Yes they did. That was the first engine that I bought my son for christmas when he was a young kid. And we still have them. They were in HO. Just thought you should know.
Tom Sr. not Jr.
Thanks. All I remember was that DD "thing" that Athearn produced back in the mid-1960s, which EMD never actually produced.
And EMD certainly never produced a high hood version either.
Rusty
The Athearn thing from the late '60s was a fair model of a DD35A. The new Athearn/ Horizon model is a true DDA40X. Good luck finding either of 'em right now.
The Athearn thing from the late '60s was a fair model of a DD35A.
That Athearn "thing" from the 1960s was even close to a DD35A, as the 35 series DD units did not have those huge, flared cooling systems. Athearn chose to make a model of a PROPOSED DD40 unit for the UP, which never came to pass. The higher HP DDA40X was then produced.
Well from reading it sounds like 6944 will probably leave more in likely tomorrow or Wednesday. Now this is what I think since today is Memorial Day. But here is a link to the before and after picture of 6944 https://www.facebook.com/altoo.../?type=1&theater
Hot Water I do have a question to ask you. I know you don't care for engines after 1964, but what do you think of the DDA40X? I know they were built from April 69 to Sept 71, but I thought I would ask.
As a side note, I thought MTH doing the fantasy painted scheme's on there DDA40X's was cool. Especially in SF Warbonnet. CSX, is awesome as well. I do own an MTH CSX DDA40X and it looks superb. I don't think they made the BNSF though, maybe someone knows about that. But overall I think the DDA40X is POWER compared to today's engines. All we need someday when Big Boy 4014 runs again is 4014 and 6936 running together. Now that would be a sight worth seeing.
The Athearn thing from the late '60s was a fair model of a DD35A.
That Athearn "thing" from the 1960s was even close to a DD35A, as the 35 series DD units did not have those huge, flared cooling systems. Athearn chose to make a model of a PROPOSED DD40 unit for the UP, which never came to pass. The higher HP DDA40X was then produced.
The DD35A did have the those "huge, flared cooling systems." It was the B-unit DD35 (as there was no DD35B) which had the GP35 style radiators.
DD35
DD35A
Stuart
Thanks Stuart. As usual, my memory fails again. So,,,,,just what was that "thing" that Athearn came out with, back in the 1960s?
Thanks Stuart. As usual, my memory fails again. So,,,,,just what was that "thing" that Athearn came out with, back in the 1960s?
The "thing" that Athearn came out with was the EMD proposed DD40, which basically was a DD35A with six 48" cooling fans (the DD35A had four 48" and two 36" cooling fans). No railroads bought any of them.
Stuart
Hot Water I do have a question to ask you. I know you don't care for engines after 1964, but what do you think of the DDA40X? I know they were built from April 69 to Sept 71, but I thought I would ask.
Well, you got me! The UP DDA40X is my only exception. They were/are truly fantastic units, both in looks and performance. They ride like a big old Cadillac, smooth and steady, and they are the absolute LOUDEST diesel unit EMC/EMD ever produced. Why? Because they have the highest HP 16-645 turbocharged primer movers, WITHOUT exhaust silencers!
All EMD in the "Dash 2" series, and of course every model today, all have exhaust silencers (mufflers), and thus produce nowhere near the sound level of the DDA40X.
All EMD in the "Dash 2" series, and of course every model today, all have exhaust silencers (mufflers), and thus produce nowhere near the sound level of the DDA40X.
Heres some video I found on youtube of one "working" in the 80"s. It certainly hints at the noise level at 1:35.
impressive!
HW, how loud was it in the cab?
impressive!
HW, how loud was it in the cab?
Not too bad, since the cab & nose is pretty large. However, the DDA40X models were well before the development of the "isolated cab" design on the SD70MAC units. With those, unless the window is open, one can't even tell if the engine is running or not, let alone full load.
impressive!
HW, how loud was it in the cab?
Not too bad, since the cab & nose is pretty large. However, the DDA40X models were well before the development of the "isolated cab" design on the SD70MAC units. With those, unless the window is open, one can't even tell if the engine is running or not, let alone full load.
Hot Water, your right about that. The isolated cab from reading is a seperation between the cab and the rest of the body of the engine.
I see 6944 hasn't left Altoona yet. Altoona Works mentioned on thre facebook page on the 26th it would be a day or so before it goes back to St. Louis. I guess a day or so is 3 to 4 days. But either way, it will come. Here is the link to how it got to Altoona https://www.heritageunits.com/...tive/Detail/MOTX6944 I think when it goes back to St. Louis, they would use the same line, since it came to Altoona on the Cleveland Line.
Just an update, I got an email yesterday mentioning they don't know when 6944 will leave Altoona, but they did mention it was suppost to leave last week. Other then that they mentioned it will leave any day now, just keep checking the Altoona Works Facebook and Twitter. So I say maybe sometime this week. But will wait and see.
Also on a side not, here are those 3 websites to check the status on 6944.
https://twitter.com/altoonaworks
https://www.facebook.com/altoonaworks
https://www.heritageunits.com/...tive/Detail/MOTX6944
Well I see 6944 finally left Altoona on NS Westbound 11A. It passed the Cresson Camera at 3:40PM. The destination says Conway PA. I know 6944 is going back to the Museum in St. Louis. By chance does anybody know what route it will take out of Conway? Will it take the Cleveland Line up to Cleveland? And if it does, what time do you think it will be through eastern Ohio?
If someone wanted to restore one to actual operating condition, why couldn't a 6900 just be rebuilt with a more-typical 645E3 or 645E3B engines as used in SD40-2's?
I spent a lot of time around the 6900's when I worked for Uncle Pete and I've been on most of the units. I remember how the engine parts inventories were different in subtle ways as compared to the much more numerous SD40-2s'. Injectors, camshafts, turbos etc were all similar, but different to get the extra horsepower. The 6900's were basically the predecessor to the GP40X and 50-series locos. UP tried to get 6900 HP out of the units originally but had to cut it back to 6600 HP for the dual engines because of engine problems and component failures.
What is that pentagon shaped object on the outside walkway of the DD35A?
What is that pentagon shaped object on the outside walkway of the DD35A?
That is the sand box.
Seen this engine in person in Macedonia Ohio this evening. Here's the topic.
Yesterday I was at Rochester,Pa. for, at least 3 hours waiting for the DD40 to head west but finally left. Probably passed Rochester about 5 mins. after I left !!
UP6944 has arrived the St. Louis area. It came in on NS train 35N. it was sitting in the middle of TRRA's Madison, IL yard.
Should be delivered to the UP St. Louis yard in the next day or tow unless it gets held for some reason.
Then the UP local will deliver it to the museum.
Who knows, it could be home by Friday!
Dan
What is that pentagon shaped object on the outside walkway of the DD35A?
That is the sand box.
The DD35's were originally built with the sandboxes in the end of the carbody. This caused havoc with infiltration of sand into the adjacent electrical locker with all the relays and switchgear. I remember seeming a DD35 come in to Laramie one night with fire in the electrical room. A local maintenance guy used a fire extinguisher on it like it was a routine thing.
Because of that problem the UP DD40's were built with sandboxes along the handrails, and some older DD35's were modified like that.
One of the inside jokes about the DD35's was that "DD" stood for "dead and drained". They were getting really tired by the late 1970's. By comparison the DD40's were a great improvement, and they tended to receive priority maintenance because of their use on hotshot trains. They had higher speed gearing like the 8000-class SD40-2's.
Don't correct me with all that "DDA40X" lingo because we just abbreviated it on the job, or called them "69-hundreds".
I have an EMD DDA40X loco service manual I might consider trading for something good ...
Funny thing listening to the NS crew trying to find the hand brake when they set the unit out at the TRRA Madison, IL yard this morning.
They never did find it, yardmaster told them to just chunk the wheels.
So, where is the hand brake located on a Centennial?
Dan
In the cab I think.
I remember the 6900's coming through Salt Lake when they were brand new. Some times 2or more . The were impressive and yes they were loud even in the flat areas of Salt Lake.
About 1980 the FRA came up with new regulations to cut locomotive noise. New locomotives came with exhaust silencers and EMD redesigned their radiator fans to be quieter. That's another reason why the older units were louder.
About the same time, the FRA came up with new rules requiring locos in to have 9" horizontal clearance for standing room on the lower step, for safety of switching crews. The 6900's could not be modified for that so they were restricted to road service with no switching allowed enroute.
As I recall, in their heyday the UP did not allow the 6900's to operate in run-through service onto other railroads.
They were certainly a distinctive locomotive.
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