Neat! I don't think I've seen this one before. What was it testing?
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Very interesting unit. What exactly were they testing?
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They replaced the 3 axle rear truck with a 4 axle self steering truck and were testing its performance. My guess is that things learned from this locomotive helped in the development of later self-steering trucks at EMD used on SD70MACs, etc.
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The center axle of the front truck is unpowered because its traction motor was moved to the extra rear axle. The rear truck was actually two four-axle trucks with a span bolster connecting them.
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| Posted by cnw4007 on March 27, 2015 | |
This was no simple task. If you look at SDP45 pics, they shortened the fuel tank and chopped the frame depth on the side sills. They also shortened the blower box under the walkway and note the cable running along that same walkway. Also changed the end steps. Kitbash, ala EMD.
Its country cousin: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=12139&nseq=98
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I remember seeing this in Trains magazine and thought at the time it was an oddball thought, but it must have proved something for steerable trucks in testing.
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A very striking view. Thanks.
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