POWER ON THE S&DR

Power on the S&DR falls into two main groups. Second generation units built in the late 60's and early '70s and represented by EMD types including GP 38's which are four axle units, SD 40 and SD45's .

One of pair of GP38s on a spur on the Southern Railway, about 300 scale miles south of the home road.

Santa Fe SD40-2 , the second unit on an outbound freight. Like all other units on the line this is a six axle machine. The prime mover is  a 16 cylinder in two banks of 8, developing 3,000 horse power. The bulge above the centre section is the cooling radiator for the dynamic brake grid. Mustering enough power to get a train up hil is one thing but bringing many thousand tons down a long hill under control is quite another.  Very often extra power was added to a train not for sheer horse power but to add braking effort  for the descent.

Cottonbelt SD45. on the old bridge. One of a number of Southern Pacific  and Rio Grande units. The SD 45 was a development of the SD40. Power was increased to 3,600 horsepower from a 20 cylinder power unit.  They were not quite as succesful as the SD40 and many were rebuilt in latter years with the 16 cylinder unit and derated. many are still in service.

 Modern third gneration power is represented by the ubiquitous AC 4400 CW -9   and EMD's SD70MAC.  This unit was one of a number built in 1996 for SP. With microprocessor control and AC traction these 4400 h.p. monsters are a very common sight, several hundred having now been built for many different railroads.

SP Dash9  8115 on the mill spur