I was wondering if there were any SP/SSW class of locomotives, or numbers of locomotives available that had the Maxitrax adhesion systems installed. We were also told they were thermally protected but I dont that to be true, could be, I just don't know. They used to call us on trains that had a couple C44AC's with a Maxitrax SD, just barely enough to get over the road, man what drags they used to be. The YM always told us the Maxitrax units would work with AC's, cause they were thermally protected against traction motors overheating in slow speed, high amp situations. What that really means is that SD de-rates itself into a GP9. I want to model this type of consist, so I was wondering what, or if, there were any class or number of SD's so equipped. The ones I remember had the SP speed lettering. But I don't know if that was conclusive. Thanks for any corrections, discussion and input.
I can't remember a specific series, I think it was mostly pre-2 EMD SD's. It could have been hit or miss through the series as they were shopped/rebuilt. I have a 2000 UP locomotive directory (not a UP publication) and it doesn't mention anything about Maxitrax in the notes. The UP engine information was computerized so post-merger there really wasn't a "paper" list, it would have all be in the computer records. I remember the SP locomotive management was pretty convinced of the benefits of Maxitrax, but they were some of the first engines to be retired after the UP merger. It basically put a more modern wheel slip detection and software on an older locomotive, more or less putting SD50 wheel slip software on an SD40.
