400CW was the first GE locomotive to offer an optional self-steering truck design, intended to increase adhesion and reduce wear on the railhead. This extra cost option was specified by Canadian Pacific, Cartier Mining, CSX, Ferromex, Ferrosur, and KCS.
AC4400CW CP 9567 approaching from the east while older sibling 9675 waits, and waits, and waits.
This may look cool as a photograph but you should bear in mind that three 440,000 pound engines and the cars they are pulling at 70 kmh do not stop in a short distance.
I will get up close and personal with a stationary train that is facing the double red and the engineer can see me. For moving trains I’m always at least 5 metres (15 feet) in the clear from the tracks.
Stay off the tracks…
