M-K TE70-4S

{{Short description|Train locomotive model}}

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = M-K TE70-4S

| image = Southern Pacific Popsicles (30588553390).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Three of the four SP M-K TE70-4S locomotives on their maiden run in March 1978

| powertype = Diesel-electric

| designer =

| builder = Morrison-Knudsen

| ordernumber =

| serialnumber =

| buildmodel =

| builddate =

| totalproduction =

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| aarwheels =

| uicclass =

| Britishclass =

| driver =

| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg }}

| trucks =

| bogies =

| leadingdiameter =

| wheeldiameter = {{convert|40|in|cm|abbr=on}}

| trailingdiameter =

| minimumcurve =

| wheelbase =

| engine total =

| leading =

| drivers =

| coupled =

| trailing =

| truck =

| bogie =

| tender total =

| tendertruck =

| tenderbogie =

| pivotcentres =

| wheelspacing =

| length = {{convert|60|ft|2|in|m|1|abbr=on}}

| over couplers =

| over bufferbeams=

| body =

| width = {{convert|10|ft|7+1/2|in|m|1|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|15|ft|10+7/8|in|m|1|abbr=on}}

| axleload =

| leadingbogie/pony=

| weightondrivers =

| trail bogie/pony =

| locoweight = {{convert|279000|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| fueltype =

| fuelcap =

| lubecap =

| coolantcap =

| watercap =

| sandcap =

| powersupply =

| consumption =

| watercons =

| primemover = Sulzer 12ASV 25/30

| rpmrange = 1000

| rpmrange low =

| rpmrange idle =

| rpmrange max =

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| aspiration =

| displacement =

| alternator =

| generator = GE GT598 D3A

| tractionmotors = GE 752

| t/m amps 1 hr =

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| headendpower =

| cylindercount =

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| transmission =

| gear ratio = 74/18

| multipleworking =

| trainheating =

| locobrakes =

| dynamicpeakeffort=

| locobrakeforce =

| trainbrakes =

| reservoircap =

| compressorcap =

| exhaustercap =

| coupling =

| maxspeed = {{convert|70|mph|abbr=on}}

| poweroutput = {{convert|2800|hp|MW|1|abbr=on}}

| poweroutput start=

| poweroutput 1 hr=

| poweroutput cont=

| tractiveeffort =

| t/e starting =

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| factorofadhesion =

| f/adh starting =

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| safety =

| operator = Southern Pacific Transportation Company

| operatorclass = TE70-4S

| powerclass =

| numinclass =

| fleetnumbers =

| officialname =

| nicknames = Popsicle

| axleloadclass =

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| preservedunits =

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| currentowner =

| disposition = All scrapped

| notes = {{cite web | title=TE 70-4S Brochure | publisher=Morrison-Knudsen | url=http://espee.railfan.net/te_70-4s_brochure.html | accessdate=April 20, 2017 }}

}}

The M-K TE70-4S was a four-axle {{convert|2800|hp|MW|1|abbr=on}} B-B diesel-electric locomotive built by Morrison-Knudsen. The locomotive was a rebuild of the GE U25B with a Sulzer V-12 prime mover installed. Morrison-Knudsen rebuilt four for the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1978. The experiment proved unsuccessful and no additional units were rebuilt.

Design

The prime mover for the M-K TE70-4S was a Sulzer 12ASV 25/30. Normally found in marine or stationary uses, the 12ASV 25/30 had been in production since 1969. The four-stroke turbocharged engine was rated for a maximum of {{convert|3240|hp|MW|1|abbr=on}} at 1000 RPM.{{Harvnb|Fearon|1978|p=3}} The locomotives retained the GE GT598 D3A generators and GE 752 traction motors from the U25B. The capability of the prime mover notwithstanding, the locomotive was rated at {{convert|2800|hp|MW|1|abbr=on}}.{{Harvnb|Fearon|1978|p=4}}

The new prime mover required substantial alterations to the cab, carbody, and underframe.{{Harvnb|Fearon|1978|pp=9–10}} The locomotive measured {{convert|60|ft|2|in|m|1|abbr=on}} long by {{convert|10|ft|7+1/2|in|m|1|abbr=on}} wide, and stood {{convert|15|ft|10+7/8|in|m|1|abbr=on}} high. It weighed {{convert|279000|lb|0|abbr=on}}.

History

Southern Pacific sent four GE U25Bs ({{Abbr|Nos.|Numbers}} 7030–7033), then at the end of their service life, to Morrison-Knudsen for rebuilding.{{Harvnb|Pinkepank|Marre|1979|p=137}} Morrison-Knudsen rebuilt the four locomotives in its Boise, Idaho, shops in 1977–1978. The first revenue run occurred beginning March 1, 1978, when the four locomotives handled a SeattleLos Angeles trailer-on-flatcar (TOFC) train between Portland and Los Angeles.{{Harvnb|Fearon|1978|pp=10–11}} Inauspiciously, one of the four locomotives broke down during the trip.{{Harvnb|Pacific News|1978|p=28}}

The locomotives carried a unique paint scheme featuring the red-and-orange of the SP's famed "Daylight" passenger trains, albeit in a different style.{{Harvnb|Guernsey|Immel|McKinley|Leeder|1978|p=2}}{{Harvnb|Pacific News|1979|p=4}} The color scheme led to the nickname "Popsicle". Due to their consistent unreliability, all four were retired in 1987 after less than ten years; none were preserved.{{Harvnb|Lustig|2003|p=23}}

Notes

{{Reflist|30em}}

References

  • {{cite journal | url=http://original.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/737/49030/february-1978-page-28 | title=News Photos | date=February 1978 | journal=Pacific News | volume=18 | issue=2 | page=28 | issn=0030-879X | ref={{harvid|Pacific News|1978}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422142327/http://original.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/737/49030/february-1978-page-28 |archive-date=April 22, 2017 |url-status=dead}}
  • {{cite journal | title=M-K's New TE50-4S unit | url=http://original.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/729/48646/september-1979-page-4 | journal=Pacific News | date=September 1979 | volume=19 | issue=9 | page=4 | issn=0030-879X | ref={{harvid|Pacific News|1979}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422143738/http://original.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/729/48646/september-1979-page-4 |archive-date=April 22, 2017 |url-status=dead}}
  • {{cite conference |title=Application of Sulzer 12ASV 25/30 Diesel Engines to M-K TE70-4S Locomotives |last=Fearon |first=Joseph G. |date=1978 |publisher=American Society of Mechanical Engineers |pages=1–12 |conference=Energy Technology Conference & Exhibition, Houston, Texas, November 5-9, 1978 |id=78-DGP-15}}
  • {{cite journal | title=Morrison-Knudsen-Built TE70-4S's Delivered to Espee | last1=Guernsey | first1=Paul | last2=Immel | first2=Ed | last3=McKinley | first3=Gene | last4=Leeder | first4=Bryan | journal=The Trainmaster | url=http://www.pnwc-nrhs.org/Trainmaster1978/TM-1978-03.pdf | issue=211 | page=2 | date=March 1978}}
  • {{cite journal | title=Whatever happened to SP's 'Popsicles'? | last=Lustig | first=David | journal=Trains | date=May 2003 | volume=63 | issue=5 | page=23 | issn=0041-0934}}
  • {{cite book | last1=Pinkepank | first1=Jerry A. | last2=Marre | first2=Louis A. | title=Diesel Spotter's Guide Update | date=1979 | publisher=Kalmbach Publishing | location=Milwaukee, WI | isbn=0-89024-029-9}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book | title=Future Fuels and Engines for Railroad Locomotives | last1=Liddle | first1=S. G. | last2=Bonzo | first2=B. B. | last3=Purohit | first3=G. P. | last4=Stallkamp | first4=J. A. | volume=2 | publisher=Jet Propulsion Laboratory | location=Pasadena, CA | date=1981 | url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19820018174.pdf}}
  • {{Solomon-GE and EMD}}