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Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s
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Author:  Carroll Cameron [ Sat Dec 31, 2011 4:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

Members

First a little about me. I live Down East in Canada. I retired 10 yrs ago after 35 yrs as a civil servant with the Province of New Brunswick. I am 66 yrs old and this project I've been working is of a personal nature. It is my hope that you will be able to help me in my search for information.

I am compiling a photographic/textual history on each one of the MLW built FPA/B-2/4s, which will be on a website dedicated to the FPA/Bs. My goal is to not just show roster shots but, show the FPA's at work, rest, play, 'bad hair days', wrecked, being rebuilt or in the junk yard from 1958 to present day no matter their paint scheme. For this project I am only concerned with the FPA/Bs originally built for use in Canada (CN).

I had started this project in 2006 but, deaths in the family over the past 4 years had made me lose interest in everything until this past summer so, I'm back at it again.

I have only been a member for a couple of days and have been searching past topics on the FPAs and have found a lot of information you wouldn't find on a photo site which adds to the story. My first post is rather long but I couldn't see how I could present myself in less words

I am having a problem finding out the name of an owner who lived in either Benson or Dunn NC. In 1991 he purchased a passenger car from VIA Rail but it was wrecked before he received it so they offered him an FPA-4 as a replacement. The unit no. was 6767 and it sat on the front lawn of his business in Dunn NC from at least 1996 till 2000 when he passed away. D.F.Barnhardt sold it for the man's estate.

Would any one on here know who the deceased was, why he had etc. or could direct me to someone who might? I have contacted the newspapers in Dunn and Benson for help thinking that a diesel engine being moved in to town then out would have garnered some attention from the papers. However, in order to find out if it did it would require them replying to my emails.

I'm also seeking information on a photo I saw about 10 years ago that showed an ex Via rail FPA sitting by or on a wharf or dock and across from it at a 45 deg. angle sat a cruise ship(?). There were 1000s of people around the ship so it might have been a floating hotel or a casino too. I thought it might be in California but I believe the FPAs didn't get that far west. So it left Florida and New Jersey but I can't find anything on it. So again would anyone on here remember that photo or no where it was taken?

Carroll

Author:  daylight4449 [ Sat Dec 31, 2011 5:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

Some of the FPA's I'm aware of include a handful on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic in Ohio, the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona, and the Napa Valley Wine Train in California.
Cuyahoga FPAs
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=120094
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=50739
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=54594
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=122302
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=50744
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=65114
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=65113

Grand Canyon FPAs
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=148397
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=41992
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=39837
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=35387
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=469

Napa Valley FPAs
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=85107
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=99330
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=85108
http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=55299

Author:  Carroll Cameron [ Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

Thank you Dylan

I did have those sights bookmarked for sometime now but, had forgot about them. There's a lot added to some of them and it's current. Thanks again for the reminder.

Carroll

Author:  MEC_557 [ Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

There's another one, 6367 ? not sure off hand, that was privately owned by Mr Bowers stored at the Railroad Museum of New England in the late 90s. Last I knew it was stored unservicable at the Delaware-Lackawana in the last few years. Still in blue and yellow VIA paint.

Author:  Carroll Cameron [ Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

MEC_557

It's 6763. I have been trading emails with Mr. Bowers in my ongoing search.

Thank you for replying. I do appreciate it.
Carroll

Author:  arjay3 [ Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

There is a pair on the NY&LE at Gowanda, NY and an A-B set in Illinois at Monticello.

RWJ

Author:  Pat Fahey [ Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

Hi Carroll

Happy New Year to you , the photo was taken in Gardner , Mass o March 28th 1999 the units were on there way to the Windsor & Hantsport Ry the
units # 6786 FPA-4 & # 6867 FPB-4 , the units today now reside at the Danbury Railroad Museum in Danbury, Ct , as New York Central units . Pat

Author:  Carroll Cameron [ Sun Jan 01, 2012 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

Hi Pat

Thank you for your reply.

There is just one correction I have to add.

They were acquired by the W & H in 1995 and the A unit arrived on site in Nova Scotia on Friday Aug/18/95 at 0435 and the B unit a couple of weeks later. In April 1996 a published photographer of some note from Nova Scotia did a photographic record and video of the two units for a potential buyer. The W&H retired them in 1996.

In the photos dated 1999 the units had already been sold to a private owner and were starting the first leg of their journey to the Danbury museum as the owner had leased them to the museum. They arrived at Danbury on April 5/99.

They were also the only 2 units out of the 6 bought by W&H that made it to the railway.

Carroll

Author:  JohnC [ Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

I am working on a "survivors" list of all VIA FPA's still in existence for ALCO NOTES.
No done with it yet. Still tracking down a cople of units.
John

Author:  Carroll Cameron [ Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

Which ones are you still working on John. Maybe I can help.

Carroll

Author:  JohnC [ Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

I need info(S/N and B/D)plus any history on Grand Canyon roster of FPA-4 and FBA-4's.

Thanks in advance.
John

Author:  Carroll Cameron [ Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

John

Here is some technical data and a bit of history. The first paragraph is the header for the cloumns. Good luck getting the columns straightened out.
Carroll


Number Ex CN No. Serial Date Blt Model No. CN Class Engine Horse P. Gearing Top Speed HEP/Steam Generator Status Date Ret. Notes

6768 CN 6768 83146 01/1959 FPA-4 MPA-18c 12V-251B 1800 62:21 92mph 1 Vapor-OK 4625 Retired ? Sold General Scrap, Winnipeg, MB; to Grand Canyon Railway 6768

6773 CN 6773 83151 02/1959 FPA-4 MPA-18c 12V-251B 1800 62:21 92mph 1 Vapor-OK 4625 Retired ? Sold Grand Canyon Railway 6773

6776 CN 6776 83154 02/1959 FPA-4 MPA-18c 12V-251B 1800 62:21 92mph 1 Vapor-OK 4625 Retired ? Sold Portola Railroad Museum 6776; to Grand Canyon Railway 6776

6793 CN 6793 83171 05/1959 FPA-4 MPA-18c 12V-251B 1800 62:21 92mph 1 Vapor-OK 4625 Retired ? Sold South Valley 6793; to Grand Canyon Railway 6793

Author:  Carroll Cameron [ Mon Jan 02, 2012 12:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

A couple of corrections for the FPA-4 list

6768 MPA-18b
6773 MPA-18b
6776 MPA-18b
6793 MPA-18b
--------------------------------
This is the FPB-4 tech notes

6860 CN 6860 1958 FPB-2u MPB-18a 12V-251B 1800 62:21 92mph 2 Vapor-OK 4625 Retired 1989 Ex-CN 6860. Retired in 1989

6871 CN6871 1959 FPB-4 MPB-18b 12V-251B 1800 62:21 92mph 2 Vapor-OK 4625 Retired 1989 Ex-CN 6871. Retired by 1989.

The FPBs are rather short on history right now. The FPAs have more then what I posted however I have that info spread out in to different files and I haven't started to put it together yet.

Carroll

Author:  JohnC [ Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

Thank you Carroll. That is very helpful. Now to figure out the renumbering from the VIA numbers to the current two digit series.

Author:  Carroll Cameron [ Mon Jan 02, 2012 7:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help searching for MLW FPA/B-2/4s

John

I'm assuming you're talking about the Napa Valley units. If so here is a list. Carroll

6760 - #70 Converted to run on compressed natural gas / Diesel mixture
6775 - #71 Back up power
6787 - #72 Back up Power
6790 - #73 EMD powered

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