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Post by rails4dmv on Oct 27, 2017 14:35:03 GMT -5
Looks like one of the highly sort after locomotives by commuter modelers, the Amtrak Phase 1 SDP40F (the other being the ACS-64) are starting to hit the stores.
I'm hoping to read some positive reviews of this iconic locomotive, as I'm going to patiently wait for the Amtrak Phase 2 model that was announced by Athearn last month and won't be out until 9/18.
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Post by slowfreight on Oct 27, 2017 17:59:14 GMT -5
Looks like one of the highly sort after locomotives by commuter modelers, the Amtrak Phase 1 SDP40F (the other being the ACS-64) are starting to hit the stores. I'm hoping to read some positive reviews of this iconic locomotive, as I'm going to patiently wait for the Amtrak Phase 2 model that was announced by Athearn last month and won't be out until 9/18. AFAIK, the only commuter modeler dying for the SDP40F is that one guy (me) who wants to do the Valpo Dummy  I think I really need to wait for the Phase III, unless I want to model what looks like it might be a Grand Rapids/Port Huron train. Two photos I found of it are linked here: acmodels.boards.net/thread/268/athearn-sdp40f?page=2Still pumped to get this, and mebbe some day we'll find the P30CH in a form other than brass... |
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Post by backshophoss on Oct 27, 2017 19:17:27 GMT -5
The SDP40F was the 1st step away from the "Rainbow" era,and was to be the LD power for Amtrak,however,the track standards of that time,
the SDP40F had a habit of derailing on curves,might have been due to the truck design as well,lead to a series of speed restrictions,and
some part time Bans on some of the host RR's.
The SDP40F Was setup to be upgraded to HEP,but in case of NRPC's possible demise,was "sellable" to the freight RR's.
That was also the "deal" with the E-60 CP/CH models,built to possibly retire the GG-1's but could be sold to PC for freight use,
if Amtrak had gone "belly up".
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Post by slowfreight on Oct 27, 2017 21:35:26 GMT -5
What's interesting is that had the SDP40F gone HEP, it would have had skid-mounted 480VAC generator mounted in place of the dual steam boilers, instead of the F40PH's static-inverter setup. As it were, Amtrak ultimately never had a modern unit with a separate generator. I believe the HEP-equipped E8's had a separate generator, but everything since the F40 has been a static inverter (or some other step-down transformer in the electric locos). So had the tracking problem not arrived, the SDP40F would have had significantly more starting dig and higher available horsepower than an F40, but the higher horsepower only matters for one unit in a multi-unit consist.
The F40C never had the tracking problem of the SDP40F, as it was built on a standard SD40-2 frame. But with the SDP40F's problems, no one would touch it again after the single 15-unit order from 1974. Pity, that.
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Post by backshophoss on Oct 27, 2017 23:06:09 GMT -5
The F40 ph was a 2 alternator setup driven by the crankshaft, when in HEP mode,(900 RPM,aka "screamer" mode)the 2nd alternator was HEP only.
In Standby mode (600 RPM) the AR-10 supplied the HEP,the other alternator was offline.
When not supplying HEP,it was a regular Loco
Believe the AEM-7's were the first to go the Inverter route,believe the E-60 was a MG set instead of the steam generator on the CH version
The Hippo's(HHP-8) Acela power cars,HSP-46,ACS-64,DE+DM 30's,and the SC-44 chargers are inverter HEP.
AS are all the P-40's,P-42's P-32-DM's and P-32-BWH's .
AS the commuter system F-40's were rebuilt,almost all were converted to seperate HEP Gensets to cut down on prime mover wear and tear,
not sure of the MBTA F-40's(AKA the screamers)if they were rebuilt.
The Amtrak E-8's,FL-9's and F59phi's were seperate HEP Gen-sets as are some of the GP38-3's that are work train power.
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Post by slowfreight on Oct 28, 2017 8:41:26 GMT -5
That makes sense with the FL9s, but I had no idea that F59s had a separate generator. I thought the GP38-3s all lost HEP when they lost the turbos as they were originally the GP40TCs from GO Transit (I always liked those units...GP40s on SD40 frames!).
It's much simpler to do an inverter on an electric loco that's already pulling enough current from the catenary and doesn't have a rotating shaft, but some of that technology wasn't ready for prime time until the AEM7s were developed. IIRC, the E60s were all steam generators until the AEM7s arrived and they started to get rebuilt.
HEP-equipped GG1, anyone?
Metra is probably the last great fleet of diesels with the second alternator. All the F40s continue to use them. The MP36s were all ordered with them. Metra has stayed wedded to 645E3, AR10, and a shaft-driven 480VAC alternator.
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Post by backshophoss on Oct 28, 2017 18:53:18 GMT -5
METRA is rebuilding the MP36's to the "3C" option changing to Separate HEP Gen-set,due to Prime Mover wear and tear.
E-60's got an MG set for the HEP,the first inverter use was the Meatball.
Some of the GP38-3 retained a Gen set HEP but not at the same KW rating as road units,enough for Battery charging and Emergency lighting
or a Springfield shuttle set (2 cars) at full power level.
Believe the state of Ca wanted separate HEP as a part of the Specs for the F59phi build,the Amtrak-Ca fleet and Metrolink(SCAX) orders .
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I think I really need to wait for the Phase III, unless I want to model what looks like it might be a Grand Rapids/Port Huron train. Two photos I found of it are linked here:
