Joe, I'll post some comments re: your original questions after supper.

Joe Cullum Wrote:
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> George,
>
> George,
>
> George
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> George Andrews Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > An excerpt from Joe Strapac's Southern Pacific
> > Historic Diesels - Volume Nine - ALCo PA / PB
> > PAssenger Locomotives : " More importantly, by
> > 1952 SP had grown weary of the poor maintenance
> > record of the type # 244A engines in these
> units.
> > Beginning in July 1952, the type #244A prime
> > movers were replaced by current production
> #244D
> > engines with water cooled, ALCo - built
> > turbochargers. Then in the mid - fifties the
> > complex General Electric Amplidyne control
> system
> > received an upgrade and simplification. Every
> one
> > of the class DP - 5 units was to receive an
> > electrical upgrade between 1956 and 1960 in
> order
> > to install more reliable components, simplify
> > cabling arrangements and ease maintenance
> > problems. "
> > ALCo rushed the 244 series diesel into
> > production; Santa Fe & T&NO's early PA's had
> > issues with block flex resulting in loose main
> &
> > rod bearings, and of course that air - cooled
> > turbo was not up to the job. At least Espee
> stuck
> > with the 244 series prime mover and its' 2000
> H.P.
> > rating. Santa Fe, Rock Island ( FA's ), and
> MoPac
> > among others would re - engine their PA's with
> EMD
> > prime movers, which had quickly become the
> > industry's Energizer Bunny for running and
> running
> > and running. Santa Fe's " Christine " set of re
> -
> > engined PA - PB - PA were dogs, until a sharp
> > diesel mechanic noticed several electrical
> > circuits has been mis - wired and / or
> overlooked
> > in the rebuild. Once repaired, they were race
> > horses.
>
>
> George, that's exactly my point. If the EMD PA
> rebuilds were successful, they shoulve lasted
> into the Amtrak Rainbow era at least. And im not
> talking about the four 251 engined DH ex Santa Fe
> PA rebuilds that survive to this day.