EMD SD70 series official thread (EXCEPT for ACe version)

[emd_SD_60]

Did BN use P5's? Most of their SD40-2's are ex-BN units, excluding the 4 SD40-2's IC bought in 1975.

[CN_Hogger]

No, the BN used mostly Leslie three-chimes. I can't recall the exact model number at the moment, however.

Did BN use P5's? Most of their SD40-2's are ex-BN units, excluding the 4 SD40-2's IC bought in 1975.

[emd_SD_60]

I think they were Leslie S-3L's. Looking at pictures, some appear to still retain their original horns from their days at BN, although I could be wrong. And some have retrofitted P5's.

As already mentioned, their SD40's of GM&O heritage have P3 and P5's, common of them (GM&O) also.

[TerryC]

Looking at photos of The SD70M-2 and SD70ACe I have noticed that the cab windows are not flush with the hood. Why would EMD do that? Is it possible to move the number boards and headlights around according to customer preference? http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=88834

Keep asking keep learning

[mxdata]

Yes.

[Tadman]

If you think about the loco production methods, they aren't built in the numbers automobiles are built in and are thus less-commoditized. With a Ford Focus, they build >100,000 and Ford can't afford to build a special one for Bob Jones with headlight above the driver or special windows. EMD can afford to build cabs with special headlight, window, or numberboard arrangements because they may build half of their SD-XX production that way.

[jesse corbett]

Cab windows (front and side) are now modularized components to simplify changeout and manufacture. Basically it is becoming plug and play like computer components. Most EMD cabs come from Super Steel, Wabtec, or other third party vendor. In short, glass is now a largely bolt in instead of the traditional rubber seal so when a piece of glass is broken, the entire frame comes out. Also, there are economies of scale when side glass and/or both front winshields are interchangable. While I do not know this for a fact, I would expect that railroads are pushing GE and EMD to standardize on glass for interchangability and again, without measurring I cannot say for sure but the GE and latest EMD wide cabs have front and side glass that may be identical. Remeber, GE and EMD do not manufacture their own glass but buy it from a vendor. If there are no "proprietary" issues then there is no reason that EMD and GE cannot source these items from the same vendor.

With regards to light and number board placement, as stated by others earlier, it is a customer choice. The M-2 and ACE have all the wiring and resistors for the lights located in the electrical locker now instead of by the corresponsing lights and just run wire and conduit to wherever needed. Number board boxes, headlight assemblies, mirrors, cab seats, etc, etc, etc, are all made by component suppliers like PRIME, USSC, EMC, and scores of other companies. Often, class 1 railroads enter into long term contracts with these vendors for running repair parts which transfer over to new locomotive orders as well as that railroad is getting a "most favored nation" status from that vendor with regard to pricing. EMD has to offer something as "standard" but changing over these accessories to another design or vendor is pretty much the norm. Changing over these "bolt on" items is relatively easy but the days of customer specific items like high short hoods and the like are pretty much over atleast in North America.

[USRailFan]

What types of cab do the various models within the SD70 family have?

From what I know:

Spartan cab SD70:
-Norfolk Southern: Standard control stand, but computer screens in stead of analogue instruments (Conrail SD70s to same specs)

-Illinois Central: Standard control stand, but digital in stead of analogue instruments

-Southern Peru Copper (Peru): Unknown

SD70I:
-Canadian National: "Comfort cab" but with old-style control stand with analogue instruments. Computer screen above windshield

SD70M:
-Norfolk Southern, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific: "Comfort cab" with desktop controls and analogue instruments

-CSX Transportation: Unknown

-New York, Susquehanna and Western: Unknown

SD70M Phase II (flared radiators and ugly nose):
-Norfolk Southern: "Comfort cab" but with old-style control stand with analogue instruments. Computer screen below windshield (similar to SD70Ace/SD70M-2 cab)

-Orinoco Mining (Venezuela): Unknown

-Union Pacific: similar to standard SD70M

SD70MAC:
-Alaska Railroad, BNSF, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, TFM (Mexico): "Comfort cab" with desktop controls and computer screens (software in both English and Spanish on KCS and TFM units)

SD75I/SD75M (SD75M BNSF only):
-BNSF (ordered by ATSF): "Comfort cab" with desktop controls and analogue instruments (similar to UP et al SD70M)

-BNSF (ordered post-merger): "Comfort cab" with desktop controls and computer screens (similar to SD70MAC)

-Canadian National, Ontario Northland: similar to CN SD70I

Anyone able to help with the "unknown" ones?

[TerryC]

The SD70 was ordered by Illinois Central and Norfolk Southern. Some of Norfolk Southern's unit were delivered in Conrail Blue.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=89609
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=88636
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=93240

The SD70I was ordered just by Canadian National. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=65609

The 2 cab types on SD70Ms are
1 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=6029
2 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=93010
Norfolk Southern units have a ARR control stand like the SD70.

The cab type on CSXT SD70MACs is
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=6340

Other SD70MACs have these cab types
1 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=33514
2 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=6340
Burlington Northern 9400-9571 are the only SD70MACs without isolated cabs.

SD75I was ordered by 3 railroads. All have the same cab style.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=93034
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=84316
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=71078

The SD75M was bought by two railroads.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=89307
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=93243

New York, Susquehanna and Western's 3 SD70Ms have this cab style.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=46040
I will let other people do the rest.
keep asking keep learning

[USRailFan]

Well, my interest was the INTERIOR of the cabs, not what the locos look like on the outside...

[TerryC]

Sorry about that. I am not sure what the interior looks like. Should I erase my first post?

Keep Asking Keep Learning

[emd_SD_60]

I wish there were more websites that catered to locomotive interiors.

[emd_SD_60]

Oh I guess I was wrong:

Control stand of a CEFX AC4400CW:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=93014

Control stand of UP DD40AX 6936:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=92347

Control stand of a BNSF AC4400CW:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=91399

Control stand of a BNSF Dash 9:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=90908

Control stand of a CSX SD70AC:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=89753

Control stand of a SD70M-2:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=89906

Control stand of a CSX AC6000CW:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=89733

And more at http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?category=3. Over 55 pages of in-cab pictures, but you won't be disappointed.

[emd_SD_60]

Well, my interest was the INTERIOR of the cabs, not what the locos look like on the outside...

Well, here's an interior of a standard-cab SD70:
http://www.railpictures.net/images/i/IC ... .jpg.36508

[emd_SD_60]

CSX SD70ACE:
http://www.railpictures.net/images/c/cs ... .jpg.20788

CN SD75I 5742:
http://www.railpictures.net/images/i/in ... .jpg.26527

UP SD70M 4788:
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d/DSC07335.JPG.35161