12/08/07
| SD38, SD39, SD40, SD40A, SD45 & SDP45 |
From my research and photo studies, the cable routing for these locomotives is the same. Again, use any prototype
photos you may have. If you have none, then these photos should serve as a good reference for the above
mentioned locomotives. The photos you see on this page are from a Wisconsin Central (ex-BN) SD45 taken on
12/08/07 at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL.
photos you may have. If you have none, then these photos should serve as a good reference for the above
mentioned locomotives. The photos you see on this page are from a Wisconsin Central (ex-BN) SD45 taken on
12/08/07 at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL.
I'll start with the engineers side of the locomotive. Here you see the right side bundle coming out from under the
frame. This is in front of the fuel tank right inside the rear of the front truck. These do not come out on center of the
frame. They are offset to the right side of center because there is another bundle coming out just off center of the left
side of the locomotive. For each traction motor, there are four cables. There are four cables going forward and six
cables going to the rear.
frame. This is in front of the fuel tank right inside the rear of the front truck. These do not come out on center of the
frame. They are offset to the right side of center because there is another bundle coming out just off center of the left
side of the locomotive. For each traction motor, there are four cables. There are four cables going forward and six
cables going to the rear.
I'll start with the cables going forward. Here again you see them coming out from under the right side just in front of
the fuel tank and at the rear of the front truck. Four cables will come out in a 2x2 bundle and go forward.
the fuel tank and at the rear of the front truck. Four cables will come out in a 2x2 bundle and go forward.
Here you will see them still in a 2x2 bundle traveling along the frame edge. The frame is 3" thick and the brackets are
bolted to a mating part that is welded to the frame. Note some insulation in the brackets.
bolted to a mating part that is welded to the frame. Note some insulation in the brackets.
Here you will see the transition from a 2x2 bundle to a flat 4 side by side bundle. From the 2x2, the sequence goes
like this. Outside bottom to outside. Outside top to second cable in, Inside bottom to third cable in and inside top to
fourth cable in.
like this. Outside bottom to outside. Outside top to second cable in, Inside bottom to third cable in and inside top to
fourth cable in.
Here we have the termination point for the front right set of four cables. You can see where it ducks under the frame
just in front of the jacking pad to go to the middle traction motor on the front truck. They transition back to a 2x2
bundle as they go under the frame. You will not see the traction motor cables for the rear traction motor of the front
truck. They come directly out from under the frame to the motor. They do not route along the frame.
just in front of the jacking pad to go to the middle traction motor on the front truck. They transition back to a 2x2
bundle as they go under the frame. You will not see the traction motor cables for the rear traction motor of the front
truck. They come directly out from under the frame to the motor. They do not route along the frame.
As I mentioned before, there are six cables going rearward on the right side. They are in a 2x3 bundle.
You can see the 2x3 bundle traveling down the frame edge to disappear behind the air reservoir.
As they travel behind the air reservoir, the cables are still in the 2x3 bundle.
Still in the 2x3 bundle as they exit out from behind the air reservoir. Then the two outside cables dip under the frame
to the first traction motor on the rear truck. The remaining four cables go into a flat four bundle to the rear. Sequence
is as follows. Middle bottom cable goes to outside. Top middle cable goes to second in. Bottom inner cable goes to
third in and top inner cable goes to inside.
to the first traction motor on the rear truck. The remaining four cables go into a flat four bundle to the rear. Sequence
is as follows. Middle bottom cable goes to outside. Top middle cable goes to second in. Bottom inner cable goes to
third in and top inner cable goes to inside.
A view of the flat four continuing on rearward.
These four cables then terminate at the middle traction motor on the rear truck. As you can see, they dip under the
frame at the back of the jacking pad support plate. They transition again to a 2x2 bundle under the frame..
frame at the back of the jacking pad support plate. They transition again to a 2x2 bundle under the frame..
| PAGE 2 of SD38, SD39, SD40, SD40A, SD45 & SDP45 TRACTION MOTOR CABLE ROUTING TRACTION MOTOR CABLE COVER PAGE |