Many of us are seasoned Vets in the Railfan world. And some are not, I am adding this post in response to Natalie's request to learn more about our hobby. Starting with the real thing. Like what is a SD40-2, a GP-9 and such....I am unfamiliar with how to post pictures on this forum and I don't have a scanner, so would any of you be willing to post pictures of any locomotive(or type of car, box, hopper), with a caption telling us what the locomotive is (or car can carry), and if there are suttle differences (like between an E8 and E9) what they are. I would be eternally greatful for any help I can recieve. We are sticking with Proto Type North American for now, and when She feels ready we might go to England and Europe, but that won't be for a while. I thank you all for helping me teach a budding railfan from the ground up. [ 31 March 2002, 18:46: Message edited by: BN9900 ]
Here you are, a few links to pictures to get you started... These are of Burlington Northern Locomotives (my favorite Railroad) E9A 9905 This locomotive is a passenger locomotive that was used from 1964-1992 on the Burlington Route and the Burlington Northern [ 31 March 2002, 21:01: Message edited by: BN9900 ]
Clayton, For LWG, heres a GP-9... I'll post the link to it for her to view it... GP-9 These were older "high-nose" diesels from the middle 1950's.... And notice its for passenger service... And heres a link to a SD-40, note again thats its for frieght service and is a newer "low-nose" diesel.... And as always from me. its naturally the B&O railroad! SD-40 Also to look at the wheels, the GP-9 has 2 wheels on each truck thats actually 4 total in the front and 4 total in the rear...With probably right around 1750 Horse power.... The SD-40 has 3 wheels on the side of the truck and is actually 6 wheels total on the front and 6 on the rear truck, its horse power I believe is 3000... someone that knows more about diesel please correct me being I'm a steam fanatic "winging" this one.. [ 31 March 2002, 20:35: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
If she gets into wanting to know steam i'll be of more help.... HA! Only thing is.. Steam is twice as hard to understand then diesels! HA! So that one might take more then just I to help her understand them! But I'm glad to know shes on the way to knowlege with your second love.....
Yes, you have no idea how thrilled I am john. That she is wanting and starting to learn. Well we'll stick with diesel for the time being!
Hi Everyone, Thanks for the links, I like looking at the pics they are great, so please keep more comin in. I have to say though they are nothing like what we have here they are so different. I know my Grandad is into steam trains. He goes railfanning or should I say Trainspotting then that's what we call it here. He gave me a few pics to give to Clayton. So I'll have to scan them and post them through for u lot. I'll try and do that for u lot to see the English side of things.
Hi Clay and Little Welsh Girl here are a few links you might like: http://www.railroadinfo.com/ http://www.railterminal.com/links.shtml http://jj.railfan.net/ http://www.railserve.com/ http://www.railroaddata.com/ http://www.trainnet.org/ http://webring.rrdepot.com/ring/list.pl?ringid=railring;siteid=webring Here are two photo links you will become lost in http://donross.railspot.com/index.htm http://www.dnaco.net/~gelwood/ HAVE FUN YOU TWO
Clay I found two shots and a close cousin of your namesake: http://gelwood.railfan.net/other/bn/bn9900ags.jpg http://gelwood.railfan.net/other/bn/bn9900awp.jpg http://donross.railspot.com/bn9920.jpg [ 01 April 2002, 01:31: Message edited by: LadySunshine ]
Hey Clayton... I can show LWG some of my own little "expensive" toys!!! HA! And being so. the ones I've made custom to what I wanted... By the way Barb, where did you come up with the UP Challenger in your signature? Nice! Although... the one in my signature is bigger. To bad I haven't found a B&O EM-1 GIF picture yet! I'll be changing that UP Big Boy in my signature then..... HE HE HE
John, you sure may, She may get a little confused at what is real and what is a model..so please be sure to define it's a model. Thanks Natalie, you know I'll help and we are going out at least once when your here. Barbara added many sites that hold pictures of locomotives and cars, they should all have captions, but if you have any questions feel free to ask! She also added pictures of bn9900 my name sake and that is the same locomotive as "bn 9905" [ 01 April 2002, 03:25: Message edited by: BN9900 ]
This is an album of roster shots of the locomotives at the Danbury Railway Museum, Danbury, Connecticut. It is a work in progress, so more photos will be added. I hope this helps. If you are in the area while Natalie is on this side of the pond, give us a visit. I would be glad to give you and her a close look. http://community.webshots.com/album/29595001VwxMsVxvwD
Pierce, Thank you for the invite, unfortutatly, I am in Washington State so We will be out here hunting down the monsters on steel rail. I do wish to get out there and next time I am in the area I will look you guys up!
May I suggest buying some of the Kalmbach books such as the DIESEL SPOTTERS GUIDE. They can be left in your car and would be readily available for quick reference. I love The AMERICAN SHORTLINE RAILROAD GUIDE too, although mine is very much outdated. I have found several small railroads* to visit since I first picked up that book many long years ago. I love shortlines. * for examle: THE SPENCERVILLE AND ELGIN IOWA TERMINAL CHICAGO, CENTRAL AND PACIFIC INDIANA AND OHIO PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER IOWA INTERSTATE SPRINGFIELD TERMINAL MORRISTOWN AND ERIE CENTRAL NEW YORK COOPERSTOWN AND CHARLOTTE VALLEY KNOX AND KANE NEW HOPE AND IVYLAND PITTSBURGH AND SHAWMUT CLARENDON & PITTSFORD GREEN MOUNTAIN See what I mean?
Well here are a few more shots. This one is of a BN GE U-30-C U=Universial Series 30 stands for 3000 hp. C=Three axle trucks (2 AXLE Trucks are B) U30C The units are built for haulling heavy coal trains but as new power came online, they were sent to haul secondary trains. Here is a pic of an SD40-2. It is very similar to the SD40 but there are "Dash 2" electrical components installed within...an identifying feature of the SD40-2s are thier long rear porch. SD40-2 Here is a picture of an EMD SD70MAC. SD= Special Duty (three axle trucks) 70 is the next number in the series M= Modified Cab AC=Alternating Current. Thes locomotives were ordered by the BN for coal serice, replacing the U30C type locomtive. BN has over 800 of these locomtives on it roster right now. SD70MAC
Heres one the the B&O's first low nose diesels... The GP-30, Ok diesel guys I'm going to need some help here "even though this is my favorite diesel" I believe emphysize *believe* this diesel was rated to have 2250 Horse power and was on of the bulkiest looking locomotives with the HUGE blister on the side at the top that looks to come out over the cab roof. By the way, that was called the Dynamic Brake blister. It made it look huskier and more brutal. Thats why I like it! GP-30 And to begin a new type of diesel. I bring a EMD "Electro-Motive Division" NW-2 yard switcher, small in size compared to the others listed as links... And as this is.. Freshly painted... Sadly I can not begin to try and quote the horse power of it though, I don't know its power rating so guys jump in on this one and let the horse power rating be known.... I do however know its lower then the other locomotive power rating and is also geared alot slower then the rest as well for slow traveling in and around rail yard where the trains are made up for the bigger more powerfull faster locomotives for traveling and hauling on the open rails to other rail yards.... This is the locomotive that helps to "build" or put a train together.... NW-2 [ 04 April 2002, 09:42: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Thanks Jim... I wasn't quite sure if that was right or not... I'm more to the steam side of railroading and never got that deep in the diesels so.... I do like the diesels the older ones... The E units and the F units and all and mostly all of the switchers. But the GP-30 is like my favorite. I love the dynamic brake blister on the long hood and all and its bulky brutal looking. Gives it that mean look. And besides it was one of the first spartan cab diesels so... I don't really know so I'm going to ask, was the GP-30 classified as a first or second generation diesel? I don't really know... And nows the time to ask...
The GP30 was second generation because it was marketed to replace earlier diesels. Also, the spartan cab was introduced on the GP35 (or SD35, whichever came out first). The GP30 introduced the sealed carbody (for EMD locos). If I remember correctly, the dynamic brake blister extension over the cab is actually part of the air filter system. Dwight
Thanks Dwight, I thought it was second generation. I still don't understand the whole 1st, 2nd, 3rd generation thing... But I love the way they made the blister on the GP-30 it gave it that stand alone mean look. And made it different from all the rest. I'm thinking of modeling an entire fleet of B&O GP-30's. But thats still in the thoughts process...
