Rock Island F7A 101, Denver, CO, circa 1971 (Bob Jordan) Rock Island GP40 346, Denver, CO, early 1970s (Bob Jordan)
Rock Island GP40 379, Denver, CO, early 1970s (Bob Jordan) Rock Island GP40 4716, Denver, CO, early 1970s (Bob Jordan)
Really great to see all the "Rock" locos. I will always wonder why these outfits didn't equip these units with dynamic brakes, I mean why would you always use air to control your train? Wear and tear on the train brakes would easily offset the costs. I do miss the Rock's paint schemes and variety though. When I was working in Alliance NE for the BN/BNSF we would occasionally see pooled units come across the pit that were former MP/KTY/RI units with no dynamic brakes or other appendages. A couple times I remember testing a 5 unit "coal set" with pooled former MP SD40 (don't remember if it was a dash-2 unit), And it didn't even have walkway provisions on either end of the units, there was a solid bar there on the ends just like the old blue box Athearns. So, the only way between the units in consist was to go down and up the steps on either end. No big deal at an initial terminal, but when the train is moving? You gotta stop the train to reset the ground relay or whatever. I mean how much more would it cost to get a crossover walkway provision? If you cant afford that.... your in trouble for sure. I always thought the bright yellow and red, or blue and white RI schemes were vibrant, but they didn't weather well. Sure wish they had a chance at survival too.
Yes, but under a certain speed dynamics don't work, and by then, the Rock's speed limit wasn't much higher.
Milwaukee Road was the same, all new units came like this, and older ones had they're drop-steps removed and handrails across where the chains had been.
On the Burlington Rock Island joint line in Texas, the Burlington maintained the track to better standards when it was their turn and insisted that the Rock do the same when it was their year to do so. So the CRIP trains could actually stretch their legs between Houston and Dallas.
When I first tested a unit with a -2 DGXR (extended range) setup, wow! Stopping with no air was insanely fun! After the first nerve wracking try. What a difference from older straight DB units.
A pair of Rock Island GP40s at Denver, early 1970s (Bob Jordan) A U-Boat Trio at North Yard in Denver, early 1970s (Bob Jordan)
Right, but I didn't think that option came along until the Dash 2s. Not that I can necessarily tell a GP-40 from a GP-40-2...
Santa Fe F3A 23L, Denver, CO, 1970/1971 (Bob Jordan) Santa Fe F3A 33L, Denver, CO, 1970/1971 (Bob Jordan)
I have always thought those Rock Island units painted in the "speed" lettering scheme were the best appearing of them all.
Santa Fe GP60M 105 in a wintery setting, early 1990s (Bob Jordan) Santa Fe GP60M 116, early 1990s (Bob Jordan)
Santa Fe GP60M 130, early 1990s (Bob Jordan) Santa Fe Motorcar M190, Sacramento, CA, late '80s or early '90s (Bob Jordan)