DDA40X "Centennial" at Binney Junction

The Dunsmuir to Portola Special is heading north toward Feather River Canyon. DDA40X #6936 wakes up the neighborhood at 6:00am while passing through Binney Junction. The Western Pacific GP20 and the A & B F units are not providing motive power even though they are capable of doing so.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• DDA40X
• DD40X
• Centennial
• 6936
• Union
• Pacific
• Binney
• Marysville

[okzoia]

I'm guessing that the old 6936 weighs about seven hundred thousand pounds (350 tons) or so. How close is this?

[cchan006]

That's a good guess. Operating weight is around 545,000 pounds.

[TexasPacific]

the WP A/B F-units and the GP7 were way cooler than the centennial.

[cchan006]

It's actually a GP20, first one ever built, and still runs well. It would be nice to see that or the F unit on the point one day.

Look around and you'll find videos of Western Pacific GP7 and F7 that I posted, at the Niles Canyon Railway.

[aussietraindriver]

what horn is that? sounds like a sick M5

[cchan006]

I've been told that it's a Nathan M5 belonging to the Portola Railroad Museum. It was installed on the 6936 just for its summer stay in California.

New videos of the 6936 have been posted by others this month, and the horn is definitely different now.

[AKirkland07]

@Floridaman98 Ah thats not a bad idea to be honest, we have klaxons on newer locomotives that sound before the engines start, to warn any fitters in the engine compartments, but other than that its all the drivers horn

[Floridaman98]

@AKirkland07 Warns crews in the yard that the loco is moving, not idleing.The Bell automatically rings every time the engineer blows the horn. Even if it's going 115kmh in the middle of nowhere.

[frankthetank961]

mk1936.....I have a question....what was it lyk building them and what part did u work on?

[AKirkland07]

What's the bell for? Is it simply to warn the trains approaching?? We don't have bells on our locks in the UK, so am a tad curious:)

[fafnir242]

Frankly, I'm not sure if I like it with the M5. It's just so goofy sounding.

[KSE828]

Every video i've seen on youtube of the DDA40-X had its horn being the Nathan M5. I've never seen/heard it with the Leslie.

[mk1936]

I worked for EMD in the late 60's early 70's & helped build the Centennialls.

MIKE

[fafnir242]

Leslie RS3L ftw!!