F40PH Preservation Opportunity, Round SEVEN

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2015

It would be interesting to know how many of the people involved with these locomotive development projects have ever been contacted or invited to participate by our historical or preservation groups, particularly the ones directly involved in preserving the equipment these people designed and built. I have asked a few over the years and the answer has generally been that they had no contact with historical groups.

PC

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2230

And when they are, the interviewer often takes up the 'human' part of their reminiscences, rather than the technical in detail. One potential issue is that most of the people tasked with doing the interviewing don't have the technical knowledge coupled with interest to 'get the right information out of' their interviewees.

On one of the excursions where PRR 120 was still owned by George Pins -- I think it was the inauguration of the restored 4935 where it was famously 'signed' -- I found myself on the observation platform engaged in conversation with Raymond Loewy. My brain just locked up, and I couldn't think of one coherent question out of the many I'd thought of asking 'someday'. Oh, to have that opportunity again with a list of questions to ask about!

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2015

Like the title says, Round SEVEN. Whether by design or as the beneficiary of coincidence, or both, one of the most successful diesel-electric passenger locomotives. Hopefully a few more can be preserved.

The California units with "disabled" engines become much more attractive if you keep in mind that sectioned machinery presents a opportunity for a unique walk-through exhibit. I previously posted examples of how EMD does this, so no need to get back into that.

PC

RCD · **Posted:** Sat Jul 16, 2022 7:03 pm

Just as an update I'm trying to get people to call the MBTA board of directors public comment line to support the F40PH preservation Society. If people are looking for a place to present knowledge and manuals and specs of these units I'll be more than happy to host them on my website.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2022 1:17 pm

More background on the Coaster units, including confirmation that PSRM was given all seven:

https://railfan.com/coaster-f40-bound-f ... ay-museum/

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2015

With the probability that more California commuter units are going to be retired in "disabled" condition in the near future it would be a winning situation for the preservation community if a communication channel could be established between the museums and the commuter agencies so that the work done to disable the units does minimal damage to their suitability for display.

PC

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2230

A very recent Virtual Railfan 'grab bag' -- 7/21, the one that featured Skytop Coffee Creek moving -- had a clip of what I believe was a Coaster unit in, or just behind, the consist... 9:31ff

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Aug 08, 2022 11:05 pm

Update:

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... to-museum/

Quote:

CAMPO, Calif. — The newest piece of equipment for the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum is arriving at the museum’s Campo location by truck, since there’s no active rail access between the site and San Diego.

Recently retired Coaster F40PHM-2C No. 2103 is shown on Interstate 8 at El Cajon, Calif, on Sunday, Aug. 7, during its move by Contractors Cargo Co., a heavy-haul specialist based in Compton, Calif., with a history including 19 moves involving all six NASA space shuttles. The locomotive is one of five EMD products rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen. All five had been moved to scrapper Coast Rail Services in Anaheim, Calif., in April [see “Retired Coaster commuter engines moved …,” Trains News Wire, April 2019], but No. 2103 was returned to the San Diego area and loaded at National City, Calif., for the move to the Campo museum.

F40PH Preservation Opportunity, Round SEVEN

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