GE Center Cab Switcher in Kent

This GE 45-ton switcher is at a locomotive dealer in Kent on June 23, 2012. There are no reporting marks on the engine so we were unable to determine anything about its history or disposition.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Up North in Michigan

Mike Ondecker and Bob Farkas went into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to find Lake Superior and Ishpeming No. 2500. The GE U25C was photographed in Marquette on Aug. 27, 1975.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

EL Monday: Alco, EMD and GE in Kent

You can’t see all of the locomotives on this westbound Erie Lackawanna train in Kent. But the photographer’s notes show the train is powered by the 1052, an Alco RS3. Also in the consist are an EMD F3B, EMD F3A and a GE U25B. The image was made in the late 1960s. In the cut below are the Baltimore & Ohio tracks that today are the CSX New Castle Subdivision.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Alco, EMD and GE Motive Power in Alliance

How is this for a motive power consist? There are Alco, GE and EMD units pulling this Penn Central westbound train in Alliance in August 1972. The lead unit, PC 6300 is an Alco C628. A  GE U33B is also in the motive power lineup. Of note in the background is a transfer caboose and a Burlington boxcar.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

EL Monday: Right Size for a Model Layout

Erie Lackawanna GE U25B Nos. 2516 and EL 2517 and their train are in Akron in August 1975. This looks like a local that would be just the right size for a small model railroad.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Stepping Back to the Conrail Era

We’re feeling blue today so let the wayback machine take us to a time and place where blue locomotives were common. CR GE C39-8 No. 6006 is eastbound in Ravenna in July 1986. This unit would later be on the Norfolk Southern locomotive roster.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

On the Ohio Central Near Baltic

We’re standing in Baltic on Oct. 13, 2006, enjoying a passing northbound Ohio Central freight. On the point is former Conrail B23-7 No. 4096. Trailing is another “super 7,” the 4099.

A former OC operating employee said these units were rebuilt from U23B models for the Monongahela Railway just before Conrail took it over.

The locomotives were rebuilt to something just short of Dash 8 specifications, hence the “super 7” moniker.

“This is a very rare example of a good GE design that has stood the test of time and wear,” he said.  

“While they are expensive to maintain, as most early GE’s were and still are, these have proven to be somewhat cost effective for the G&W so they are still around. They are actually nice to run as well.”

The 4096 was once Conrail 2035 and would later wear the Ohio Central and Genesee & Wyoming liveries.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Prototype Engine Wins Historical Designation

A prototype diesel engine has been declared an Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ National History & Heritage Committee.

The engine is now in the collection of the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society in North East, Pennsylvania.

The museum specializes in GE locomotives due in part to its proximity to the GE Erie locomotive assembly plant, which is now owned and operated by Wabtec Corporation.

The 1,200-hp Cooper-Bessemer FVAL8T was used in GE test locomotives, including A-B-B-A test locomotive No. 750 that operated on the Erie Railroad from 1954 to 1957.

One A and B unit had the FVAL8T, while the other two units had 1,600-hp FVAL12T engines.

The FVAL8T was later used to run an air compressor for a factory in Mount Vernon, Ohio, for several decades.

The Lake Shore museum acquired the engine from the Ohio factory.

The FVA8T demonstrated that it was suitable for use in GE locomotive. It would evolve into the

GE 7FDL engine, which was introduced with its U25B locomotive line.

The prototype FVAL8T is the only survivor of four such engines build by Cooper-Bessemer.

The North East Museum currently has it stored but hopes to put it on public view next year.

2 Things No Longer Used by CSX

There are two things in this image that are no longer in use by CSX but let’s not get ahead of the story just yet.

This image of a container train eastbound in Warwick was made on Oct. 13, 1996.

Lead unit CSXT No. 5891 is a GE B36-7 that was built in July 1985 for Seaboard System.

It has since been retired from the CSX roster although locomotive leasing firm NRE has it available. Just check out their website.

As for the other item no longer used by CSX, that would be the color position light signal.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

North East Museum Gains 10th Vintage GE Locomotive

The Lake Shore Railway Museum and Historical Society has added a 10^th General Electric-built vintage locomotive to its collection.

The latest addition to the collection in North East, Pennsylvania, is a 45-tonner originally used by the U.S. Army.

No. 10 was built by GE in 1943 and had been sitting at ELG Metals southeast of Pittsburgh.

The company agreed to donate the locomotive to the museum with Wabtec, which now owns the GE locomotive assembly plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, providing technical assistance on how to move the diesel.

The move was handled by Daily Express of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

The Lakeshore museum plans to restore No. 10 to operating condition.
The vintage GE engines are part of a collection that has been named “Locomotives that our parents and grandparents built.”