Re: You're hired!

There are lots of standard gauge 44-tonners out there with the CAT D-1700 engines and similar electrical systems. The big difference is in the trucks and the reduction gear drives. I don't know how many of you have noticed or know that the trucks are center pinned on only one end - the other end is a slot that allows the truck to swivel and move forward and backward. The two trucks are pinned together so they operate as an articulated unit. This allows for a tighter turning radius and is unique to these narrow gauge engines. Some parts are still available from Caterpillar, such as injector nozzles and pumps, and gaskets. There are still quite a few D-1700's out there and there are parts available from used and junk dealers. The Georgetown Loop has done fairly major repairs to our #15 with great success. They do lose power at altitude and with age but #15 performs well at 9100ft. The Loop did look into turbochargers (or normalizers as they are called, which is just an exhaust driven turbine that operates an air pump to supply air to the engine, instead of mechanically driven blowers) but the cost was prohibitive. If you were going to try to re-engine one of these beasts you would have to be very careful to get a replacement engine that has the same RPM and torque characteristics as a D-17000. Most modern engines run at higher RPM's than a D-17000 and would not make the electrical system very happy. The D-17000's are built like battleships and will run a long time if taken care of. The Loop has a complete spare D-17000 for the #15, spare aux. generator, and traction motor. Our other operation, the Canon City & Royal Gorge RR has a 44-tonner with 2 D-17000's and the exact same electrical systems. So the stuff is out there. We at the Loop would be glad to offer advise, ideas, and supplier connections to assist in the rehabilitation of #19.