EMD FP45 (c.1968) ATSF 108 has been undergoing restoration and back dating to the extent possible at OERM since early this year. 108 was the highest number 'super fleet' unit, out shopped in much admired 'warbonnet' livery to power the roads passenger trains in the years just before AMTRAK. Significantly this power has a direct connection to today's successful BNSF hallmark 'raceway' Port of Los Angeles-Chicago intermodal services. The 100s were assigned to inaugurate Santa Fe's Super 'C' premium TOFC service. It was only proof of concept though because Super 'C' was ahead of its time running on a railroad with nowhere near the fluidity of the 'raceway'.

Electro-Motive is said to have gained some market advantage over Baldwin and perhaps ALCo and FM in the early years by embracing General Motor's mass production techniques. This project has taken on a bit of that in the manufacture of replica carbody panels, detailed in the attachment.

Very interesting but what are panels made of? Just sheet steel with some stiffening welded on? I know on many old carbody locomotives, they used "Plymetl" which was a sandwich of plywood and steel.

Steve

Steve, The carbody panels on this locomotive are carbon steel, stiffened by bar stock welded around the periphery. The panels 'float' in aluminum extrusion battens that bolt to the superstructure. Surprisingly, there isn't an inner wall which in many applications would be perferated metal sandwiching some kind of sound deadening material or just creating a dead air pocket. I think the concern was minimizing moisture collecting crevices and engine room noise wasn't an issue - then.