EMD E9
by
Josh Coran
The story that you forwarded was way out in left field. Here is the real story.
There was no “fatigue” issue with the E unit trucks. The problem was that the long wheelbase of these three axle trucks made them poorly suited to the road’s numerous and sharp curves. The resulting angle of attack of the lead axle produced a lot of flange wear, especially on a leading unit. The (HEP) P-30 and the (steam generator) P-6 were marginally acceptable, but the A unit locomotives were not (unless they ran it trail all the time).
At one point I decided to put Blomberg (F / GP type, two axle) trucks under the P-30. It ran that way for several years, saving a lot of wheel- (and rail-) wear. A guy in Southern California bought the trucks, and he recently informed me they are back under the now-retired P-30 in a museum somewhere in the Lower-48.
That’s the real story. Fatigue had nothing to do with it.
Josh
Coran
Former Alaska Railroad Chief Mechanical Officer
Page created 10/18/21 and last updated 10/18/21