EMD did a good job with the cooling system on those locomotives. Very few problems other than the occasional failed water pump seal or very seldom, a leaky radiator. The worst problem is if a freeze protector dump valve operated somewhere there’s no water available. All the cooling water gets dumped to keep the radiators and engine from freezing. Most of our locomotives had an auto start system that would start up the engine and idle it for a while to keep it warm and charge the batteries. Some times if it wasn’t going to be too cold at night, and the auto start wasn’t on, we would put a dime in the dump valve to keep it from tripping. The engine would still be warm the next morning anyway if it was running the night before. Takes a long time to get really cold.

You’re right Dave, I have never seen what was under the cooling fan housing assembly before. Thank you for sharing this. I’m sure it’s pretty stressful trying to install such a fragile and most likely very expensive component on a modern locomotive like this. Your company is fortunate to have you as an employee buddy.

Nice to see a part of the locomotive most folks never get to see. Thanks for sharing. Glad they got her running eventually. Sure did seem to crank slow because of the cold.

I understand how she feels, it's hard to get me motivated when it's cold outside too.

I thank you for bringing back old memories! I've been in every aspect of Locomotive tear down & repair, wreck damage, traction motor change-outs, engine change-outs, electrical cabinet change-outs. I ran the overhead crane, up in the cage "bucket we called it," for many years. It was the electrician's job to run it because, when it quit, you had to know how to fix it. It was an ancient Niles crane. We've had it bogging a time or three, but all in all, she would pick up most anything they would hook her to! It did me good to see inside the carbody again. I ended up being eldest man in the rewire department. Ive pulled every wire out of the conduits and troughs, made it up and pulled it back in. I designed a new form of wiring, that GE & EMD both adopted and use on all their units now. It causes less MF's on the road and is easier to ttouble-shoot. I designed the EMD water-pump lifter rig, that turned a mell-of-a-hess job into a simple one. Our two senior general foremen claimed that THEY invented it and they got the bonuses. One of them got the "System Mechanical Engineer" position, while riding on it's design! Tge big picture, It made that monster job. easy for everyone! I'm sure they patented it and it's probably where other railroads can purchase one. I say I designed it...I give God the parameters of what I need and HE puts a little image in my head and helps me build it. We have built lifting rigs, work stands, short-cut tools, a whole set of Drop-Table tools, to assist in doing most every job you would do on the drop table. I used to work in the tech cage, building all the power cables for everything that had quick disconnect plugs and connectors, like governor cables, temperature switches, THR's, (Train Handling Recorders) "black boxes," Radio cables, Coax Jumpers and the list goes on and on. I built test equipment for governors, toilet systems, Ditch Light brain boxes, Flange-Lube systems and the list goes on. I kept all the conduit and schematic prints in good repair and filed right. And still changed Dynamic Brake Grids and Contactors and a slue of other things. I've been retired for a decade and miss it bad! It did me good to see those 3 phase connectors for the AC cooling fans for the radiator hatch.! My rigs and jigs and work stands and procedures, and test equipment and shortcut tooling runs in the hundreds, spread out over 37 years.! I made a difference! I miss, making a difference.! I must have walked for miles, Labeling and walking the distance, labeling and cutting the wire and labeling that wire and walking back to the spool and labeling the other end, cutting it and labeling another one...on & on till that harness was done and put a few spare wires in it, in case one opened up or to pull more in or for an upgrade. Well, I've written a book...speaking of which, I wrote a full library of books on every engine we had at our diesel shop. They filled two refrigerator housings, that were cut out of the nose when they built the floors up level to the cab and put aircraft type vacuum toilets in the nose for the crews. I made library lockers to hold my books. 3 shelves each. Every book had a conduit print and a schematic print in it, in the back pages and From/To/Tech Info in the front pages. All of them inside premium plastic page protector sleeves and stapled in. EVERY WIRE IN THAT LOCOMOTIVE...its lable, size, harness, length, and what that wire actually did, on most of them) All in a semi-rigid backing. FOR REFERENCE ONLY. MAKE COPIES FROM THIS BOOK. DO NOT TAKE TO ENGINE was labeled on each book. I didn't want them greasy! They were one of a kind, books. As a helpful idea for you, fill your engine up with your STEAM HOSE. The cold block and all the radiators will absorb the heat and bring it on down before It can cause any damage and heat the engine up at the same time. Open your test cocks and turn the engine over for 30 seconds. That gets all the water out of the cylinders. (It could bust a piston if you don't.!) Get one can of eather and already have the air-box doors off, the one next to the end on each corner and spray it up in there, both directions, (NOT A LOT), and put the door insert cover back on quickly. DON'T have it close to trees nor vegetation or under an overhead wire when you crank it up. Fire is going to belch out the stacks, but she'll crank.! Don't use too much. You CAN over do it.! Thanks again for your video. I just vented. Bill, from Tn. 🇺🇸

Well that was a real treat! I've seen the fans many many times, but never seen the actual radiators - especially from above. That was pretty awesome! I could easily spend an entire day just looking over all of the systems on a locomotive. I find them fascinating! Thanks Dave!

One of your best ever. You really can see from the design of all the equipment inside the locomotive that the design dates from the 1960's - just from the way the exterior looks. Almost art deco.

This brings back memories, I owned a radiator shop for 10yrs building these radiators

Fascinating to see the radiators in that V form Dave. Had never thought about how they were laid out but those much smarter than I certainly did! Anothet great insight that most of us would never get to see! Thank you 👍

That is a massive radiator! Thank you for sharing Dave! There are so many skills that you have to do your job, thank for sharing with us!

Thanks Dave as a former Engineer (Locomotive Driver here in Oz) you have brought back fond memories, especially seeing the header tank in that engine...I used to warm my meat pies here down under just on top of the header tank, they would be just right ....lol after a few miles....once again thank you...regards Doc from Down Under

Wow! I've seen those huge cooling fans before, but not where they would go. Sweet video. Thanks for the explaining if things. Hats off to you guys!

I love it, Dave..I love it! I knew the radiators were set in at an angle, but I've never seen a unit with the fan hatch removed before. Another fine behind the scenes and under the hood look at my beloved EMD's. Thank you very much. 👍

You always have something different to do. Never gets boring. Nice job using the remote. Thanks for another interesting video.

Thank you for showing us your everyday life at work. As a German, I also think it's nice to see American diesel locomotives. Thanks for the video. Have a nice week.

Rough start to 2023, Dave! I hope you have a Happy New Year! I look forward to riding the rails more with you this year via your great videos. A big hello to all the good folks in Greene County!

That was nice to see under the cooling fans and the radiators. Thank you Dave.

Once again.. learning a bit more of what’s in the beast and what makes them work.. Thank you Dave..

Hey Dave, thanks so much for sharing! I never knew that's what the radiator section looked like under the fans- definitely a view I've never seen before! It's rough to see the engine fail to start like that but glad to know they were able to get it going later. Thanks as always for sharing with us. I learn so much every time!

Dave, thanks for taking us along on the venture today with the locomotive. I appreciate getting to see things I wouldn't get to if it weren't for you.

Dave, your videos make me feel as if I'm right there. Reminds me of my little town that when I was very young in elementary school only a couple hundred yards from the tracks that used to carry passengers before everyone had two or even one car. I can still smell the air. Tracks are gone now but the old station house remained for many years. Haven been in that part of town for a long time. Old Station House might be gone now. Thanks Dave.

You're right Dave at everything you say or show us . Your knowledge is great on your job assignment.

My goodness it's as if all these problems come to pass after the holidays and during a cold snap. Thankfully you have a seasoned pro working with you which helps greatly. Never a dull day at the shops.

I love that sd40-2 locomotive, it would be great to see it completely restored some day just for the heritage sake,I know it cost money to have that happen,I always enjoy your show,so I'll catch ya on the next one

Thanks Dave for the great video on the radiator repair. Always enjoy watching yours videos 🚂👍

Well now I can say I've seen the radiators of a locomotive, before today all I've seen is the fans spinning looking down off a bridge and them fans do blow off a lot of heat. Thanks Dave

Very interesting Dave, love these types of videos. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼😁🇺🇸

Excellent! Thank you for showing the intestines of a diesel! Your videos are great. Thanks to your contractors for being accommodating to your video.

Great video Dave. Thanks for sharing.

Thats a lot of radiator..but its got a lot to do! Thanks for showing another piece of a loco! I always look forward to your videos Dave! 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃💯👍

Great video Dave! That was neato seeing the maintenance action taking place...

I love that I can always learn something new watching your videos. That was one large radiator. Have a great day my friend.

Great video. I really appreciate your efforts to bring the "nuts and bolts" or RRing to the public. Thanks for your efforts, sir. :)

It sucks when the hand brake chain breaks! Me and 4 other people actually moved an 80 ton heavyweight passenger car inside an Amtrak shop. We used a wheel chock to stop it because the darn hand brake chain had a habit of breaking! Roller bearings are amazing!

That was very interesting! I never saw the radiators before. Thanks for sharing this neat video.

Dave you had another really good video again this evening I really enjoyed it I have never seen anything this before .

Some fun stuff there Dave. Happy 2023.

This was pretty cool thank you for sharing this!!

Awesome video Dave thanks for sharing it with us

This was really neat to see, thank you!

Every time I watch your videos I'm learning something new thank you 🌞🌞👍👍

That's definitely a part of a locomotive that i've never seen before. Thanks for showing that, Dave! Also I would think that a locomotive would be able to start even in the cold. Think she's just got a set of old weak batteries on board?

Thank you for sharing a interesting video Dave!

Great video Dave! Have a great week!

Awesome footage! Wow, a former EMD employee, pretty awesome!

Cool and interesting video Dave. Enjoyed watching and have a nice rest of your evening.(Steve)

Another unique insight, thanks Dave

Great video Dave Thank You!

Sounded like trying to start an old 1946 flathead 6 cylinder with a 6 volt battery on a freezing 20 degree morning, ( ruurr - ruuuur - ruh ) ...... C'mon baby, kick over !!!

A different locomotive view. Thanks for sharing.

Wow Dave this was a really awesome video, great job👍👍

They should put a pull start on them locomotives. Just pull real hard! Thanks for sharing you show us the coolest stuff, stay safe and warm!

Hi Dave, You knew exactly that the startup solution was to get the locomotive to a warm location My solution would have been to kick the wheels. 🙃 Always good to see a new vid from you E

Just need to sprinkle a little pixie dust on the engine and it will start right up. 😆🤣

Good to see! Rare stuff. Thanks Dave!

nice video Dave, those coils are as big as the ones on the chiller plant condenser coils I used to work on. good thing for the boom. guessing in the old days a chain fall and a A frame. take care my friend catch on the next one

Great stuff !👌

Interesting. Have a good day an a GREAT New Year

Great video, Dave. I like that you run the controls on the hoist from the ground so you can see how the piece fits. It's also safer. 240 gallons of water for cooling. You don't mention antifreeze. Must be warmer where you are. Again, thank you.

Thank you and this may not go as hoped each day but somehow they work out in the end. Got it going is all that matters. Take care

After all that work! Thanks for enlightening us.

you do some awesome stuff

TY DAVE,HAPPY NEW YEAR..BEST WISHES FOR YOU AND CHAN IN NEW YEAR..

Interesting, thanks for sharing

love your videos Dave

Very interesting Video.

Those DC traction motor, or really any large brushed DC motor are Fun to clean! The company I worked for repairing, and remanufacturing electric motors, had us pressure washing them, the amount of dust from the brushes in some of them was crazy!

cool to sea this side of things! the new one looks radiant!

wow what a great video that was cool

Yowsers! Everything under the hood of a large diesel-electric is super-sized, compared to an automobile. And they CAN be much more cantankerous! Another awesome video!😀😃😀😃👍👍👍👍❤🇺🇸❤🇺🇸❗❗❗❗

Preheating the engine make wonders. The rail car I drove before Christmas was electrically preheated and started at "the first kick" even if it had been sitting idle for 4 months. The preheating preserves the engine cylinder head gaskets!

another very nice video 🙂

I've watched a working display of a marine diesel start-up at the annual "Wooden" boat show in Sturgeon Bay, WI. First, they heat the cylinder head with a blow torch. Next, they turn the engine over with bleed valves open and ignite the air-fuel mixture. Finally, they close all the valves. According to the owner, the same procedure was used on the tug boat the engine came from.

Diesels won't start well in cold weather unless the block is kept warm. Internal combustion engines fare better in the cold. At the terminal points NJ Transit plugs the locomotives into ground power which keeps the blocks warm when they shut the locomotives down for the evening and for weekends when they are not in use. The last six months before retirement I bumped on to the yard job at Port Morris fueling the trains when they arrived and making up the yard for the morning runs. Really enjoyed that yard job. Thanks for sharing this mechanical information with your viewers.

Great video. Just subscribed too

Pretty neat!

Memories of working in the diesel house, third-trick, in the winter. Far more often than not we would spray a can of ether into the air compartment and then start the cold loco. Works, 99.99% of the time. (Helps to double-check the water, oil, and fuel levels before starting.)

Thanks Dave

Do you have to add anti-freeze to it? Nice view of the radiators. That loader made moving that unit look easy.

Even though it is not steam, cool stuff for sure. :)

Worked on an automotive radiator job all weekend. Would rather work on the locomotive, way less plastic and annoying clips that always break. Thanks for sharing!

I guess I knew that is where the radiators were, but it's nice to see them :) Too bad on the failed start. I am sure it has to do with sitting idle for a time and nothing major.

Those batteries sound like they need some charge also.

Happy New Year!

the shop i worked in constructed a jump buggy from an old postal truck. We had two locomotive batteries in the back connected in parallel and it worked very well. once the loco starts, leave the jump cables on for 20 minutes and the loco aux gen will charge the jump buggy back up.

As a retired crane inspector and journeyman Boilermaker, your rigging on that fan unit is scary. 3:38 Looks like something an apprentice would do. Guess the yard safety guy was not around.

Wow! You guys are pretty high up

Another great video, something not normally seen on a locomotive, thanks. One question, looks like straight water was pumped in, after testing is that water drained and water/antifreeze installed?

Excellent view of what's under the hood, literally! I'd be curious to see the difference between the 38-2 and the 40-2, or if it's just 3 fans vs 2. The SD45 would be a neat one too since it has the external flares for them.

Kewl

We fillem with 60,% glycol so it will not freeze great video thanks Dave

heya.. Love your videos, but I'm curious.. has the company ever consider to add a coolant block heater to the locomotives, that connect to an external power source at the locomotive shed when not in use?? Like in my old 1999 Dodge Cummins pickup?? it would keep the water from freezing in the radiators since they don't have antifreeze in them.. I know some Class 1 Railroads have them to conserve fuel costs from running the locomotives to keep the water from freezing in the colder monthes.

Interesting.

Well Dave once again you shown me something I just assumed. I had no idea the radiators sat in there in that V pattern. I thought they were flat on the walls where the vents are. Thanks. And was this filmed before the new logo or did you guys take them back off. If you said a date sorry i didn't hear it. Funny how easy you can push something that heavy.

Thanks for the RARE view, and the quantity. Antifreeze quantity, like 50% of that or so? Is the cold weather start problem common on that or all diesels, the summer time oil is like glue when it's zero?

I remember going to visit the Royal Marine maintenance base at Instow in Devon, (UK England, for those in the USA 🙂), many years ago. One of their jobs was to work out how to waterproof all the equipment used by the Marines, so it could withstand a landing in the sea from a landing craft. They had a long 12 foot deep concrete tank with ramps at either end so any vehicles coming in from the sea could drive through and wash off the salt! We couldn't go out on the DUKW as there was no driver available, so they gave us all a trip through the tank in a LandRover, up to our necks! After 20 minutes they had to stop the 'tanking' and drive around a bit to warm up the engine so it didn't stall from the cold! (November in Devon LOL). Diesels do not like the cold, do they?

Thanks Dave! She needed one more hamster on the wheel to get her to go. Take care friend and stay safe!!

I guess you weren't going to lean on the rack to getter going. Best as well after 3 trys. Cold water didn't help. Not good when all 3 engines dead in the water 😕. Seen that happen. Happy new year 🎉! And stay safe, but most of all, have fun 👍. Richard Bause

Great vid Dave ... Do you have any footage of the derail ? Thx for posting ...

Well, that pretty cool🥶🤣 It's just a group of old boys that keep this world moving,isn't it? Dave, my next video will have an SD40-2 in it. Old Conrail leased power from Sparky107107😋 Ya just might meet Sparky in HO Scale🇨🇦🇺🇲👷⛏️🚂🙋