Florida East Coast and dynamic brakes

Does flat terrain require dynamic brakes?

@CALNNC posted:

Does anyone know what engine and year did the FEC buy its first engines with dynamic brakes?  I grew up in the last of the red and orange scheme and then to blue, but never saw GP7's and 9's with the dynamic brake cooling fans and resistor bank protruding from the top.

To my knowledge, the FEC never purchased any new units with dynamic brakes. The railroad is so flat, their biggest problem was always wind resistance off the inland waterway, which was really noticeable when your train came out from behind the trees on the east side if the main line, when running southbound.

Their SD40's they bought had dynamic brakes, so maybe those were the first, but perhaps there was something between the GP9's and the SD40's.

@RoyBoy posted:

Does flat terrain require dynamic brakes?

Sure...DB can be used anywhere. It saves big bucks in fuel costs and freight car brake system maintenance. Brake shoes don't wear out very fast if you never use them.

FEC's E6/7/9's, F3's, FP7's and GP40-2's didn't have dynamic brakes, either.

From what I can see after some Googling around, the FEC started to get dynamic brakes when they started buying locomotives from other railroads.

Rusty

@CALNNC posted:

Their SD40's they bought had dynamic brakes, so maybe those were the first,

Except,,,,,,,,,,the FEC purchased those SD40s used, from other railroads.

but perhaps there was something between the GP9's and the SD40's.

No.

EDIT.  As additional information, dynamic brake was an option on EMD GP type units, i.e. an "extra charge" item on the locomotive order. On the other hand, dynamic brake was "basic", i.e. included in the base price, on EMD SD type units. Thus, when FEC purchased second hand SD40 units, they came with dynamic brake.

Thanks for the info.  Now, did the FEC actually convert 'all' its diesels to natural gas as stated by Les Wilson in 'Bocofirst' that I found on line?  I did see them showcase one set with the gas car between them, but has it gone system wide?

@CALNNC posted:

Thanks for the info.  Now, did the FEC actually convert 'all' its diesels to natural gas as stated by Les Wilson in 'Bocofirst' that I found on line?  I did see them showcase one set with the gas car between them, but has it gone system wide?

No.  The only FEC diesels using natural gas are their GE ES44C4 units.

Stuart