Western Railroad Discussion > SD50 vs. SD60 technical deference?

Could some one tell me what the technical deference between SD50 vs, SD60.  I worked on U34CH and F40PH in my early years as a Locomotive Inspector. Plus EMD & GE electrical schools.  So U can be as technical as U can.  Thanks.

I think the main difference is the SD50 had a 645 engine while the SD60 had the 710.

SD50 had the 645F3G engine and the SD60 went to the larger displacement 710G3A.   Significant difference there, although both turned the same AR11 alternator.    
The other big difference was in the electronics.   The SD50 started toward microprocessor control, but honestly didn't do it well.     The 60 series had what I'll call the 1st real EMD microprocessor controller.    (I actually worked on it some as an engineering intern)   It was a big step in making the electronics more reliable.   

I'm sure others can probably answer more completely, but that's my 2 cents worth. 

Stephen



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/22 08:59 by rfdatalink.

rfdatalink Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SD50 had the 645F3G engine and the SD60 went to
> the larger displacement 710G3A.   Significant
> difference there, although both turned the same
> AR11 alternator.    
> The other big difference was in the electronics. 
>  The SD50 started toward microprocessor control,
> but honestly didn't do it well.     The 60
> series had what I'll call the 1st real EMD
> microprocessor controller.    (I actually worked
> on it some as an engineering intern)   It was a
> big step in making the electronics more
> reliable.   
>
> I'm sure others can probably answer more
> completely, but that's my 2 cents worth. 
>
> Stephen

Only two SD50's had microprocessors.  SDB 8525 and 8526 were MP equipped.  Definitely preproduction units.

The 50 series was the end of the line for the 645 engine. Trying to get 3500 HP out of a 16V645 was a bit too much. The things were shaking themselves to death.
Backing them down to 3200 HP or so seemed to help a little. This is one of the reasons many of the BNSF GP50's have been derated down to 2500 HP and are classed as "GP25"s".