Topeka Railroad Days w/ATSF 5855 (SD-CAT) tour 1987

Sept. 6, 1987: Intro: Brand new SP GE B39-8s. Topeka Railroad Days w/ Caterpillar powered ATSF 5855 SD-CAT, UP 951 E-9, EMD GP59s, and ATSF B39-8. Also: collector cars and square dancing.

[@rossbryan6102]

WORKING FOR SANTA FE AT THIS TIME , I DID A LOT OF WORK ON THE 5855 , CENTERED AROUND THE ENGINE, AN CATERPILLAR 3612
V-12 ENGINE CAPABLE OF 5000 HORSEPOWER!
A MECHANICS MISTAKE BROUGHT HER TO SANTA FE ARGENTINE DIESEL SHOP, WHERE I WAS TO MAKE REPAIRS TO ENABLE IT TO BE PUT ON DISPLAY AT AN CHICAGO RAILROAD SUPPLIER CONVENTION !
IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THIS, I CREATED AN MINOR PRODUCTION CHANGE ON THE CAMSHAFT DRIVE TRAIN TO MAKE THE ENGINE MORE EASILY REPAIRABLE WHEN USED IN LOCOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS!
THIS ENGINE DERATED TO 4300 HORSEPOWER WAS BY FAR THE MOST POWERFUL DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE I HAVE WORKED ON!
THE 645 V 20 ENGINE AT ITS BEST AT 3600 HP WAS A VERY SICK SISTER IN COMPARISON!!
THE 645 ENGINE BURNED 180 GALLONS PER HOUR, WHILE THE CAT EASILY MADE 25% BETTER FUEL MILEAGE!!
KEEP THEM ROLLING BROTHERS!
👍👍

[@ogragan3492]

Good stuff indeed, are there any videos/recordings of her running or at idle anywhere ? Id love to hear how a 45-2 with a Cat sounds

[@RHicks]

Thank you for sharing this video.

[@vidwilzvids9587]

You're welcome. Thank YOU for the comment.

[@ogragan3492]

Would have loved to hear that 5855 run, also woulda loved to ask that GE " engineer how come those B39s didnt even make it 10 years before the ATSF sent them off to the torch 🤔

[@rossbryan6102]

THE B-39s WERE AN VERY EARLY VERSION OF THE DASH-8 SERIES, AND THE FINAL VERSION BEING THE 500 CLASS WIDE CAB FLEET ON THE SF!
SHORTLY AFTER AQUIRING ALL THE DASH 8 4 AXLE UNITS
SANTA FE STANDARDIZED ALL NEWER UNITS WITH 6 AXLE UNITS , EXCLUSIVELY!

[@EFC429]

Its interesting to see the SDCAT have 2 sets of horns whereas the Santa Fe usually has one in a certain area.

[@vidwilzvids9587]

You know, I never noticed that. And I had the SD-CAT in consist once. Thanks for the comment.

[@CollinWeis]

I believe it was to be used as a hostler horn for moving the unit around an engine facility

[@jmream2618]

are any of the SD-CAT locomotives preserved or have they all been scrapped

[@markreardon3472]

Jmream2 Jmream There we're some on the Utah Railway but we're moved to G&W owned short line Kyle RR in Ks and Co. I read on TOs that one was being used for parts and four others run I believe.

[@vidwilzvids9587]

5855 has changed hands a few times and has been converted back to 20 cyl. SD45-2.

[@ohioandnortheastern]

Was 5855 in the derailment in elcajon pass in 1989?

[@vidwilzvids9587]

No.

[@phoenicianlocal2363]

Cool

[@vidwilzvids9587]

Thanks for the comment.