Nostalgia & History > For Tunnel Motor lovers...

At track speed (30 mph) on the DRGW North Fork Branch, Sub. 16A. a few miles east of Delta, CO. 8-31-90.

The T-motor fans seem to have been quite active lately. I take no responsibility for any activity that may result from the viewing of this photo... (although it is falling apart a bit at this compression).

Hope y'all enjoy.

Press 25

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Press25 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> At track speed (30 mph) on the DRGW North Fork
> Branch, Sub. 16A. a few miles east of Delta, CO.
> 8-31-90.
>
> The T-motor fans seem to have been quite active
> lately. I take no responsibility for any activity
> that may result from the viewing of this photo...
> (although it is falling apart a bit at this
> compression).
>
> Hope y'all enjoy.
>
> Press 25

Warms my heart! Thanks for sharing the view, very enjoyable photo!

Jim

What a tunnel motor?

Rick

A tunnel motor is a modification that EMD had in their catalogue back in the 1980's.. The Southern Pacific was having problems with locomotives over heating in the tunnels and snow sheds.. A modication was made to the rear of the unit pictured.. a regular engine the air would be sucked into the radiator area from the top.. since the exhaust is hot out the stack causing the trailing units to overheat.. With the tunnel motor modification cooler air was sucked into the air intake even with the catwalk thus eliminating the overheating problem. The engines had a T after their number and letters..i.e. SD-45-T-2

"What a tunnel motor?"

I remember thinking one day up on Tehachapi that there would come a time we'd be reminiscing about these tunnel units and perhaps (but hoping not), that we'd be discussing that so few if any had been saved in museums, etc., as they were a significant if primarily western loco type. Sigh, now it's happening.