Comments on: The wide nose looked so much better on a cowl-ed unit than it did on the narrow body, don’t you think?

By: Steve Young

Steve Young — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 14:10:13 +0000

Thank you. I am glad that can share my photos and folks are enjoying seeing them.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 13:53:04 +0000

Hey Steve, really enjoying your photos. Beautiful shots.
I think your original comments about aesthetics is correct. If I see a F/FP45 I do love shooting pics of them over a standard cab, but I think its because they are rare these days.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 13:49:27 +0000

@Driver, yes i think the 40-2′s is one of the best units ever built. I am not sure how many of the SD50F’s survive other than a few i have seen on shortlines.

By: Steve Young

Steve Young — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 13:14:54 +0000

Hey Driver, no offense taken. All is good.

By: Driver8666

Driver8666 — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 13:05:37 +0000

I do know NS is converting some of them to SD40E’s. I also read that taxing the 16-645F3B to it’s limits at 3600hp was the nail in the coffin. Conrail apparently loved them.

But once again, that’s reading all I can read.

I would not doubt for a second the “less than desirable to crews” statement.

And to the OP, no offense. And my apologies if I did offend. Aside from that, it is a good pic. Shows the difference.

By: Steve Young

Steve Young — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 11:45:36 +0000

I think that the SD50 was not one EMD’s most loved designs, and I would suspect that very few survive.
With regard to operation, I suspect that ladder entrance and limited visibility, in spite of the “Draper Taper”, made them less desirable to the crews.
My original comment is purely based on aesthetics.

By: Driver8666

Driver8666 — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 05:37:18 +0000

Oh yeah. Everyone says the 40-2′s the best locomotive out there.

But I did read that all except for 4 of the SD50F’s were scrapped. Either that or I shouldn’t read all I can read. lol.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 04:39:19 +0000

Not by a long shot. SD40-2W’s were far better to operate than any cowl unit, hands down.

By: Driver8666

Driver8666 — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 04:31:33 +0000

I believe only 4 of those survive (SD50F’s). The rest were scrapped.