Nostalgia & History > A look under a 44-ton's hood

This 44-ton GE was at the yard for Abex, a manufacturer of track components (points, frogs, etc.) at Pueblo, adjacent to the Colorado Fuel & Iron steel mill.

While at Metrolink I was one of a pair of engineers who went back to see those manufacturers in August of 1993.

The trip was kind of a quality assurance and confidence building aspect of our programs.
Learned a lot, and got to see the transition (between 2 visits) between the cast ingot, open ladle technology to the continuous casting vacuum de-gassing now universally used, a great leap forward in quality and efficiency.

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Bit of contrast between the newly installed "new" Cat yellow Cat diesel and the "slightly used" engine sitting on the ground.

Cat D17000s!

A whole 150-200 HP out of that big engine!!

Mike

By 1993 finding a good Cat D-17000 was probably a challenge.

Very neat photos; I don't think I've ever seen an engine view of a 44T.

Would anyone have photos of the cab interior; control stand; etc for a 44T; or know of a good reference? For modelling purposes.

Thanks

Brian N.

Can anyone identify the controls? I think I see train and independent brakes in back (with the independent on top?). Maybe the lower black thing nearer the front is the forward-reverse switch? With the throttle the silver or brass handle above?

lwilton Wrote:
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> Can anyone identify the controls? I think I see
> train and independent brakes in back (with the
> independent on top?). Maybe the lower black thing
> nearer the front is the forward-reverse switch?
> With the throttle the silver or brass handle
> above?


Hmmmm. My picture of the controls seems to have vaporized into the ether. I think my dues are paid...

Well, here's a repost with significant parts identified per your request.

A - Electrical Cabinet
B - Independent brake
C - Automatic brake. These two are combined into a single K-14 brakestand
D - Regulating valve
E - Feed valve. I may have these two reversed
F - Sand
G - Throttle
H - Reverser
I - No. 1 engine gauges
J - No. 2 engine gauges. The black button in the center of each grouping houses a light bulb for that grouping
K - Electrical switches
L - Air gauges
M - Wiper motor

-John

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A caption for pic 2 could be ""Gesundheit!" . . .

Jim Montague
IRVINE, CA
Train and Nature photo Art

Thanks John!