| Posted by Dana M. on October 12, 2014 | |
Jamie you have great lighting for this shot and I admire you for taking advantage of the sun to get this locomotive in perfect light - well done. Bravo! I do hope that the Niles Canyon Railway folks can put this interesting machine back together into it's original configuration, it would be a shame to have this only existing one-of-a-kind Krauss-Maffei stuck as a head end power unit only as it currently is being used for. I hope that this locomotive will be able to operate under it's own power soon. More power to the Niles Canyon in restoring this unit to it's original condition, keep up the great work.
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| Posted by FSWood on October 12, 2014 | |
Folks have done some good work on her.
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| Posted by cnw4007 on October 12, 2014 | |
Thought the prime mover was sent back to Europe or something, no way to get another one?
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Very good shot of a fascinating project. There's an interesting photo essay online documenting the process of replicating the nose, which had been compromised. They've also acquired some rare European hardware for this thing.
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All the kudos in the world to the guys who've pulled this off. Truly amazing and such a fine accomplishment!
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Interesting locomotive...does anyone know exactly why they ordered these?
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| Posted by FSWood on October 14, 2014 | |
Colin, this 1980-something copy of The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide relates that in 1961-63, Krauss-Maffei sent 21 locos over here to see how hydraulic transmission, as opposed to electric traction motors, held up in American operating conditions as opposed to European conditions. Southern Pacific and Rio Grande both took units. Book doesn't tell of decision process of why those roads accepted the locos, though.
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| Posted by FSWood on October 14, 2014 | |
Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society, playing in Google just found them. And, their website says, quote, "The Southern Pacific Historical and Technical Society is pleased to announce the release of its long-awaited book, The Southern Pacific and the KM Hydraulics by Robert Zenk. This 300 page landscape book contains over 80 drawings, some 300 black/white and color photos many of which have never been published."
Expect that will most likely answer the why and wherefore questions.
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The KMs came about because they could produce 4000hp when the best EMD could make was 2400 (the SD24.) They didn't last because their diesel-hydraulic drive couldn't withstand the rigors of American railroading. They work fine in Germany's light train/high speed operating environment, but when faced with the Rocky Mountains and trains over 10,000 tons, they floundered.
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| Posted by cnw4007 on October 14, 2014 | |
It could run !! It has one 16 cylinder prime mover left, would be interesting to hear that thing running. Can't image when they had both prime movers running, 36 cylinders burbling along.
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The project website states that the rear truck could possibly work again, but they emphasize "possibly." There are still some hard-to-find assemblies missing, and the group is absorbed with the current plan to stabilize it as a cosmetically restored cab car.
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