Re: (erielack) SDP45 Brakewheel Notch

["Steve Kay" <s.kay4_@_verizon.net>]

Paul,
Having the handbrake on the long hood may have been good for the
manufacturer but was inconvenient for the crew, especially in inclement
weather. On the other hand, having the handbrake in front of the entrance
door made it easy for the engineer to apply or release the handbrake as he
entered or left the cab.

Interestingly, the handbrake on the U34CHs was attached to a valve that bled
off the brake cylinder pressure on the lead truck and allowed a tight
handbrake in case the engine brake bled off while the engine was shut down.

Steve
- --
S/T, LR BLE Division 272
A railroad's best safety device is a well trained, well rested engineer.
http://gumby5.home.mindspring.com/
http://stevekay1.home.mindspring.com/
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Tupaczewski, Paul R (Paul)" <paultup_@_lucent.com>
To: "'A Samostie'" <quahog_@_sprint.ca>; <erielack@lists.railfan.net>
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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