International Railroad Discussion > Former Milwaukee Road SDL39 in Talca Chile

I first learned of the SDL39 when I bought a copy of the Second Diesel Spotter's Guide from Hi Way Hobby House in Ramsey New Jersery in 1973 (still remember my dad's friend behind the counter handing me the book and how excited I was to be holding it in my hands - still have that copy of that book here at home with me). Paged through it like crazy that first night I owned it and the two "new," previously never heard of engines I most remember discovering were the F45 (somehow I know of the FP45, but not the F) and the SDL39. I'd see my first F45 five years later on a trip to California at Colton Tower outside of LA (where I live now). The elusive SDL39, however, would take me 46 years to finally cross paths with when I ran across this one in Talca Chile with a long log train, I believe awaiting a crew (but that's just a complete guess).

Sadly the "sunny" side was tagged badly, and even if I wanted the "dark" side that would have inolved trespassing on the main rather than trespassing on some red-flagged, and I believe cut, old yard tracks, so here she is with tagging. Hey, still glad I finally got one. This would be the only one I would see as they mostly operate on the southern end of Chile and at this point we were headed back north.

 

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For comparison, here's an April 1976 photo of Milwaukee SDL-39 #589 west of Aberdeen, South Dakota.  Wonder if this unit became #2345.  If not, it was a sister.  EMD built a total of 10 SDL-39s - all for Milwaukee to use on light rail, mostly in South Dakota.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/19 19:29 by WoodwardEJ.

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Roofline has had some seious work (I suppose for clearance).

Thanks for the nice pictures.  Perhaps the winterization cover over the radiator fan is not needed in Chile.  Gerry
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erielackawanna Wrote:
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Roofline has had some seious work (I suppose for clearance).

Always liked these little SD's.What was the idea of the different trucks to the ones we see on other Sd's.?
Regards,dK

Weight

Which is why you rarely see domestic bogies on export locos

That's a surprise, any idea how many are there?
t4p.

DKay Wrote:
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> Always liked these little SD's.What was the idea
> of the different trucks to the ones we see on
> other Sd's.?
> Regards,dK

They're 5' 6" guage trucks.

erielackawanna Wrote:
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> Roofline has had some seious work (I suppose for clearance).

Winterization hatch probably not needed but it also looks like the fan shrouds have been removed, as well as the "dust bin" behind the cab.

Didn’t all but one go over there?

Posted from iPhone

SD45X Wrote:
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> Didn’t all but one go over there?

Yes, MILW wrecked one. The remaining nine all went to Wisconsin Central and then to Chile.

BTW, those are the same trucks they were delivered with (EMD's export-model C truck at the time they were built), just with new wheelsets (and possibly a new bolster) to re-gauge them. 

NZ

WoodwardEJ Wrote:
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> For comparison, here's an April 1976 photo of
> Milwaukee SDL-39 #589 west of Aberdeen, South
> Dakota.  Wonder if this unit became #2345.  If
> not, it was a sister.  EMD built a total of 10
> SDL-39s - all for Milwaukee to use on light rail,
> mostly in South Dakota.

Fepesa 2345 was formerly MILW/WC 588