As discussed in the prior thread about CSX GP38-2's, there are many different details and variations among their fleet. One of my favorite group is the "fleet" that they inherited from the Durham and Southern (one of many roads it absorbed). Here's a good side view of one of the units: Note the very small fuel tank and the lack of dynamic brakes (both unique features in CSX's 200+ unit fleet) Harold
Here's another view of the same unit, showing its especially clean (recent) paint job: In the picture to the left of the loco is the turntable that was still in use; to the right of the loco in the distance is the Seaboard Station, which was still in use at that time too. Harold
I like this photo, as it shows the turntable in use! It also shows a unit in the Family Lines paint scheme. Harold
All of the D&S units first went to the SCL fleet, as #556-559. The units then went to the Family Lines System, then the Seaboard System. As with all CSX GP38-2's, they simply added a "2" in front of the 5xx series number. Recent photos show #2557 had its fuel tank replaced with a substantially larger one, however, they all retain their unique non-dynamic brake appearance. Harold
Harold, The first GP-38 you posted, it sure is a different breed! Anyway, is it possible that the fuel tank came from a switcher of some sort? Like a SW1200 or something? It resembles a switcher tank.... Not a road tank...My assumption could be wrong but its a very possible thing...
When it comes to the fuel tanks, EMD or GE can build units with just about any size tank that can fit in the space on the frame (they can sometimes even build units on longer frames for more fuel capacity over a stock model, like IC's SD40A's or E-L's SDP45's). It depends on what the RR specifies for weight limits and/or range requirements. D&S probably requested the short tanks on their GP38-2's for weight reasons...anyone know for sure? For some really cool examples of short tanks, take a look at some of Milwaukee Road's power...small tanks to help keep the weight down was a necessity for operations on some of their lightweight branchlines. BTW - Nice work as always, Harold.
Hey Paul & John, Good comments/questions. The D&S units were equipped with the small tanks on purpose when purchased from EMD. I think they are 1700 gallon capacity. I guess there are two explantions: 1) the line was not that long (originally) hence the units did not go that far and 2) it would help keep the weight down. As an aside, I remember the Southern had a bunch of GP38's with small fuel tanks too. I think they were swapped out for larger tanks from the SD35's when they were traded in or retired. Here is a picture of a GP38 from a short line that exhibits a small tank also: http://www.trainweb.org/ncrail/images/AR400.jpg Harold
I checked some of my old Southern / NS GP38 pictures... some of them also had the small fuel tank however, their tanks were situated towards the opposite end (under the radiators) and left the fuel filler neck hanging out there by itself (I almost messed up and said the fuel tank on the Southern locos was positioned closer to the rear, however, the older units considered the long hood to be the front ) They also had their tanks replaced at a later date with larger ones. Oops, enough of that talk... wrong forum Harold
Harold, Thats ok talk! Us here in the CSX forum are learning something with the diesel world when were mostly steam F-A-N-A-T-I-C-S.. Ha!
I`ve got pictures of 2556 or 2557 from when I was in Cumberland MD back in March, but alas I haven`t figured out how to post them on this site yet. Later Michael Ridenhour WSSB/HPT&D Engineer
Mike, Do you know how to e-mail the pictures???? If so, e-mail them to me and I'll post them for you on the board here.... E-mail them to: yellowstone10@hotmail.com And I'll put them in my site so their online and post them here in the CSX forum.... I have alot of free web space to use, why not help out some others ya know....
Harold. Beautiful pics what kind of camera and lens do you use? And also do you use Photoshop? [ 22 January 2002: Message edited by: Art ]
Hi Art, All of my older images (pre-2000) were taken with a 35mm camera; the photos you see are scans of color prints. (I guess I was a railfan photographer rebel; most "pros" shoot slide film, but it is too hard to squint and see the tiny trains, so I shot color print film and had 4x6 inch prints made. That way, when I wanted to look at them, I could root out the picture very easily!) I have used a variety of Canon 35 mm cameras, starting with an AE-1, A-1, and a T-90 (all manual focus). Around 1995, I bought an EOS A2E auto focus. Most of my lenses were in the 28-85mm range (plus a telephoto shot in the 70-200 range for that "No Tresspassing" shot ). [A wide angle lens is the only way to get the "builder's photos" (one whole side of a locomotive)]. I must confess that I can't even remember the last time I used a film camera. I pretty much shoot everything with my Canon G1 digital now. I actually use a combination of software for photo editing. For scanning photos, I usually use MS Picture It to scan, crop, and adjust the color & lighting effects; then I use Adobe Photoshop (which came with the digital camera) to go back are reduce the number of pixels in the image before posting them on the Internet (otherwise, folks w/ a dialup connection would not be able to load them, as they can be quite large files). Good questions Art, and thanks for asking! Harold
A fellow man from Canada, Michael Eby, has drawn up the Durham & Southern version of their GP38-2's. http://trainiax.net/drawings/36-emd/gp38-39/36-emd-gp38-2-ds-ph1b.gif http://trainiax.net/drawings/36-emd/gp38-39/r36-emd-gp38-2-ds-ph1b.gif I hope these help anyone in modeling.