Western Railroad Discussion > Old EMD 645 20cyl will never die!

Seen earlier this week westbound departing West Colton .Is the UP really THAT short of power? Maybe not but new life for an old dog as a generating set or maybe it's destined to be refitted to a locomotive?
Anyone know the story on this one?

Andy Goodson

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Was this taken this past Wednesday, 4/14? If so, it's probably the same westbound manifest that both T.O. member Sal and I photographed at different locations in Pomona. The train had 4 of these on flatcars about 5 cars behind the power.

Here's my shot of the train, with UP SD60M 2470 leading. I spaced out as the cars passed and didn't get any close-ups of the prime movers :(

Rich

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Yes it was the same train

Andy

Here are my shots of this train:

http://pages.prodigy.net/salgarcia/pics.jpg
http://pages.prodigy.net/salgarcia/pics1.jpg

Photographed on Wednesday 04/14/04 at the Pomona Amtrak Depot while waiting for Amtrak #1 (the one that ended up showing up with Hi-Level 39940).

Rich and I were wondering if these were indeed locomotive motors.

Sal Garcia
Pico Rivera, California

That's probably an industrial engine skid unit. EMD sold a bunch of 20's as industrial engines, as 20-645E4's or S20E9's. They went into power generation service, into dredges and draglines, and even into drilling rigs. That engine likely never saw the inside of a locomotive, though it's also possible that it's a locomotive takeout (from a retired SD45 model) and has a second life as you suggest. It's impossible to destroy an EMD short of cutting it up into little pieces or wadding it up into a ball.

I don't recognize what the engine is coupled up to. It doesn't look like a generator; they tend to be bigger and rounder. Maybe a pump?

Addendum: Sal's post makes it clearer. Those are electrical generators; what you're looking at are industrial electrical power generating units.

I'd love to see an SD80ACe.

These engines were in Seattle two weeks ago on Harbor Island.
Apparently, they had come down from Alaska.

When mounted in a locomotive, does the engine have that sort of girder framework at the base?

Essentially, the locomotive frame is constructed of bits and pieces of channel and I beams welded together with a similar box like well in the center into which the engine crankcase is set. Photo shows engine mounting bolts into frame.

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So what looks like an I-beam box sitting on the floor of the flatcar in the original photo is actually a foundation upon which the prime mover and generator sit and the whole package is lifted up and placed on the locomotive frame?

Sorry I can't frame the question any better than that (no pun intended) but without interactive finger point capability I am somewhat constrained to describe the parts!

"What, a lawyer is speechless?"
"Yes, the money ran out on your meter!"

Regards,

John G

john1082 Wrote:
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> So what looks like an I-beam box sitting on the
> floor of the flatcar in the original photo is
> actually a foundation upon which the prime mover
> and generator sit and the whole package is lifted
> up and placed on the locomotive frame?

No, the frame is welded together into a single rigid unit which has a box shaped well formed into it. The power plant is bolted directly to this frame, without the intermediate mounting/carrying frame you suggested.

Many thanks. Makes more sense now.

All I know about photography is a Kodak Instamatic. All I know of live steam is Knotts Berry Farm.

It is the technology of this 'sport' that interests me. And MTM is on the money every time!

John G