Nostalgia & History > More from Stampede Pass, EMD testing

Continueing with The BEST day I ever had Railfanning.  Heres the EMD testing on the Pass, Traction motors the Crew told me.. The GM guys were classic paranoid, Yes even 40+ years ago. What I was doing here. Where did I come from. Why was I doing this. and WHO was I.. NOW LEAVE..... 
summer of 77.. didnt have a six string. but did have a Minolta. 
Dave Jakubiec
 

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Great shots. If EMD was paranoid about people knowing they were testing, maybe they shouldn't have painted their test car quite so obvious.

TomG Wrote:
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> Great shots. If EMD was paranoid about people
> knowing they were testing, maybe they shouldn't
> have painted their test car quite so obvious.

That was NOT why anybody on that test consist would have been "paranoid" about, i.e. "knowing they were testing". WHAT they were testing would have been the concern, since the design development and subsequent patent was not yet complete. That test consist was developing what eventually became the EMD patented "Super Series Wheel Adhesion" system, for all 50 series units and subsequent 60, series, 70 series, and future AC traction units.

Also, a little known fact about what was going on with that #5740 was, they were sending most all of the power through just one traction motor in order to control the creep rate under heavy load. Another point was, that entire forested area was part of the water shed for the city of Tacoma, and the Forrest Rangers were pretty adamant about ANYONE stepping off the railroad property and setting foot in their sacred land.

Well done - Great images.
Bob

NIce shots!

RC Lundgren
Elgin, TX

HotWater Wrote:
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> TomG Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Great shots. If EMD was paranoid about people
> > knowing they were testing, maybe they shouldn't
> > have painted their test car quite so obvious.
>
> That was NOT why anybody on that test consist
> would have been "paranoid" about, i.e. "knowing
> they were testing". WHAT they were testing would
> have been the concern, since the design
> development and subsequent patent was not yet
> complete. That test consist was developing what
> eventually became the EMD patented "Super Series
> Wheel Adhesion" system, for all 50 series units
> and subsequent 60, series, 70 series, and future
> AC traction units.
>
> Also, a little known fact about what was going on
> with that #5740 was, they were sending most all of
> the power through just one traction motor in order
> to control the creep rate under heavy load.
> Another point was, that entire forested area was
> part of the water shed for the city of Tacoma, and
> the Forrest Rangers were pretty adamant about
> ANYONE stepping off the railroad property and
> setting foot in their sacred land.

Only from Lester to Palmer Jct

EMD also tested the HT-BB 4-axle articulated truck on BN SDP45 #6599 in September 1984 on the then-dormant Stampede Pass.

See:   https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?18,4647590

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ

The A and B were scrapped. The SD too? Where’s the test car now?

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New773 Wrote:
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> The A and B were scrapped.

First that A unit was totally worn out & rusted, thus it went to scrap. Second, that "B Unit" really was the original Engineering Test Car, which was eventually converted into a dynamic braking "slug", i.e. it had no prime mover.

The SD too?

Not sure it was scrapped or not. It might still be at the AAR Test Center in Pueblo.

Where’s
> the test car now?

Again, don't know for sure but I think it was scrapped, as it was totally worn out.

I’ve see pictures of the cab and frame of the 5740 at NRE ready for the torch.

Posted from iPhone

These are some really incredible black and white photos. Great contrast.