by ST214
614 is on 2612 right now!
Hoping for a rebirth of the Screamer fleet.
F40CFan wrote:All F40PH, F40C, and SDP40F's have the improvements like modular electronic control systems that were introduced in 1972 in EMD's road diesels that we associate with the Dash 2 model introductions in 1972. They're basically cowled versions of EMD's GP40-2 and SD40-2 models.bones wrote:They were dash 2's from the start. Starting in 1972 everything was dash 2 except for switchers.I'm not doubting you knowledge on the subject, but do you know why the first batch of F40PHs are referred to that way and the later orders are called F40PH-2s? I've also seen the Amtrak versions referred to as F40PH or F40PHRs (for those using recycled SDP40F components). I believe one place is in the "Second Diesel Locomotive Spotters Guide". Is it a misnomer or ignorance on the part of the author? I'm trying to locate my copy to verify. Just curious.
They didn't have a -2 tacked on to their designations since they were brand new models and not improvements of an earlier locomotive. Thus, no need for the -2 on the end.
As to why later F40PH's recieved a Dash 2 designation, it's because the line was improved and it was added to differentiate the updated model with the earlier one (I think the engine was updated to the 645E3C and perhaps there were other improvements, I'm unsure since I've never really seen much discussion on how the EMD model evolved and virtually nothing about the F40PH knock offs produced by third parties like MPI for commuter lines in later years).
I'm not even sure F40PHR, F40PH-2, and F40PH-2C are official EMD designations. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they were created by some of the operators of the units or were even a creation of the railfan press with EMD just calling them all F40PH's (Anyone know?).
