Read on another site last night that CSX and NS have some EMD SD40s that have been rebuilt which will be 50 years old this year. Built in 1966 for the PRR and acquired through the Conrail split. Incredible record-sort of Like the old Lionels !!
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Considering that this is the basis for the SD40-2 should not be a bit surprising . G.E. has never done anything that will ever approach this record...and why is that? EMD - Best design, and best materials, coupled with best quality control. Makes you wonder what people will be saying when these units bust a hundred !
They made them too good-rebuild instead of buying new, bad for business. I had a friend who worked for GE in Erie some years ago when they were getting big 100+ unit orders and lose money on them. They planned to make money on the maintenance and repair contract plus increase your unit population. same as selling big industrial pumps also penetrate new markets. Which will be gone first ?? old Lionels or EMDs ?? I can just see the TRAINS magazine story-"Last operational EMD has been retired . The only ones left are in museums rusting away."
These units are also favorites of engineers.
jim pastorius posted: I can just see the TRAINS magazine story-"Last operational 2 stroke EMD has been retired . The only ones left are in museums rusting away."
I added the Italics. Long live EMD 2 stroke locomotives!
EMD posted:These units are also favorites of engineers.
Exactly! Best darn diesel locomotives ever made!!! And, they'll still run circles around any Hi-Ad locomotive made today!
Interesting how some of the older mechanical things like cars, airplanes, RR engines , guns and others just seemed to come together just right. everything is a compromise and some of these icons just balanced out right. This was all pre-computer, of course, so we will see how that plays out.
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