It was suggested a thread on B-B EMD Blomberg trucks would be useful. Since I only know a little about these, I thought I'd post some info, and let the experts comment and/or correct where appropriate. Casting off of the info here: http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~shadow/prr-diesels/sideframes/b.html it appears that there are four major types of Blomberg B-B trucks: 1) Early Blomberg B w/friction bearings 2) Blomberg B with roller bearings (late FT onward) 3) Blomberg M (offered starting with the Dash-2 line) 4) Blomberg M Phase 2 (used on GP60s) The key spotting difference between the B and the M seems to be only one brake cylinder on the M as opposed to the two on the B. Also the M has a "strut" over one of the roller bearings. In addition, the M appears not to have the outside brake structure. Type B: http://www.hosam.com Typ M: http://www.centrallocomotiveworks.com Although the Blomberg M was offered starting on the Dash-2 line, many roads opted to go with the Blomberg Bs, including Chessie System, Conrail, and early SP GP40-2 orders (these are examples - not a comprehensive list). Experts: chime in please! [ 19. January 2005, 20:39: Message edited by: N&W ]
So, then, Blomberg B on an SSW GP40. Only eight of these (from Richard percy's Espee site) http://espee.railfan.net/espee.html SSW GP40-2 with Blomberg M [ 19. January 2005, 23:07: Message edited by: sapacif ]
Santa fe removed the outside brake shoes on there blomberg B trucks when they added high friction shoes and increased the brake pipe pressure. What other roads did this?
All SP GP40-2s had Blomberg Ms... Visual difference between a Blomberg M and a Blomberg B is that the M uses a large rubber damper (spring) rather than the metal leaf springs on the B. M uses one brake cylinder (vs 2 on a B) and has a snubber, The Blomberg M used on production GP59/60 dispensed with the rubber damper in favor of the easier to maintain leaf springs from the Bs. The demonstrator GP59/60s use the rubber damper Blomberg Ms
