NEW EMD GP60 DEmo's

[train_guy]

Maybe as a part of your 'story' as to why the units were both re-engined with 645 turbo units you could say the following;

The units arrived from CSX in late summer and CSX had not added fresh anti freeze to their cooling systems to save $$$ because the units were being disposed of.

Your Chief Mechanical Officer was away at the time of their arrival and he left instructions that the units were not to be used until inspected by him personally, and he ended up being away longer than planned and no one thought to check if there was fresh anti freeze and or assumed that there was.

An early and very severe cold snap [perhaps over a holiday weekend] caught the units while they were sidelined cold outside your workshops awaiting the return of the CMO and his personal acceptance inspection.

Net result, both units were cold and the severe early cold snap froze the cooling system resulting in freeze cracking of the engine blocks internal cooling pathways. Both engines were declared write offs due to the extent of the damage.

Your insurer was a tight arse and only provided enough $$$ to cover part of the purchase of 2nd hand reco engines, but not enough money was on hand to stretch for 710 units, so the decision was made to use 645 turbo units that were in stock and ready to go at your parts supplier due to a cancelled order.

So the decision was made after much heated debate, finger pointing, name calling, door slaming, and head butting to fit the 645 Turbo units, in house to save $$$.

Mark

Mr Fixit...Excellent story,I'll go with it! I would have to agree with you on the position of the ditchlights,under further investigation of the front anti-climber i noticed the uncoupling lever would be comprimised if mounted under the anti-climber,so above the anti-climber it will be.
Also to add to your story,I the purchaser of these units decided to remove the old nose pieces&cab and additional lights,beacon,and convert them back to standard GP60 specs,and obtained authorization from EMD to repaint these 2 units into original EMD Demo Livery.
Thanks for the story Mark