A Failed Locomotive Cold Start after Changing the Locomotive Radiator

Installing a new radiator in this EMD SD 38-2. See the new locomotive radiator
and how it fits in, placing the top cover with the locomotive cooling fans,
and watch as we try to start this very cold engine which
did not start. Then see it being pushed into the shop with a Caterpillar loader.

Most locomotives run straight water. We do put in a rust/scale
inhibitor, makes the coolant look like watered down fruit juice.
The only EMD loco I know of that came from the factory with
anti freeze is the SD 70ACe. Because of the straight water
is why you see so many locomotives idling during the winter,
unless they are equipped with a Smart Start system which
automatically stops and re starts the locomotive upon certain
engine parameters.

Here is the link to watch the video where #1 loco derailed:

I told you in video #3098 needed a power pack change out, it had a cracked
piston, here is the link to watch that video:

Disclaimer: I am an employee of Iron Synergy at Cumberland
Mine. My job is railroad track maintenance. I am very fortunate to
have this job and everyone at the mine is very fortunate to have
Iron Synergy as it's current owner. Our past owners had every
intention of shutting this mine down, but Iron Synergy took
over and have kept this mine alive.

Please understand: I am NOT in any way an official or unofficial
spokes person for Iron Synergy or Cumberland Mine. Any viewpoints,
opinions or anything that I show in the videos, or write in the video
descriptions or any answer to any comment, should NEVER be
misconstrued or interpreted as being in any way shape or form,
any kind of official or unofficial statement from Iron Synergy,
Cumberland Mine, any of the mine's management, any of the
contractors that may be shown in any video, nor of any of
my fellow co-wokers.

Any viewpoints or opinions I may make in the videos, in the descriptions,
or in any answer to a comment is strictly that of my own and NOT an
official or unofficial statement or viewpoint that Iron Synergy or
any one at Iron Synergy or Cumberland Mine necessarily has or makes.

Again, we are very fortunate to have Iron Synergy as our current owners.
Please, when making a comment be respectful of Iron Synergy, Cumberland
Mine, my fellow coworkers and also any contractors that may be
shown. Thank You, Dave
#LocomotiveColdStart#LocomotiveRadiator#LocomotiveCoolingFans

Made December 07, 2021

[billmoran]

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.

[paulbush]

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.

[general]

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. 🇺🇸

[mikefochtman]

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.

[PlanetMojo]

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!

[raymondsprengelmeyer]

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!

[TheJstewart]

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.

[richardaustin]

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 👍

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

[espeescotty]

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. 👍

[cameronmccreary]

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

[graflattenschuss]

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.

[BubbaAyers]

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

[Milepost]

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

[tomeasley]

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.

[trenamerritt]

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!

[pauld.]

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

[beverlymichael]

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

[petezapadka]

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!

[paulbergen]

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.