I was having a discussion with one my fellow engineers and we were discussing our "newest" and "finest" passenger locomotive - the PL42ac. For those who don't know, the locomotive is built by Alstom, but has EMD internals - namely a 710 V16 putting out 4200hp.
We were discussing the future of the current fleet of passenger GP40s. And I said, boy, if they could only put the 710 with all its power in the GP40 - along with the seats of the PL42 niiiiiiiice - that would be the PERFECT locomotive!!! the visibility of a Geep (the PL42 is a wide body loco) the "normal" control stand, not a smooth controller with no notches that the PL42 has, and a normal air brake system, not the electronic EPIC brakes.
But anyway, it got me thinking - they often swap out 567 power assemblies for 645 assemblies. could the same be done with a 710? Could a GP40 be modified with 710 power assemblies to produce more power??? I know the main generator is the limiting feature with the amount of power it can output, but could it be done never the less?
We were discussing the future of the current fleet of passenger GP40s. And I said, boy, if they could only put the 710 with all its power in the GP40 - along with the seats of the PL42 niiiiiiiice - that would be the PERFECT locomotive!!! the visibility of a Geep (the PL42 is a wide body loco) the "normal" control stand, not a smooth controller with no notches that the PL42 has, and a normal air brake system, not the electronic EPIC brakes.
But anyway, it got me thinking - they often swap out 567 power assemblies for 645 assemblies. could the same be done with a 710? Could a GP40 be modified with 710 power assemblies to produce more power??? I know the main generator is the limiting feature with the amount of power it can output, but could it be done never the less?
On the RR, "believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see"
John, aka "JTGSHU" passed away on August 26, 2013. We honor his memory and his devotion to railroading at railroad.net.
John, aka "JTGSHU" passed away on August 26, 2013. We honor his memory and his devotion to railroading at railroad.net.