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Post by Randy Earle on Feb 19, 2009 23:42:34 GMT -5
One of the subjects that have come up from time to time here on the Detailer has been "what if?" units. What if EMD had really made an SD-30, or SD-20? Here are some more ideas for that venue. How about a General Electric U18C? Or an EMD GP-90 or Dash 9 with 4 axles? Another what if would be an Alco C428 or C436? What would a Century 620 have looked like? What will be the next "what if?" unit some enterprising kitbasher will make? Dan's SD-30 is a beautiful model, so nice in fact, it is in the February logo and has gotten tons of compliments. Any ideas?
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Post by Randy Earle on Feb 20, 2009 0:44:11 GMT -5
Sounds great!  |
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Smoke
Chairman
The Ski Train!!!!
Posts: 753
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Post by Smoke on Feb 20, 2009 1:10:04 GMT -5
I think someday I will build a GP80MAC.
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Post by antlorch on Feb 20, 2009 10:12:26 GMT -5
You know who is really good with coming up with "what-if's", Hank Stephen, he has done alot of those for his own ralroad.Drawings for now though but could be for real if someone wanted to build one...I will post some pics for him....... We have seen this one already.....  More as follows..............    Here is just a hand full,more later.... |
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Post by icghogger on Feb 20, 2009 11:05:00 GMT -5
WOW, that FGC SD55 is Sweet!!
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Post by graftonterminalrr on Feb 20, 2009 12:15:29 GMT -5
The problem that comes to mind is that some of these creations couldn't be justified or feasible.
EMD decided that the GP60 represented the limit of what could be done with a 4-axle platform. There was just too much HP-per-axle, the weight limit per axle had been reached, etc.
This is why a GP45 was never offered - imagine if it was? A 20-cylinder engine would have to be placed on an extended frame - maybe the SD40 frame with 4 axle trucks and big "porches".
Alco actually listed a C624 but never built one. Same as GE's U18C. The Alco C430 was a maintenance nightmare, by all accounts, so it stands to reason that had a C436 been built, it wouldn't have met with any kind of success - why buy a high-HP 4 axle unit when the better-pulling, heavier 6 axle unit already exists?
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Post by Randy Earle on Feb 20, 2009 12:23:29 GMT -5
The problem that comes to mind is that some of these creations couldn't be justified or feasible. EMD decided that the GP60 represented the limit of what could be done with a 4-axle platform. There was just too much HP-per-axle, the weight limit per axle had been reached, etc. This is why a GP45 was never offered - imagine if it was? A 20-cylinder engine would have to be placed on an extended frame - maybe the SD40 frame with 4 axle trucks and big "porches". Alco actually listed a C624 but never built one. Same as GE's U18C. The Alco C430 was a maintenance nightmare, by all accounts, so it stands to reason that had a C436 been built, it wouldn't have met with any kind of success - why buy a high-HP 4 axle unit when the better-pulling, heavier 6 axle unit already exists? Small railroads with tight curvatures would be a good reason to stick with 4 axles. |
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Post by graftonterminalrr on Feb 20, 2009 12:33:42 GMT -5
That's true, but if you're a small RR with tight curvature, you probably also have lighter rail where a heavy high-HP unit wouldn't work out well.
I remember reading that when EMD released the GP40/SD40 series, that railroads were beginning to realize that high-HP four axle units were becoming specialized. The six-axle counterpart was starting to become the general-purpose mainline unit, so the trends seemed to go that way.
The last Geeps, ATSF GP60M's and SP GP60s, were envisioned almost exclusively as intermodal hotshot power as four axle units had better acceleration. But the problem went back to "too much power per axle." This was the same issue with the GE U36B.
A GP90 just doesn't sound feasible.
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Smoke
Chairman
The Ski Train!!!!
Posts: 753
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Post by Smoke on Feb 20, 2009 13:15:07 GMT -5
A GP90 just doesn't sound feasible. No, it would not be feasible, but one would sure look cool!!  |
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Post by antlorch on Feb 21, 2009 17:16:20 GMT -5
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Post by Jack Napier on Feb 21, 2009 22:11:44 GMT -5
I'm friends with Hank, great guy! ;D
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Post by Randy Earle on Feb 21, 2009 23:01:12 GMT -5
I like the GE with the back porch!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2009 22:03:02 GMT -5
Here is a recent creation. C440w  |
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Post by Randy Earle on Mar 22, 2009 22:14:45 GMT -5
Interesting unit. I'm glad to see someone else who likes things in the "what if?" way.
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Rudy Garbely
Chairman
Modeling Conrail from 1976-1979 in HO scale.
Posts: 1,073
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Post by Rudy Garbely on Mar 23, 2009 13:21:25 GMT -5
How about a C624?   |
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Post by poweredby251 on Apr 26, 2009 22:59:24 GMT -5
The only 'What If' units being concidered right now on the SPSL/MM/WBT are the 3 Minnesota Midland SD-39-2's. A dash-2 version of the SD-39, one could be easily made using an SD-38-2 and the new Atlas GP-39-2.
Another concept I have thrown around in my head is a modified wreck rebuild of a C-415 with it's guts unscrambled and in a modified switcher configuration. Basically re-arrange the hoods to conform with standard Century construction, with a small stubbed nose on the cab end.
I MAY feel the need to do an SD-30 as a lease unit or runthrough power, as the magazine articles on kitbashing these freelanced units look interesting.
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Post by reddawg on May 7, 2009 13:12:36 GMT -5
How about a SD38T-2? I had several drawn up a few years ago..some from SD40T-2's and SD45T-2's. I decided to not use the SD45T-2's..but removing the "tunnel" radiator with the standard SD45-2 radiator sections from scrapped units..and some home built radiator sections.
I also did up a GP35-2W, an SD30 (SD35 modified), SD50W..etc...Oh..and an E7 with flexcoil trucks!
Will post the drawings later.
Dave C
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Post by poweredby251 on May 17, 2009 14:31:48 GMT -5
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Freightrain
Chairman
Modeling CSX from 1995 to present
Posts: 625
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Post by Freightrain on Aug 17, 2009 14:06:57 GMT -5
Dang!!! How did I miss this thread, LOL I started another thread in another part of the site. I like what I'm seeing here too.
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