Does The #11 (EMC SW900)At Jim Thorpe, PA Still Have The Title: The Oldest Diesel Electric In FRA? It Is An Ex - Philedelphia, Bethlehem & New England Loco. It Was Built In The 1930's. Also Is The Loco Ever In Use? Thanks In Advance!

Aaron

norfolk_western_611@hotmail.com

> What about the Delaware Lackawanna's 426? Sure the 201 Winton is long gone, BUT I THINK its a '36...

Superheater@rrmail.com

I'm not sure what Aaron meant by FRA in his post (doesn't sound like Fed. Railroad Admin. in his context). Is the question what's the oldest diesel-electric in existence? What's the date of the loco at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum? I know its very old, but I don't know if its the oldest out there.

Since CNJ 1000 was the first RR diesel and is still around at the B&O Museum, it must be the oldest existing diesel. PTM's (Arden) ARMCO 71 is a 1930 Baldwin-Westinghouse with a Hamilton engine replacing the Beardmore. They believe it is the oldest operating diesel locomotive. IRM has an Alco-GE-IR boxcab but I don't think it runs. D-L (DL&W) 426 is a pre-production EMC SC so is older than any other EMC/EMD shifter.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Hello All

Having looked at the Rail Tours Inc site a few weeks ago, I noticed the same wording. I'm not sure what in particular they mean by this except for maybe the oldest opertaing FRA compliant unit.

I believe their locomotive was built in 1937, where as the DL&W 425 (and long gone sister 425) were built in 1935. The 426 is operational, compliant and still sees occasional use in the DL. Certainly predating the Jim Thorpe based unit. Is the 426 the oldest in regular service?, that I'm not sure of.

The 426 locomotive was rebuilt with a 6 cylinder 567 engine in the 1950's, so the "engine" isn't quite as old. I believe the Jim Thorpe unit was re-engined sometime in the 50's as well.

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net

> The 426 locomotive was rebuilt with a 6
> cylinder 567 engine in the 1950's, so the
> "engine" isn't quite as old. I
> believe the Jim Thorpe unit was re-engined
> sometime in the 50's as well.

Re-engined in 1957 with a 900-hp EMD 567 replacing the 660-hp Winton, according to John Bickleman's "Story of the Stewartstown RR" (last operator of 11 (purchased from the Ma & Pa 1986 by George Hart, EMC #654, built 1937).

DL&W 426 repowered from 201-A to 567B (derated to 600hp) ca. 1962 in shops of Patapsco & Back Rivers RR, built March 1935.

lner4472@bcpl.net

It's not every otherwise all-Alco road that has a pet EMC!

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Penn Eastern Rail Lines has ex-PB&NE #52, an SC built in 1937, in regular service on its Boyertown-Pottstown line. The engine was rebuilt to SW-900 spec in the 1950's with an 8-cylinder 567C engine and new electrical gear. They added an extra stack at that time, which is much closer to the original stack than is normal for SW-7's, 9's and 1200's and quite unusual for the SW-8/900 model.


K4s1361@hotmail.com

> Since CNJ 1000 was the first RR diesel and
> is still around at the B&O Museum, it
> must be the oldest existing diesel.

Well, she's more correctly billed as the first mass production railroad diesel--that is to say, first of a standard design intended for service with a common carrier--date 1925. There were earlier prototypes and tinkerings.

In any event AFAIK CNJ 1000 is the oldest surviving purpose-built US diesel electric.

If you want to count Gas-Electric engines, MTM's Dan Patch 100 is older by far (1913) through nowhere near as little altered from as-built condition as CNJ 1000.



Altoona RRM roundhouse project
eledbetter@rypn.org