Nice photo of a scarce model. Is it an illusion, or have the center axles been removed?
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| Posted by Mike on November 7, 2014 | |
Just an illusion. Brake rigging makes it appear that way. After looking at it for about 10 seconds I realized that that's what it was. It also appears that the middle journal boxes are higher, but obviously they're not. If the center axles were removed, there would be no journal boxes.
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I just enlarged the hi-rez scan and indeed the middle axle is missing on the left truck. I can't tell for sure if the middle axle is missing on the right hand truck though. I never noticed that until now - thanks for pointing that out !
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| Posted by tsched on November 8, 2014 | |
Not the most aesthetically pleasing model but still, what a great catch! Thanks for posting this picture. I believe it was from MN&S yard in Golden Valley, six miles west of downtown Minneapolis.
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So that's where GE got the idea for the ES44C4....
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| Posted by Andrew on November 8, 2014 | |
From what I can find, these were Co-Co's so would have had a centre axle.
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It's an optical illusion. There's a horizontal metal rod on the outside of the truck that connects the brake shoes together. The rod is catching the sunlight, making it appear to be the same color as the ballast behind the locomotive.
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Hmmm...upon further review I agree that the center axle is present. That brake rod does make it look like it is missing, but it is not. Just happened to be the way the angles and lighting worked out!
Thanks for everyone's comments....
Ted
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Good thing this is a "flashback" shot or it would not have made the database due to the angle of the sun and we wouldn't be discussing the "missing" axle.....LOL.
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| Posted by Mike on November 9, 2014 | |
LOL...Yeah. Let's zoom in and see the missing center axle even though the journal boxes are still there. BNSF must have thought it was missing too, but NS realized it was not, hence their decision to stick with "Co-Co" trucks for their AC rebuilds! Come on guys.
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