In depth look at the DDA40X
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 พ.ย. 2019
- Enjoy this in depth look at the DDA40X. This locomotive is a engineering marvel, and I ended up going back to North Platte 5 more times for additional filming. In the end I had several hundred scenes which took a long time to edit. But I think it turned out pretty good and it's a rare look at nearly every aspect of the DDA40X.
These locomotives were built by the Electro Motive Division of General motors from 1969-1971. There was 47 locomotives produced. Eleven locomotives have survived and are in museums. One locomotive is operational (Union Pacific #6936 currently in overhaul), and another locomotive is used for spare parts. The DDA40X weighs 545,000 lb (247,000 kg), is 98 ft 5 in (30.00 m) long, and can produce 113,940 lbs of tractive effort. It has two 654E3 16 cylinder diesel engines, built by General Motors that produce 3,300 horsepower each.
These locomotives were some of the most successful, most loved, and most reliable locomotives Union Pacific ever owned. Union Pacific used these locomotives non stop racking up millions of miles over the years. In just 10 short years these locomotives were totally worn out from years of hard use.
This locomotive is open to the public during the Summer months including the cab. Check this website for information for hours of the Cody Railroad Park in North Platte, Nebraska visitnorthplatte.com/director...
More information can be found here about the history of this locomotive en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_DDA40X
For a video on the removal of a engine power pack • Video
Many thanks to the kind people at the Cody Railroad Park who allowed me to film this locomotive. Any questions about this locomotive leave them in the comments and I will try to answer them. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
I can still remember being a child and wanting to work on the railroad. An explanation pros can appreciate but basic enough rookies like me can understand. Thank you, excellent work Sir.
Just thinking of the thousands of smart people who must’ve worked so many hours to design such an impressive piece of engineering is humbling.
Fred Flintstone US Railway history! WhoootWhooooot Transcontinental Rail History!! 4004 come on Fred?
What an incredible video. That’s what comes from really knowing your job. That is such an impressive rundown on the workings of an amazingly complex machine.
Beautiful
My Dad and uncle was an electrical engineer at EMD. Yeah, they were smart as hell.
@@TheBandit7613 Wow, that's so cool! Hats off to them.
Best video on TH-cam. No stupid music. No BS.
Just info from a guy who knows what he’s talking about.
Thank you.
I never imagined that a locomotive's systems and controls were so complicated. I watched the entire video and found it to be very interesting. Perhaps just as impressive is the fact that you have all this knowledge and details of how everything works. Thank you very much for making this video Tom.
I love to see one build thank you
Thank you. This has been the most thorough description of just about anything I've ever seen. Bravo
Thank you.
@Bill Williams Thank you that is a nice compliment. Will try to make some future videos of other locomotives as well as telling some more stories.
@Bill Williams I second Bill Williams's comment. You explain things clearly and make it interesting.
cool video always wanted to see what the hell was in those things always going by my house lol
I like the story you told about the yellow signal. More stories Please.
Thank you for taking the time to teach us railfans the basic mechanics of locomotive operation!!! You did a great job!
Thank you.
One of the most interesting behind-the-doors videos I've seen. In depth, thorough, and complete. A big thanks for good, steady camera work.
Wish audio was as clear☹
Lol, if it’s not clear then return your cheap phone bc it’s crystal clear
@@richard75013U What phone? I am watching this on a i9 computer with a total of 35 terabytes of storage space. My phone is stuck to the wall in the kitchen. There is another one in the living room on a telephone stand.
At least he used a calm and mellow tone of voice unlike most TH-camrs who raise their voice or yell into the mic/camera all the time. Gave the DDA40X respect like it was a building.
This one hour and forty minutes video felt like 30 minutes. I've learned so much in that time about many things I've always wondered about a diesel locomotive ! I knew a few things already, but many other things surprised me. I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience in this video. Now, finally I can perhaps (try to) impress my 80 year old father, who is a long time miniature train HO scale hobbyist, with a few unknown (to him) details about his models. I had the opportunity, and the chance, to ride on the biggest diesel locomotive in Canada back in 1978, which was the experimental Canadian Pacific 4744 (MLW M-640). I was 13 years old at the time (my father knew some people at C.P.). But this 6922 is much bigger than that !
Been a mechanic for 32 years. Loved everything. Especially the engine. Thanks
By far the best 1 1/2 hours I have ever spent on TH-cam. So much knowledge presented in a clear manner. Simply fantastic. Thank you for sharing this. :)
You know, until you said how long it was, I was enjoy-joying it so much, I didn't realize it was that long!
The absolute best engineering tour of an EMD I have EVER seen. Thankyou.
I love diesel locomotives, but I'm not mechanically inclined whatsoever, and this video was a real treat. To have a experienced tour guide for this beautiful machine was just fantastic!
Your knowledge of all those systems on the EMD DDA40X is amazing!!! Thank you for the tour. I found it fascinating.
Thank you.
You have a great background to be the one to explain this to us.. Awesome video!
Hey! Surprised to see you in the comments here
@@mrblue2011 😂😂
Hi Jaw Tooth, I'm one of your subscribers! 😀😀😀😀😀
But wait there's more, but not much more. I think Travelling Tom just about covered it. OK, back to you Jawtooth.
Never in my life did I think I would sit and watch a video like this. Let alone the whole thing start to finish!! I must say,,, that was one of the most informative, and interesting videos I've ever watched! Great Job Tom!! I now have a new perspective of watching a train drive buy me while stopped at the crossing. Thanks for the vid!!
I was hoping it simply wasn't a fan boy flapping his lips for an hour forty, and boy I wasn't disappointed! You have done a fine job ,sir!
Quite possibly the best video I have watched in ages! Your such an interesting guy to listen to and learn from. Would never tire listening to you. Thanks for making and sharing!
You are welcome. Glad you enjoyed the video.
@@travelingtom923 This was truly amazing. Really.
I stayed up waaay past bedtime to finish the video, it was that good. And I'm not really a train guy. But I do like to see how a thing works whatever it is and you did an excellent presentation. I just wanted you to know I appreciate the time and effort you put into making the video and say thank you.
Thank you for watching. Glad you enjoyed the video.
This was wonderful. I watched it with far more attention than I give a typical movie these days. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
This is one of the best "explain it all" videos I have ever seen, bar none. You have a vast amount of knowledge that make a layman on trains, like me, actually understand how the infernal contraption functions. It is a shame this engine was not rebuilt and kept in service. America needs trains and keeping the past alive in a profitable manner is vitally important. THANK YOU SIR!!!
Glad you enjoyed the video.
That was the greatest Train explanation i have ever seen.My uncle use to work for the trains in Saint Louis and while he was in the Army also.Thanks very much
You are welcome.
Thank you for your service, Uncle of dennis good.
Traveling Tom your Awesome Sir! Catch a Rail ? Ya never know where? Owen Wister?? He visited the Virginian Motel .. i would always play around outside the Virginian on our way to Hanna Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 for our Winter ❄️ coal .. SE Wyo gets Colder than ... well
First time viewing your channel. I literally just learned like 40 things I didn't know before watching. Much appreciated 👍
Terrific in depth tour! Thank you for taking the time to do this!
I never knew listening to a dude talking about a locomotive could be so interesting! You literally know everything about everything on there. Sharing that knowledge is very cool. Thanks!
You are welcome.
Tom. Thanks so very much for this in-depth tour of this amazing piece of retired UP equipment. Literally everything an enthusiast would want to know about a diesel-electric (EMD) locomotive.
You are welcome.
Probably the best video I've watched in some time. You explain things in a way that the technical people will enjoy (me) but also the average person can understand. Thank you for taking the time to make this.
I just spent an hour and forty minutes and fourteen seconds learning about a train I will never get to drive good video man
Thank you.
As a locomotive engineer for NS I still love this stuff!!
This was a fascinating journey through an iconic piece of railroad history. It was also an amazingly detailed and well-organized look at the function of any EMD two-stroke locomotive.
Huge thanks for putting this together!
That was the fastest 1:40:15. Thank you for sharing your knowledge for us.
Great video. As a mechanic I really appreciated the view and commentary
Me too. I was a mechanic working with the large electric drive mine haulers. So many similarities. I got to align the generators with the diesel engines and occasionally comm grind the traction motors or R&R them. It was a most satisfying career...
Starts video, 1:40 long. No way I'll finish. Yet here we are. Top notch video sir. Many thanks
You know when you look at this engineering Marvel, it's a Diesel Big Boy , two drive motors in one locomotive
Peter Cunha the engines don't directly drive the loco but I'd say your about accurate they just simply put replaced a driveshaft with a circuit
Old E units and F units had two engines in them as well.
@@BigBoy-zp1gv Correct the engines don't directly drive the locomotive, the engines primary task is to turn the main generator and compressor, through electrical relays, the generators output power is taken to the traction motors via those big thick cables you see, which by a reduction gear, turn the wheels on the bogie, I am an ex Australian locomotive driver of 24 years, Americans call their drivers Engineers, and yes these are huge locomotives.
I find it hard to believe that Big Boy 4140 could outpull one of these 6600hp beasts. 138,240 lbf (614.9 kN) for 4040 and starting: 113,940 lbf (506.8 kN) @25% continuous: 103,000 lbf (460 kN) @12 mph for the DDA40X.
@@ohboy2592 E units had two. F units had one. Could not even stuff 2 8 cylinder 567s in them.
Thats how you explain a master piece of engineering in simple terms, from the exhaust stack to the interface with the rail, an excellent video. Thanks.
Tom, I ran coal and freight for Burlington Northern out of Edgemont, SD beginning in 1976. In '78 or so, we were receiving 5-day-old SD 40-2's in our consists. We were also getting brand-new GE loco's as well. The paint in the cabs was still soft! These 645's still "arouse" me when I hear them run. They were and still are such BEAUTIFUL works of art. I could tell you all sorts of stories in my years out there. Anyway, thank you so much for your work here...I am very proud of your effort in this presentation. At that point in my life, I was actually LIVING on these....as I was never home....always on the road. It was so good to crawl up into one of these when it was 15 or 20 below out in Wyoming during the miserable winters. But, they were equally as miserable in the summer months during relentless heat.
I always considered the SD40-2 the greatest diesel locomotive of all time and I still do. I once met the designer for the locomotive and he said it was the perfect weight to horsepower locomotive. A engineer once told me "if you absolutely need to get a train somewhere on time put five SD40-2's on it".
This is the most detailed ,explained locomotive tour video I'v ever seen in youtube .you have handled the video camera very well while you explain .
Thank you Sir.
Thank you.
Thank you for the tour, Traveling Tom. Very well done!
Great video!! So educational. Loved the anecdote about the conductor applying the emergency brakes.
That is one of the best You Tube videos I've ever seen. Extremely detailed. Thank you for taking the time to put this together for us.
Most INFORMATIVE Video I'm seen on a Locomotive.
Now that was an informative video, you can only watch them going bye for a while, I could watch this all day long.
Wow, I'm going to look at locomotives in an all different light now. This has been so good to see.
Thanks for your time,
Lee
Harris?
The knowledge is equally as impressive as the locomotive, defiantly captured my interest. Thank you for taking the time to break everything down.
You are welcome.
Tom, As a mechanic and train enthusiast and huge admirer of the DDX this is the BEST video and most informative. Excellent job and I couldn't pull myself away even to eat. Well Done and congratulations.
Thank you.
I know this is an older video, but thanks. I learned some things I didn't even realize about trains. I appreciate the time and effort you put into making this video!
I worked at EMD in 1969 when these things were built. Being 103 feet long, they could not be carried directly down the erection bay, which was only 100 feet column-to-column. They moved them on third shif with two 250 ton bridge cranes, shuffling the frame through the columns.
Locomotive is a monster that is for sure.
Toxic Tommy who built the Engines & are they 2 Strokes like many of them.
@@lbbradley55 EMD built the engines and yes they are two-stroke engines. 16-645 E3s rated at 3300 HP each.
@@stokerboiler
THANKS... interesting
I drove Trucks 31 yrs starting 1980 Detroit's 2 Strokes were still everywhere until 1988
EPA emission restrictions Detroit bought John-Deer
& Started building 4 stroke.
60 series. I put 1-1/2 million on one before the Co. Sold it. Wish I knew how many miles I have on me. Lol
@@stokerboiler Up rated to run at 950 rpm instead of 900 or 904rpm.
Tom- Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. My son and I really enjoyed watching this together. Probably one of our favorite videos.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Thanks. Tom. You're bringing back some memories. In the early '70s, I was in charge of the installation and start-up of an EMD Emergency Motor Generator Set at a Nuclear Power Plant, air start. The first time I heard that air motor shriek, I thought something was wrong, then that big-assed diesel sprung to life, and the whole room shook. Look out! In phase, regulated emergency power in 5 seconds from a dead stop.
Yes many of those engines are still used as primary and back up generators in power plants.
Thank you for such a clear and comprehensive explanation of the workings of these amazing big diesels.
That has to be the most informative railroad video I have ever watched!
Thank you very much! I’ll probably watch this a dozen times!
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you. This design with the cooling system, oil system, engine, generator, etc is identical to nearly every EMD locomotive made since the 60's. If you lift the carbody off the majority of their locomotives (SD40-2, SD70, SD60, etc) you will see the same thing you are seeing with the Centennial.
Traveling Tom It was fantastic. I could have watched it for another hour!
The only question I have is; who controls the train if the engineer has to use the facilities?
@@RailfanNetwork Nobody, and it isn't like the engineer is going to stop the train to use the bathroom. I have been on a few trains where the engineer left for a bit and it was very nerve racking. I would like to say they put the Conductor in the seat to watch the speed but they never did that.
Traveling Tom That’s a bit more than frightening. No wonder they don’t wanna go down in that tomb. Not that peeing over the rail at 70mph is any less scary.
@@RailfanNetwork Yes and many railroads want one person crews in locomotives. I think that's crazy.
So glad you showed the valvetrain on a complete engine. Industrial diesels are works of art. Cost-no-object design for years of flawless operation.
Thank you Tom for giving us such an in-depth explanation of this locomotive. Honestly, the best explanation of any subject I have ever viewed on the internet. Also, thank you for backing me up on "never changing the oil" at 1hr 13min (video time) as oil never looses it's slipperiness, only becomes contaminated.
Thanks Tom, this show was amazing and so well done! Makes me appreciate every train I see even more.
Thank you.
Can't thank you enough, I enjoyed this tour SOOOO much!
Wow. This was by far the most amazing video I've watched, finally I actually know something about those legendary locomotives! Thank you so much for making this video!!
This sure was in depth and a LOT of thought went into the making of this unit. And Thanks, Tom! You did your job well!
Yes, Traveling Tom, a wonderful presentation that has kept the interest of a retired locomotive engineer who operated the still operational (to this day) Centennial UP 6936 at 75 MPH just a few years ago on a UP passenger special over the Amtrak Texas Eagle route. Have also run the E9s. Let me say, the Centennial is a HOTROD, just like a pair of EMD Amtrak F40PHs used to be. I really loved it when they added the rooftop Air Conditioner to it. Did NOT like the addition of the UP Wings to the nose. Liked it better original.
Thank you for that compliment and I am glad you enjoyed the video. I was really hoping a former engineer would have came along when I was filming the video and I could interview him. Maybe you can make a video of your own one day talking about what it was like operating a Centennial. Very little information is out there about what is was like to be a engineer on a Centennial.
Thanks for your effort put into making this video. My grandfather worked for Illinois Central RR and my father for L&N RR, and I was mechanic on heavy trucks /equipment (dozers, excavators, etc), so I knew some about locomotives already but I learned a lot here. Will be looking for more content from you in the future.
One of the best locomotive videos on TH-cam.
Thank you.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I had so much rather work on GM EMD locomotives than GE, any day! I did so a little over 37 years. I've been retired around a dozen years, and so when you would be unclear about something, I would write it down. Your knowledge is outstanding. You know more about the systems than most anyone I've heard on TH-cam. I'm going to fill in the blanks, not complaining, just filling in the spots for your tour knowledge.
On the control stand, on the upper right side is, (left to right), Engine Run, Generator Field, & Control & Fuel Pump.
Your cooling switches are T1 (picks up coil on #1 fan contactor which supplies two phases to #1 (radiator fan, which is closest to cab), T2, picks up # 2 contactor and supplies two phases to # 2 cooling fan, and T3, picks up coil to #3 cooling fan contactor which supplies two phases to #3 cooling fan. The third leg of all the fan motors connect to the #3 lead going to the ACTB bolt #3 on the companion alternator on the main generator or alternator.
The temperature switch that was missing is ETS switch, it turn on the over heat engine temperature alarm bell. Some units cut back on excitation and turn on all AC cooling fans, till the temperature goes below a certain temp. setting.
Traction Motors leads are A, AA, F, & FF. This is so the power can be switched from power to dynamic breaking, and different configurations for transition. Series, parallel, and about 4 more steps in there. The old SD24's had 23 steps of transition, if I remember correctly. Running transition in test mode, sounded like a cart being driven on a cobble- stone road by two donkeys! clipity-klop.
27 pin MU receptical. This is on the end of every locomotive so that one control stand can control functions of how ever many locos are "MU'ED" to it.
The area on the ends of the loco. where a crane can pick it up that LOOKS worn, is actually ground that way, so the sharp edge isn't against the hook, but the "meat" of the hole can touch more of the hook and not concentrate pressures in two places.
Hyatt roller journal bearings with an oil bath and Timken bearings, that don't have the oil bath. The hole with the sealed plate and a clip in it, some are still used. This is the old caboose system of FART ROCK. If the box gets hot, the lead clip melts and a spring blows out a foul smell into the air. The caboose would ride thru it and the conductor would smell it and know there was a hot box on the train.
The back section, that was locked up, contained an air-duct for the end traction motor. Also the long hood end Sand Tank, and overhead access to the Radiators. Also to access the Cooling Fan Conduit. Sometimes the cooling fan recepticals were in there. Most of the time, the cover grill came off with several clip clamps and you reach down thru the blades and unscrew and pull out the power plug. Occasionally they were burnt up and it wasn't easy. I designed a tool to remove those that were melted in place.
I designed the GM EMD water pump lifter, that a general foreman took full credit for. Ostracised again! The story of my life!
Bar-over jack, to turn the engine over manually.
Re-Railer device. Wood works best.
The Auxillary Generator is direct geared to the engine. The Traction motor blower is on its shaft. The Aux Gen supplies battery charging voltage as well as 74 volts DC, for Control Voltage for all the electrical systems of the locomotive.
The Binder, keeps the Journal box pedestals from spreading, plus it keeps the journal boxes from sliding out of the spider.
Turbo pump.
940rpm top speed in notch 8.
The aspirator hatch blower is just above the main generator room. It runs on AC.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL TOUR.
I subbed.
Thank you. I enjoyed reading your post! I will be doing a future video on the SD40T-2 and your comments will help with that video.
Many thanks for the informative, in-depth tour of this legendary locomotive! 👍👍
Great Video Tom! I had a friend that worked at the old UP Shops in Omaha in the 1970's and had lots of questions you just answered! Thank you sir! :-)
Fantastic video tons of information easy to follow and listen to thank you for all of your time and effort you put into this video. As a retired truck driver I enjoy learning about all the different forms of merchants transportation. Trains, ships trucks, ECT. Extremely interesting the entire 1 hour and 40 minutes other than the wiring a lot of the systems are basic just 10 times XL. Fantastic!👍✌️
Great video Tom! I can’t wait to show this to my father-in-law, who's memory is failing. He owned a machining company in Detroit and this will be great therapy for him.
Thank you. Will be doing some more in depth locomotive videos as I get access to them.
Such a great video, every question I have ever wondered about was answered thoroughly. Plus your personal experiences really made it easy to understand. Cheers! Subscribed!
Hi Tom, I watched your whole video is one sitting! Very informative and had my eye glued the whole time! Pretty amazing machine and thank you for taking the time to do this video!
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Such a massive and detailed description, thanks for taking the time to go through all the engine in minute details. Awesome explanations!
One smart dude ! Thank you for the tour my good man !
You are welcome.
Good walk around. Just the right level of detail and commentary.
Thank you for sharing your knowlegde on the locomotive systems. Its neat to see the similarities and differences between our EMD 645's in the tugboats. Keep up these great in depth videos! You know your stuff.
You are welcome.
You really know your stuff, excellent video on this locomotive.
Thank you.
I also didn't think I could watch over 100 minutes of a single video without snoozing off. But boy!, was I wrong. The information is so interesting and well presented that I sat riveted to my computer screen. Thanks for taking the time to explain it so thoroughly.
You are welcome.
Tom, excellent video. Thanx for sharing your vast knowledge. I am looking forward to seeing more of your videos. Thanx again for your hard work and great effort. Keep them coming!
You've answered basically all of my questions on technical aspects of the diesel electric locomotive. Appreciative of the hard work. Thanks!
one thing very important is missing here ....where is the spare tyre ??
Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to make this Fantastic video. We all appreciate it
You are welcome.
That was awesome, thanks for taking the time to do it! So much information. I went to Disneyworld on holiday from here in the UK in the late 80s and brought home an HO model of one of these, still have it in it's box somewhere!
You are welcome.
Good work man, that was very interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Awesome job. Thank you, i always wanted to see the insides of this loco. Good job explaining things.
Hey we have a couple GP49s on the shortline that I film in my town that came from the Alaska Railroad. The CCET had three of them and now have two
THANK YOU! This was fascinating. I have loved trains since I was a tiny child. I never knew quite how the locomotives worked, had some information generally pieced together, but this had so much detail. I really really appreciate you taking the time to show everyone. Have a great day, Sir!
I loved this walkthrough along with your stories based on experience. Lots of great anecdotes I would have never known. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, sir, for that awesome tour of that magnificent piece of engineering wonder.
You are welcome.
This is the best most in depth look at a locomotive I have ever seen. THANK YOU !!!!!
After being there and seeing this locomotive in person, it was great to get a guided tour. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing the knowledge !
What a great video, Tom. Even though I am more into locomotive recycling, I am fan of rail traction on the side, and I thought this was very informative.
You are welcome.
Great video, Tom. Much appreciated.
One of the best explanations on a road engine I 've listened to. Thank you Sir for taking the time to educate us on this engine. WOW! I loved every minute of this video.
I now feel qualified to drive one of these beasts! Thanks for the excellent history and walk- through.
Brilliant film, fantasic information. Thank you for sharing such amazing machines.
Awesome! Locomotive reminds me of the tech involved with a Saturn V rocket.
You have answered every question I had about train engines. Great job man.
What a beast! Thanks for a great tour.
Outstanding presentation, sir!
Very well done.
An amazing amount of information here! Thank you!
You are welcome.
This guy has strong knowledge on these trains this is the first time I've ever saw inside the train the switches brakes Etc interesting I've always been fascinated about trains thanks Tom!
You are welcome.
@@travelingtom923 Yes sir Bring us some more lol! Enjoyed it Very much.
The best damn locomotive tour ever. Up close and personal. 👍
We had 4 exact engines on the USS NIMITZ for emergency generator back up. I'm pretty sure they produced 4200 hp a piece, probably because they burned JP-5 jet fuel, not sure. & we pulled one power pack out for replacement do to miss aligned pee pipe oil cooling line, it took all day! Ty for the great video, not everyone gets to experience the biggest badest 2 cycle engines of its time
A masterpiece of engineering.
Tom that was awesome! Just finished watching it and I am exhausted, I have learned so much. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.