Re: (erielack) SDP45 Brakewheel Notch

["Bill K." <pontiac_@_dreamscape.com>]

I suspect handbrake location/style was primarily a buyer option.  For
example, B&O ordered SD40's with a brakewheel on the rear of the long hood,
which became a spotting feature for the 8 units which ended up on Conrail
via the CNJ.      A handbrake is a fairly simple part and doesn't take up a
lot of space.   So why the differences?

 - economy perphaps.   Taking what EMD offers rather than specifying
something else to add to the cost further.

- - feedback from crews/practicality.  It's certainly easier for them to get
to a brake on the nose of the unit, particularly in winter conditions.

- - different opinions of the people in charge of ordering locomotives (a
cheif mechanical officer?).

- - Dereco specified equipment options (this seems unlikely as both Dereco and
pure EL units have the same handbrakes by model)



I wonder if that HELM GP39 leaser that they put the cab from one of the
SDP45's on, has the notch nose brake wheel, or a more conventional
arrangement.    (this was a Boise Loco/MK rebuild of a former Kenecott
Copper unit that had been built with an extra tall cab.. needing a
conventional cab/nose, they pulled one from an EL unit in the backlot, and
saved the fabricating).


Bill K.


- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Tupaczewski, Paul R (Paul)" <paultup_@_lucent.com>
To: "'A Samostie'" <quahog_@_sprint.ca>; <>
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 8:53 AM
Subject: RE: (erielack) SDP45 Brakewheel Notch


> > The EL SDP45s had a notch cut into the fireman's side of the
> > nose for the brakewheel.  My question is, why did the EL opt
> > for this arrangement, rather than a brake lever (most common
> > on second generation
> > EMDs) or a brakewheel mounted on the side of the nose without
> > a cutout (common on GE units)?
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Alan <quahog_@_sprint.ca>
>
>
> Another good question! The EL specified the brakewheel on its SD45s and
> SDP45s (but not on the SD45-2's - wonder if that wasn't an option
anymore?)
>
> Also note that the GE's brakewheels were on the "blind" (i.e., no door)
side
> of the cab. The notch was obviously so the crewmembers wouldn't hit the
> wheel as they walked into the cab. The SD45 wheels were inset into the
rear
> of the hood on the walkway side - perhaps the lengthening of the units
> forced the brakewheel to the front (as on the SD45-2's?)
>
> Ah, but the SP's "true" SDP45's (the ones with steam generators) also had
> the brakewheel in the nose:
>
> http://gelwood.railfan.net/other/sp/sp3205.jpg
>
> In this case, it might not have been able to be put in the back like the
> SD45's, and they just carried this engineering detail over to the EL
models?
>
> - Paul
>
>

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