by MEC407
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I've been thinking a lot about the GE P30CH lately, and began to ponder a number of "what if" scenarios. The scenario that seemed the most interesting was the idea that GE would later introduce a 4-axle version ("P30BH" or "Dash 8-32BP" perhaps) to compete directly with the F40PH.
In some ways, that's what the Dash 8-32BWH (Amtrak 500 series, a.k.a. the "Pepsi Cans") was, although there are plenty of reasons why I wouldn't consider it a direct competitor, such as the lack of a full cowl carbody.
In my attempts to imagine what this "what if" locomotive would look like, I envisioned the modern GE safety cab that we're all familiar with (the style they introduced in 1990 with the Dash 8-40CW), deleting the porch and front door, and using the full cowl carbody that they introduced with the Dash 8-40CM (CN 4600 series, BC Rail 2400 series, QNS&L 400 series), perhaps deleting the rear-view "Draper Taper" feature. They also could have used the Canadian version of the safety cab, just as they did with the Dash 8-40CMs. I guess the cab could go either way, depending on the time period. I have two ideas regarding a possible time frame: late '70s to early '80s, competing head-on with the F40PH; or late '80s as a replacement option for the first F40PHs which were approaching 15 years of age at that point.
At some point I'll start working on a drawing of this beast, but in the meantime, I'd be interested in hearing thoughts/ideas/suggestions from anyone who thinks this is interesting or at least finds it silly enough to be entertaining.
This question involves "what if" scenarios and various other flights of fancy. If you're bothered by such things, please hit the BACK button in your web browser NOW.
>>> END OF WARNING <<<
I've been thinking a lot about the GE P30CH lately, and began to ponder a number of "what if" scenarios. The scenario that seemed the most interesting was the idea that GE would later introduce a 4-axle version ("P30BH" or "Dash 8-32BP" perhaps) to compete directly with the F40PH.
In some ways, that's what the Dash 8-32BWH (Amtrak 500 series, a.k.a. the "Pepsi Cans") was, although there are plenty of reasons why I wouldn't consider it a direct competitor, such as the lack of a full cowl carbody.
In my attempts to imagine what this "what if" locomotive would look like, I envisioned the modern GE safety cab that we're all familiar with (the style they introduced in 1990 with the Dash 8-40CW), deleting the porch and front door, and using the full cowl carbody that they introduced with the Dash 8-40CM (CN 4600 series, BC Rail 2400 series, QNS&L 400 series), perhaps deleting the rear-view "Draper Taper" feature. They also could have used the Canadian version of the safety cab, just as they did with the Dash 8-40CMs. I guess the cab could go either way, depending on the time period. I have two ideas regarding a possible time frame: late '70s to early '80s, competing head-on with the F40PH; or late '80s as a replacement option for the first F40PHs which were approaching 15 years of age at that point.
At some point I'll start working on a drawing of this beast, but in the meantime, I'd be interested in hearing thoughts/ideas/suggestions from anyone who thinks this is interesting or at least finds it silly enough to be entertaining.
MEC407
Moderator:
Pan Am Railways — Boston & Maine/Maine Central — Delaware & Hudson
Central Maine & Quebec/Montreal, Maine & Atlantic/Bangor & Aroostook
Providence & Worcester — New England — GE Locomotives
Moderator:
Pan Am Railways — Boston & Maine/Maine Central — Delaware & Hudson
Central Maine & Quebec/Montreal, Maine & Atlantic/Bangor & Aroostook
Providence & Worcester — New England — GE Locomotives