So the other day I ent down to shoot my favorite little shortline. They switch a bunch of industrial trackage with 3 SW9's of the same pedigree. All Built in 1951 for the BRC. One engine, 1208, is retired, the other painted in CB&Q colors awaiting repairs, and their newest addition, 1209 has a nice graffiti covered blue and red scheme going.
Anyway the CB&Q unit was recently taken out of service due to a failed bearing in the rear traction motor. So the 1209 was pressed into service, so I came down to shoot the new engine.
When the crew fired her up, she sounded wierd, not like a normal 567. The engineer explained to me that the he looked under the hood one day and noticed that at some point this engine had been rebuil with a 645 power assembly which explained to him why it sounded so wierd and had alot more power than the CB&Q and derelict units of the same pedigree.
I think I remember reading about this being done to older switchers going through major rebuild programs. Which versions of the 567 cant be updated? Is this why you rarely see switchers like the SW7 that are in essence the same as an SW9 or 1200? I just found this intriging.
Anyway the CB&Q unit was recently taken out of service due to a failed bearing in the rear traction motor. So the 1209 was pressed into service, so I came down to shoot the new engine.
When the crew fired her up, she sounded wierd, not like a normal 567. The engineer explained to me that the he looked under the hood one day and noticed that at some point this engine had been rebuil with a 645 power assembly which explained to him why it sounded so wierd and had alot more power than the CB&Q and derelict units of the same pedigree.
I think I remember reading about this being done to older switchers going through major rebuild programs. Which versions of the 567 cant be updated? Is this why you rarely see switchers like the SW7 that are in essence the same as an SW9 or 1200? I just found this intriging.