Re: (erielack) SDP45 Brakewheel Notch

[A Samostie <quahog_@_sprint.ca>]

Dear Group,

 Tupaczewski, Paul R (Paul) wrote:
> 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

After further research, this seems to be the correct reason.  According
to Andy Harman's "Modeling an HO scale Erie Lackawanna SDP45: Pt. 1"
(March 1999 Railroad Model Craftsman, p.68):

"The Cannon front-end kits come with enough parts to model almost every
variation of production EMD locomotive, but the SDP45's had a very
unusual nose arrangement.  By the time they went into production, EMD
had changed the hand brake from a lever recessed in the nose, to a
recess on the long hood on the engineer's side and a wheel instead of a
lever.  Apparently the steam generator prohibited this placement, so the
SDP45 was equipped with a brakewheel mounted in a very noticeable notch
in the fireman's side of the low short hood.  EL got this arrangement in
spite of the fact that there was plenty of room for a brakewheel in the
long hood area sans steam generator."


Still doesn't quite explain why the wheel instead of the lever in the
nose ... but good enough for now!

Cheers,
Alan <quahog_@_sprint.ca>

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