Page 1 of 1

Locomotive Piston Identification

Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 11:44 am
by NS3322
I have a piston from a Grand Trunk diesel locomotive. Is there any way to identify what model of locomotive it came off of?

Re: Locomotive Piston Identification

Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 7:31 pm
by Saturnalia
Get a diameter and you'll have the engine model, but probably not the locomotive model since the same piston sizes were used in multiple engine configurations for numerous different locomotive models.

Piston dimensions are available all over the web via a Google search.

Re: Locomotive Piston Identification

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 3:16 pm
by SousaKerry
Better yet post a good picture. The right guy can identify by sight. We had a mystery piston in the basement at SMRS been there for years. We had a mechanic in to do some heavy work on a locomotive. We were looking for some parts and he sees the piston and says "What's that EMD 567 piston doing here, you guys don't have anything like that."

Re: Locomotive Piston Identification

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:52 pm
by NS3322
Whoops, I guess I completely forget about this thread. Gosh, time flies!

Here are some photos for those who are interested. Using the ID on the inside of the piston (UN8459702), I determined this piston belonged to an EMD 645 diesel engine (specifically a 645E3). So this could have belonged to a GP40 or and SD40 (if I am correct?).

I found the piston listed on the National Railway Equipment website:
https://www.nre.com/parts/nre-parts-catalog?page=27

I did not paint or decorate the piston. I am assuming someone at the GTW Yard/Shops in Battle Creek did that. It supposedly sat on display in the Calhoun County Tech Center for years, until it was unwanted and given to someone else. Which is who I believe I acquired it from.

Re: Locomotive Piston Identification

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 5:25 pm
by SD80MAC
On the GTW, the only locomotives that had 645E3s were GP40s, SD40s, GP40-2s and SD40-2s, so that would be correct. All of the GP40s and GP40-2s were ex DT&I units, for what it's worth.