Model Railroading > EMD SD55?

I'm looking into building one or a couple of these locomotives (HO) and I'd just like to gather some opinions here....

My current plan is to use Athearn's SD45T-2 and remove the radiator section, build a new flared radiator (extend the DB flare) from Cannon and Co parts and viola, done. 
As there's no actual diagrams or drawings around for the SD55 that I can find I was going to follow the SD45X design by having a large radiator with 4 fans on top. 

Thoughts?

There will be no drawings account the SD55 was never built. The 20 cylinder 645 locomotives had wider carbody doors than 16 cylinder 645 locos to allow access to the longer prime mover. You are good to use the SD45T-2 model to represent that. The air intakes behind the cab may need to be updated or you might use the nose, cab, air intakes and traction motor cooling duct from an SD50 shell to replace those older era parts from the 45 line model.

Posted from iPhone

I'd go with a SD45X as the SD55.  The SD55 would have been the production designation for the SD45X.

Cheers,
Harru

My plan is to follow the SD45X for the body details.

How many horse power would the SD55 have been were it produced?

4200hp if the SD45X is a guide.

Sounds like fun.
Please post pictures as you build.
I am thinking about a DD30B.

Interesting, can't wait to see. 

About the horsepower, which I know will be a choice. The '50' series engines were originally at 3500 for 16 cycliners. That puts a 20 cyclinder prime mover at 4375 with a 1:1 ratio. Now factor in the 'demo' status and various changes attempted and I'm sure you could say 4400hp or even 4500hp. 

Or taken another way: 
- 16 c @ 3000hp = 187.5 hp/cylinder (SD 40's)
- 20 c @ 4200hp = 210 hp/c (SD45x)
- 16 c @ 3500hp = 218.75hp/c (SD50)
40 series vs 50 series: about a 16-17% increase in per cylinder hp
and the SD45x about a 12% increase from then current settings...
Gets an SD55 demo up to nearly 4900hp. Hmmm...sounds high, maybe my math is a little off. 

Ok, bored at computer for a minute...back to work. 



 

Mike ONeill
Parker, CO

The SD45X put out 4200HP.

Like this ?

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I know my memory is bad,BUT haven't we gone through this before? Like three or four years ago?

Uncle Joe,Seffner,Fl.

retcsxcfm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know my memory is bad,BUT haven't we gone
> through this before? Like three or four years
> ago?
>
> Uncle Joe,Seffner,Fl.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/search.php?0,search=Sd55,author=,page=1,match_type=ALL,match_dates=0,match_forum=ALL,match_threads=0

Uncle Joe is correct.  I'll bet this will come up again in another half dozen years...

Larry

We gotta keep reinventing the wheel. We might get it "right" this time!   ;-)