Eastern Railroad Discussion > Mutt and Jeff combinations

Little unit and big unit that is.What might be the greatest horsepower difference between units in a consist you've seen or photographed?Talking about pulling units,not units in tow or dead.Back in the days of Big Blue had a PICA east out of Conway with a CR baby boat and a Southern Pacific tunnel motor one trip-I think that SP pushed us all the way to Altoona!Here are two I've seen over the years.First up is Conrail F7A 1730 and ex EL SD-45-2 6661 passing the old CUT wire supports in Cleveland,Ohio in April of 1978.Enjoy!RAD

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Next is a Norfolk and Western local returning to Brewster yard from Massillion,Ohio on Jan 27,1982 with GP-7 2411 and SD-45 1809.Wish N&W would have stuck with that blue scheme!RAD

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How about a CSX U18B leading a C40-8W on an empty coal train? Saw that combo in 1994.

In early 1993, I photographed a GP9-SD45-U30C set on an eastbound Guilford train, and wondered how many railroads ever would have assembled such a consist (would have, not could have).

About four years ago I did catch a pair of Conrail SD80MACs with a GP15-1 dead-in-tow. That probably doesn't count since the Geep wasn't running, but even if it was, it definitely would have been only for "moral support"!

~~Pete
http://www.lonita.net/derail/

Just west of Fremont NE one time on the UP mainline I saw a DDA40X leading a GP9. While I know it's not Eastern, it was the biggest/littlest combo I've ever seen.

Pete-might that 80mac/GP-15 combo been on Jan 5th,1999?Shot the 4123,
4109,and 1668(in OperLife)on a westbound that day in Cresson.That was neat,especially with that 15 in OpLife.You are right about the "moral support"!!RAD

In 1975 near Omaha, Nebraska I saw and photographed a U50C and GP9 combination on the Union Pacific.

Dan

P.S. Nice Photos. I have never seen a photo of the older blue N&W paint scheme. Thank you from the west!

Dan-these UP U50s and DD40s with GP-9s-what was the UP thinking?!!Wow,sounds pretty neat,something us here in the east could only dream of.I enjoy your posts over on the west board too by the way,many cool shots.If I get a chance later I'll post a scan or two of some "non-black" N&W if interested.And to the above poster,would love to see that Guilford combo you shot-thanks.RAD

derecho wrote:
>
> About four years ago I did catch a pair of Conrail SD80MACs
> with a GP15-1 dead-in-tow. That probably doesn't count since
> the Geep wasn't running, but even if it was, it definitely
> would have been only for "moral support"!

I saw the same thing leading a train out of Elkhart IN about the same
time period (maybe 5 years ago). My favorite one was on a CP train
in Michigan. Had a Soo SD60, an SP tunnel motor, and a Seaboard
System MP15T. Still shaking my head at that one :)
Also saw a CSX AC4400 and a Dakota Rail F7, an oddball combo, but the
F7 was just being moved to its new owner.

How about a B36 with two AC44s, all running on a coal train, with the little B unit leading. I didn;t just see that train, I was on it, and pissed the whole way, looking back at those nice engines

The ulitmate was UP's - a 10,000 horsepower 3 unit gas turbine with a GP9 or GP9B. Apparently that was a common consist and shows up a lot in books featuring the turbine era on the UP.

CSX U18B leading a AC4400CW on a short train. Both units active.

with proof:

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The reason why you always see turbines with GP9s is becuase, the turbines were very weak at low speeds, so the gp9 was basically there to help get things started.

Once caught a coal train heading up the the Youngstown line with an Conrail SD80MAC, B23-7R, SD50, 2 GP38's and 2 SD40-2's pushing.

atsf5704 wrote:
>
> The ulitmate was UP's - a 10,000 horsepower 3 unit gas turbine
> with a GP9 or GP9B. Apparently that was a common consist and
> shows up a lot in books featuring the turbine era on the UP.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing.

How about an 0-4-0T and a 4-6-6-4? Posed at Railfair 99 in Sacramento, CA.

Didn't the Great Northern regularly run it's SDP-40s and 45s with 1 or 2 F7-F3s in passenger service?

RAD do you remember this one??? You might have shot it also.
It was the PIAL-9Y with PRR GP40-2 3000, NS SW1500 2311, and PRR
SD80MAC 7203. In that order, all online and pulling. Too see the
pic go to Scott, and I's website North American Railfan to see the
photo http://trainweb.org/northamrailfan/ Look for it under the
Interesting sightings section page 9 Norfolk Southern photos.

Tony K, CRsmurf

In the early 90's, it seemed like Conrail would lash anything handy
to an SW1500 and use them to switch Collinwood Yard in Cleveland.
My favorite was the day I caught an SW1500/C30-7A set working the
yard.