The "pooches" were a ripoff by GE of the US government, nothing more. They, like their U30C pals, were some of the worst locomotives ever devised. Kaiser had five U30Cs working Ferrum-Eagle Mountain after their "bald-ones" gave up the ghost. Turned out to be a bad choice. Add HEP limiting engine speed to 900 RPM, and you had a real "pooch." The funny thing was that the F40s would outperform them on Beaumont and in the Texas and NM high country. Plus, the F40s wouldn't jar your teeth out like the pooches did on that jointed rail. Did I mention the SMOKE?? The pooches never went to Mexico. They were all scrapped. No one wanted any of them, even GE.

Brett Wrote:
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> Back when SP was running the Sunset (LAX to Yuma)
> Fired on #2 and 1 one trip
> Then towards the end I rode a few cab trips with
> Amtrak crews
> They were cramped
> They were very very dirty
> The dual motive power was always unbalance
> You would think 6 axle units would charge up
> Beaumont Hill but most of the time they did
> just below track speed
> However they did have the big fuel tanks and they
> could run to El Paso and beyond before fueling
> One night #1 was coming into Indio the I think the
> 714 was on fire
> Burned up the unit and it sat at the Amtrak
> Redondo Round House for many years before it was
> scrapped
> The looked impressive
> They sounded impressive
> But they were dogs!
> Rumors are all the Pooches were sold to Mexico