I look at this unit as a way to purchase a half finished restoration project. Most of the E-units available for preservation will require significant amounts of body work to repair years of corrosion. For example, on the site I have links to photographs of the restoration of the Juniata Terminal E-units - these units were immaculately cared for by Conrail and extensively rebuilt by the ICG Paducah shops for Amtrak - and they still required quite a bit of work. Unfortunately, I do not know how much it cost to restore the nose on the Juniata E-units (or others) so I canÂ’t make a comparison between LTEÂ’s asking price and the value of the repair. There are many other E-units out there that are mechanically complete, but they will need body work to a varying degree.
Moreover, there are few E-units remaining (in any condition) that did not undergo a massive remanufacturing by ICG Paducah (for Amtrak and NJ Transit) or Morrison Knudsen (for the West Suburban Mass Transit District - aka BN commuter service). Upgraded units received new electrical components, Auxiliary HEP generators with new roof fans and new braking systems (which vary in spec. between the rebuilding programs). For an example, see http://www.cl.ais.net/~dbehr/E8.htm .
While these new components may facilitate current operations, it also means that these are no longer pure examples of 1950’s E-units – rather a representation of how 1970’s mechanical departments thought an E-unit needed to be upgraded (which is important right). However, the lack of E-units with their original specs will be a major hindrance to future historians who will look to preserved locomotives to understand the good and bad aspects of 567-C prime movers, wiring with relays, steam generators, etc. With this point of view - I do not see the unit’s incomplete state as an advantage – as somebody took the time to remove most of the un-original components.
Bottom line – if you are looking for a unit that can be made operational quickly, and you don’t care about non-original mechanicals – then this is not the unit for you. However, if you are interested in restoring an E-unit – both mechanically and cosmetically - then this is a unique opporunity to jump start the restoration process.
> The price I heard, as is where is, is
> $40K-45K. It is not complete in running
> condition, will require somewhere indoors to
> store it in the best case, and better add on
> some substantial sum to move it.
> I think we all like to see things saved but
> perhaps need to prepare a list of
> priorities. Assuming someone had $75,000, is
> this the best use of that money, or would it
> go farther on one or more other items
> already in possession of the preservervation
> community?
> This is not to try to start a flame, only a
> gentle musing along the lines of
> "Should we buy guns, or should we buy
> butter?" Or is that even the question?
> Maybe - Should we spend $75K and have a new
> project before us with a long way to go, or
> could that make a difference to house
> something we now have and still have
> something left over for new paint?
> Bob Kutella
Historic Railway Equipment
altoonaroundhouse@umich.edu
