Western Railroad Discussion > For the UP SD70M connoisseur...

I took this today of the ILBEW through Stafford, Texas. At first glance it seems fairly mundane with 3 SD70M's and a DRGW patch.

For those of us who keep track of rivets, the photo has a deeper meaning.<G>

The 3 lead motors display the 3 variations of wing decal placement on UP's SD70M fleet.

If you'll use the blue flag holder on the side of the nose as a reference point, the height differential is easy to spot.

The second unit displays the most common placement of the wing decal, high on the nose.

The lead unit has the wing decal placed somewhat lower, maybe 8-10 inches.

The trailing unit is a former SP SD70M, the 3980 something. It has the wing decal in a relatively low placement.

Any UP fans with insight into these differences, my inner "rivet-counter" wants to know...

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SWEET COMPARISON PHOTO! About as exciting as UP SD70M's get. Great observation - yeah the UP4242 (wreck repair/repaint) is an oddball out there. Expect to see more oddball SD70M's over time as more wreck repairs happen and more paint fades.

That's where they shoulda put 'em the first time (4242)!!!
That or use wings that fit (one size fits all EMD and GE power!)


TCS - there's a tampax joke in there someplace ...

LOL

TopcoatSmith Wrote:
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> That's where they shoulda put 'em the first time
> (4242)!!!
> That or use wings that fit (one size fits all EMD
> and GE power!)
>
>
> TCS - there's a tampax joke in there someplace ...

My God your right I never noticed the subtle difference. I thought they were all alike suddenly winged units have taken on a whole new glow for me.

i think the 3980 is an Ex SP SD70M.
railfan1 out

Reminds me of a photo I took in the Columbia River in June of 2003. A train with 4 UP SD70M's - each of them different:
Olympic paint, flares-no flags,flares&flags,standard yellow with no flags or flares.

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Reminds me of the Chessie units that had the "Chess-C" placed in three different locations depending on whether it was painted at EMD, Huntington or Cumberland.

Paul

Paul Amos, KI4DMP
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The 4242 has had nose repairs and was repainted/redecaled in house. The ex-SP SD70M was repainted in house also.

The wings on all production 70s are "high mounted". Where they were intended to be all along.