If anyone would have done such an experiment, if would have been UP. But I have never heard of it. The SP engine pictured in this topic earlier is a "U50". No designating letter after "50". Some folks have called it a "U50D", but as can be seen, it is not and this confuses the issue. There are four "B" trucks underneath, using a "span" bolster system on each end. The "U50C" was actually a "C" trucked and designated engine. Seems to me this is a good excuse to sit down and watch a few videos, to see if you can spot that scene and examine it closely.
Nobody does? Well that about wraps that up. I have SP photos or had some and the computer I used at the time crashed taking the pictures with it. I will need to re-scan them and if this is thread is still going maybe I can add them here. Like I said earlier, it looked like but I couldn't prove anything by it. The U50C as I've always known them by was lashed up to a DD 35. It made for a interesting combination of motors/diesels on the point. I will try to dig up the video/vcr and post it here. Then you can be as confused as I am...Grin! Keep the photos coming. Enjoyed in Big Bear Country.
The story that I was told was that they were painted in California with someone's idea of non-solvent-based paints. Must have used latex house paint or maybe craft tempera paint?
Back when the idea of water based automotive painting was begun, there were all kinds of troubles. The worst seemed to be a primer failure. It happened to all of the US majors. When the color coat came off, you could literally just wipe much of the primer off with a dry cloth or bare hands. There was nothing there but pigment. And it cost a fortune to repaint, as you could not just do a small area and blend in.
Back again. I keep sleeping through those great video's. Nothing like the sound of a train passing by to put me to sleep. Serious. My mom said of me when she moved into a small apartment down by the Barstow Yard. I would crawl to the top of the couch and watch the switching moves and fall asleep. The best sleeping pill she could give me. Way to go mom, may she finally rest in peace. I will be viewing my videos again (I'll use any excuse to sit down and view them). Where I think I saw the motor in question. You can look and determine for yourself. The film frames of the U50 C with the DD 35 four axle trucks: Railfanning Southern California in the 1950's, Historic Hot Spots. To confirm, hopefully, before the day is over. The SD40 T-2 is a product of a sand storm. I'd bet on that. After serious winds I saw units like this emerge from the various sand storms between Tucson and Colton. Primarily in the Indio and Palm Springs area. Not pretty. There's your prototype for a real messy paint job. Grin!
I used to like hanging out by Hardy street in Houston years ago to look at all the SP power. Why take pictures? Those tunnel motors will be around forever... sigh... Did see unpatched SSW 9642 a couple days ago. Took a picture, although there was a pole in the way. You take what you can.
Ok so I'm not very good at keeping my promises. I'm about convinced I dream-t up that unit. LOL More later if I actually find it. Reminds me of the time when I chased a SP, Daylight F type locomotive convinced it existed. The closest I got was a Cotton Belt with an abbreviated Daylight paint scheme. My dad kept referring to a daylight locomotive and when he finally pointed it out to me it was the Black Widow Paint Scheme. His explanation, "They pulled the daylights so they are the daylight engines." Ok! I got buffaloed on that one.
Found it: https://ironhorsey.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/ge_u50-5033.jpg It is a U50 no other designation with two three axle trucks. You can see the original source as I saw it in the video, by Charles Smiley, Diesel Power on the Santa Fe. Right about the time they start talking about ALCO's RSD15's, there is a shot of Colton Crossing, Colton, Ca., where a UP DD40x rolls across the diamonds headed for Riverside, Ca., passing a Santa Fe Freight with an Alligator lashed up to several other locomotives. If someone wants to start a UP thread then feel free to use this post to do so. Phew! I didn't dream this up....after all. While doing the search I bumped into something I didn't expect to find. It lead me to a C855. To see it you will have to go to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALCO_Century_855. Now tell me that didn't exist.
Rick- I'm confused. The original question was about a U50 version with "D" type trucks, as the DDA40X had. There was no U50 version with those trucks. Is that what you are referencing?
You are right about the original question regardomg the U50C with DD40x style trucks. I had once heard through the rumor mill that a U50C had been shopped and outfitted with four axle trucks, as an experiment. As it turns out, I can't prove that to be true. One of those stories floating around a hobby shop. When the DD40x went flashing by in the video I could of swore a U style diesel tied in as the third diesel in the lash-up. It didn't have the C or two axle trucks under it. Unsure what they were and wondered if anyone had any pictures of anything different. Thus my original question. Today, when reviewing the tape I was glad to learn I hadn't dreamed it up. However, after examining the picture it was clear these were three axle trucks. Begging other questions. I started a Yahoo Search and came up with the diesels now linked here. I then went back and checked out the radiators and noticed they had been moved to the center. So, what you have now is what I saw on Charles Smiley's Video, as aforementioned. Now I didn't know that either one of these style locomotives existed and was compelled to let you know I was half right, one third right, ok not right at all but I did see a different locomotive and now we all know what it is. Confussion? What confussion? Not me! LOL
