EMD DD-35 Dynamic Brakes

[urrengr2003]

Just saw a photo on another site dated 1978 that shows side view of a UP DD-35. The #1 engine had the typical dynamic brake blister with the sheet metal door equipped with two latches that would provide access to the three extended range contactors. The #2 engine dynamic brake blister did not have this feature. Each brake grid would need its own set of shunting contactors for extended range operation. Any one familiar with design or maintenance of this locomotive that may have an answer?

[Pneudyne]

Were the two contactor compartments perhaps opposite-sided?

If I am interpreting properly the photos in "Giants of the West", the two latches were right-hand side for the forward unit and left-hand side for the rearward unit.


Cheers,

[urrengr2003]

You are certainly correct in that the #2 power plant is a mirror image of the #1. The first second generation units with extended range dynamic brakes I was exposed to were SD-35's, these (plus the 40 series, 40-2 series and 38 series[AC, DC, @ -2's] 45 series) all had a door with latches on both sides of the locomotive. The shorting contactors were only located on the right side of the locomotive however. This fact prevailed even on the Southern Railway where we operated our units long end as forward. The long end being designated on Form 4-A as front and so marked with a 4" letter 'F'. The long end was the 'legal" front of the locomotive but EMD still designated the short hood as front as the #1 Traction Motor was under the short hood and the # 6 motor was under the long hood. When operating the TMCO one had to know this fact