Any EMD F units on AAR type B trucks?

Dennis Storzek · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:33 pm

To further confuse the issue, the truck EMD used on their switchers and later recommended by the AAR for use by all locomotive manufacturers, was also designed by Martin Blomberg in 1937: https://www.google.com/patents/US2137074

I guess that makes it a "Blomberg truck", too.

Someplace in reading about the GSC swing-motion truck, I ran into someone asking who designed it, apparently looking for a name to attach to it. I find it odd no one recognizes it for what it is; the suspension, drop equalizers and a floating bolster supported by swing hangers, is identical to the truck the Master Car Builders Association was recommending for passenger cars since at least the 1890s. Indeed, when they began to be adapted as motor trucks for interurban cars in the 1910s, they were often described as "MCB trucks." Commonwealth Steel Co. adapted the suspension design to cast sideframes during the twenties, and the trucks just grew in capacity from there.

NH0401 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2016 3:38 pm

Not meaning to be a smartass, Dennis, but I knew that. The subject was covered in an ancient copy of 'Railway Mechanical Engineer.'

Dave

Dennis Storzek · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2016 5:12 pm

I assumed so, but perhaps there are others reading who didn't.

NH0401 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2016 5:15 pm

Good point.

Dave

CREEPING DEATH · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2010 6:22 pm **Posts:** 275

NH0401 wrote:

No such thing as an 'AAR Type B' truck. Erroneous railfan nomenclature. The correct designation is GSC swing bolster, double equalized truck.

Alco called them 'AAR Type A' and 'AAR Type B' trucks in their literature over 50 years ago... I'll take their word for it, even if the AAR never designated them as such.

CD

jmlaboda · Updated 8/9/17 with 8,402 new links

Any EMD F units on AAR type B trucks?

Yes!!! On the Alaska RR...

ARR 1505 circa 1982.

ARR 1505 circa 1984.

BigBoy 4023 · **Joined:** Tue Dec 11, 2012 1:40 am **Posts:** 489

Jerry, Thanks for the interesting pics of AAR 1505. I wonder if any F7 A units had them trucks fitted while on the AAR?

Robert

jmlaboda · Updated 8/9/17 with 8,402 new links

Its worth noting that 1505 had the B-trucks since at least 1971...

http://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former-loco/UK-1505.html

In looking through the Alaska Rails site I only found shots of 1505 so it is hard to say if anything else received them. Their GP7Ls also road on B-trucks.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 22, 2016 11:16 pm

Termite7 wrote:

Here is a TVRM locomotive...I think it was a former Army unit...I may be wrong.

My understanding is that it was a cost-savings measure when they traded in old ALCOs they used the old trucks. It may not make any sense with today's economics but it sure did back in the day.

http://www.pbase.com/image/133776505

T7

At least one other railroad had GP7s riding on switcher trucks. This was the Nashville, Chattanoga, & St. Louis.

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0107/ncstl703.jpg

http://www.ncps-576.org/equipment/diesel/703.htm

Any EMD F units on AAR type B trucks?

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