Marias Pass

[ArcticCatZRT]

Hmmm... so about that Marias Pass.

Anyway, I am actually quite excited for it. Mainly because it takes me back to my childhood(not that long ago mind you) during MSTS days. I wonder if there will be an new motive power for the route?

[Bananarama]

Ummmmm .....NO. It's an interesting oddity, but it's ugly as sin. I know we all have different opinions, but you really think the slapped on afterthought elephant-ears is the best looking SD45 variant? I'm just stunned.

Ugly is, is what ugly does, and to see one is to love one. Despite your SP profile icon, me thinks you lack true SP spirit.

[PapaXpress]

I didn't like U-boats until I started building one.

[GSkid]

Ugly is, is what ugly does, and to see one is to love one. Despite your SP profile icon, me thinks you lack true SP spirit.

Oh I've seen one in person parked in the Roseville yard back in the 1970s. I remember seeing it and asking my dad "what the heck is that?" My dad explained it to me and I remember blurting out "ya mean SP did that on purpose?!?". He just laughed and said "It's a case of function over fashion." He got that right. They were an attempt at retrofitting a regular locomotive into a half-baked tunnel motor. Needless to say....the idea went nowhere.

And I'm a total SP fanboy, but I'll call out SP for an ugly idea. This is the same railroad that put itself in a financial position to be acquired by another railroad. SP had it's faults, but also did a lot right.

I've often wondered what's different about today's locomotives where they don't overheat in tunnels like non-tunnel motors of the past did. Are they discretely drawing cool air from beneath the frame?!?!

[Bananarama]

Fact check.

1) SP didn't invent the elephant eared variants of the SD45 - that distinction goes to EMD. The basic difference was EMD's were rounded, while SP's were angled.
2) SP elephant eared SD45's were not an afterthought - they were a temporary solution/experiment until the tunnel motors arrived in 1974.

Also, and FWIW, from 1901 to 1913 UP controlled SP, which it then regained in 1996 - the eventual combination of the two roads was bound to happen sooner or later. When Rio Grande acquired SP in 1988, and except in name, SP lost much of its identity to Rio Grande, so it's arguable that UP gained control of DRGW (Rio Grande Industries - RGI) and SP came along as a bonus. Besides, the UP/DRGW/SP deal was more of an answer to the BN/ATSF merger the previous year, rather than of any financial shortcomings of RGI (or SP).

[GSkid]

Well here's my own FACT CHECK......

1: FACT.... I never said SP invented them. I said "ya mean SP did that on purpose?!?". Nobody forced them to. The reasons were understandable, but it was still SP's decision.

2: FACT.... I never SAID it was an afterthought. But the FACT is.... it WAS an afterthought. When something is retrofitted AFTER the original design is in place, it is in fact an afterthought. An afterthought is simply an idea that comes along later after the original idea is in place. It being an afterthought doesn't discredit it as an idea. It was used to improve the function....not fashion..... of the original design

3: FACT..... In a merger, the company with the better financials is the one in the driver's seat. For the proposed SP and ATSF merger, it's my understanding Santa Fe was in the driver's seat until big government nixed that deal. Then SP was the passenger once again when Rio Grande acquired them. It even showed who was boss when the Southern Pacific name on the side of the locos was changed to the Rio Grande style font. It was okay, but I like the roman lettering font better, It's what i grew up with. In either merger deal, SP was in the weaker financial position both times. UP was in a better position then Rio Grande. Now it's all the Union Pacific railroad.

4: FACT.... elephant ears are ugly on a locomotive.

[UP3985]

A DIESEL Locomotive. The 844 looks marvelous with her wind wings, but I would agree that the diesel elephant ears are Hid-Dee-Us

[Bananarama]

Me thinks someone forgot to have their Malt-O-Meal this morning.

[GSkid]

A DIESEL Locomotive. The 844 looks marvelous with her wind wings, but I would agree that the diesel elephant ears are Hid-Dee-Us

Ya know... HACK's love for elephant eared locomotives might seem strange. But scratch under the surface and there is a perfectly reasonable explanation. HACK is a man of few words. Like most men, he has a hard time expressing his true feelings to people. So let me take the artistic liberty to explain the reasons for my buddy HACK''s love for elephant eared locos....... I can call you my buddy... right HACK? Of course I can......buddy ol' pal you!

See.... as a child, HACK saw the Disney movie "Dumbo" and fell instantly in love. It's his favorite movie of all time and he owns it on VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray. HACK also loved trains as a child too. So when EMD and Southern Pacific modified those SD45s, HACK was completely awestruck. It was like an epiphany! Somehow EMD had managed to combine HACK's love for the movie Dumbo and his love for tarins and came up with an elephant eared locomotive. To HACK.... it was pure genius and love at first sight.

If you think that's strange..... well to be fair to HACK..... he does describe his location as "Another Planet".. so it's understandable.


No no no HACK..... no need to thank me for explaining your love for elephant eared locomotives. You've given so much to the Railworks America community in your thoughts and advice, it was my pleasure to help you out for a change. I know had the roles been reversed, you'd go to bat for me.....right? OF.......COURSE......YOU.......WOULD.........BUDDY... OL'.......PAL!!!


You know HACK.... you said to me in an earlier post "Despite your SP profile icon, me thinks you lack true SP spirit." Well.... I went to your website and saw you have a few locomotives for purchase. EMDs in fact. And what model is conspicuously absent? An elephant eared locomotive! Me thinks you lack true elephant eared locomotive spirit!

[PapaXpress]

We've run aground Captain...