We lived in Sheridan, Wyoming from 1993 to 2000 and spent a lot of time on the MRL. Lots of memories there. Excellent video. (Only suggestion - captions with locations. Regardless very well done and NOT too long. Can't get enough of a good thing!)
Great work! Worthy of many more views, though I think the long duration has a factor? People's attention spans are pretty small these days..LOL. Brilliant shooting in the snow , and you could easily make a dozen or more great clips from these scenes! CHeers Gregg.
I don't understand how MRL still use SD45 model V20-645, they were not good back in the day, weight of the engine affected frames of units, and SD45-2 which were okay but never lived in significant number and almost all of 45s were repowered with 16-645 and became SD40s. Old V20s still working, I need some answers!!?? RR companies chose more 3000hp engines over only 600 additional on SD45s. BNSF is what, bought MRL, but it still exists as MRL? Hails from European fan of US railroads and trains, power especially!!!🤘🏼👍🏻👍🏻🔥🔥🔥💪🏼💪🏼🤘🏼
The big problem with the 645V20 prime mover was the initial block design. Unlike car engines, locomotive prime movers are not cast, but built up from heavy welded plate steel. The original design for the V20 block lacked a lot of internal bracing to control the power output of the prime mover. When under a heavy load, the original block would flex from the tremendous forces and throw the main crank bearings out of alignment, which resulted in a twisting of the crank and failure at the crank journals. The design flaw was discovered right away during SD45 production and much heavier and more beefy replacement blocks were provided as a warranty replacement. This solved the problem and the 645V20s served long, faithful service. In fact, several locomotives such as GN's Hustle Muscle and ATSF's bicentennial SD45-2 have been restored and remain in excursion service with their 645V20 prime movers. When the first fuel crisis came along, a lot of flatland railroads traded down to smaller locomotives of typically 3000 horsepower for the fuel economy. A lot of them were seeing reduced traffic anyway, so the increase in transit times wasn't a problem. But the railroads that needed the higher horsepower kept their 3600 HP SD45s, F45s, and FP45s. BN even ordered F45s after the BN merger for use on the snowy Marias Pass line. Coal traffic standardized on 3000 HP units, but it was because of the need to have some commonality between the pool operators' shared power and to match the GEs in coal service for the purpose of power planning. EMD didn't give up on the V20 either, using it with 710 power assemblies in the 5000 HP SD80MACs. EMD had a number of additional orders for SD80MACs after the Conrail purchase, but wouldn't build them and as I understand, converted to orders to SD50s. MRL inherited the profile of the Northern Pacific, and followed the NP's power philosophy. They used the biggest power that would do the job to maintain reasonable transit times on the undulating profile and mountain grades. The older SD45s and F45s were upgraded to dash 2 electricals by MRL but kept their 645V20s. And when MRL went for newer replacements for heavy road power they chose the 4300 and 4400 horsepower EMD SD70Aces. Even those were bought with the understanding that the MRL would pay for them when they were satisfied with them. EMD kept engineers in Helena and other maintenance bases for nearly a year making upgrades and making certain the units could meet the reliability they expected of their Mullan Pass helper units. Because of this, SD70Ace may end up lasting far longer than other similar age locomotives. And it's worth noting those 645V20 powered SD45(-2) units were still occasionally found in helper service.
I was working on the CB&Q that's a railroad , A fireman on the locomotive then one day I saw a little baby crawling along the track a baby mind you. And I grabbed that baby and I flung it into a nice pile of soft leaves. Me well I didn't make out so good. Fractured my leg. The baby was all right. Today that baby is president of a. Vons supermarket you think he ever took the trouble to thank me no sir! Rich folks got short memories.
