My most Rare catch...

[jbaakko]

So, during WPM, I shot several roster shots...

Here's my rare catch of the day...


Before you jump down my throat and say "SD70M's are not rare", take a moment to look at the forward most door on the radiator compartment. Notice the water sight glass.

Seems (as far as I can tell so far), only two UP SD70M's have this, 3874 and 3978.

Under 40 of the 70 series actually have a water sight glass. Here's the verifiable roster:
SD70:
NS 2501-2531

SD70M:
CSXT 4675-4677 (EMDX 7000-7002)
UP 3974, 3978


Questionable:
SP 9800 (now UP 3974)
SP 9804 (now UP 3978)

Notes:
At least one SP SD70M had a sight glass, though it was painted over:
espee.railfan.net/picindex/sd70m_walkaround/ck_sd70m-right-rear.html

[DRGW 5398]

Hey Josh...I was going to say exactly that...can't believe someone would think a 70M is rare! LOL

Good eye catching that access door there, from what I can tell, all the SP SD70M's had that, meaning that it was probably an early EMD radiator section, considering that the EMDX Leasing units also have them, looks a lot like the SD60's, maybe an early carbody section from the last production of SD60's or SD60M's?

Great, something else I have to add to my four SD70M's!

Cool catch though and thanks for pointing that out!

[jbaakko]

You're welcome! I hadn't even noticed the door until I got home, just noticed the road number while shooting and recognized it as SP 9800!

The photos linked, of the SP unit with the painted over sight glass are 9803. I'm under the suspicion that it might have been an early feature, and the two UP units noted are the only two left that have not had them removed, of the Fmr SP units.