The NW2 thread made me wonder -- is anybody else going after the NS SD9s? SCRM is trying for the 58 and 59. They're kinda big, but...

Matt -

Is NS getting rid of them? Most, but not all, are ex-NKP. I don't recall what the others are. Maybe someone can advise.

Les

From either Yahoo LocoNotes or SERails, I believe TVRM is already going after 58 (ex NS 199, CofG 207). It wouldn't surprise me to find out that SERM might be trying for this one, too, or the 59 (originally CofG 202).

Les: These are the only non-NKP units as far as I know.

As you noted, Matt, they are kinda big, so does SCRM have a "need" or is it just a "want" since they are CofG/Sou/NS heritage units? While NS certainly has a presence in SC, the Central of Georgia didn't operate in SC at all. In spite of some problems, I would think the Savannah Roundhouse Railroad Museum or even here at Thronateeska would be a better preservation home. The Savannah and Albany museums are both at locations previously CofG, and Albany, in particular, has but one CofG piece of equipment in the collection, and no diesel of any heritage. On that basis, it would be easy for me to justify trying to acquire one.

Please don't take this personally. Its just that with all the recent discussion of "rationalization of the collections" at museums across the country, while it might be nice to have, does it really fit, and would its acquisition and preservation take money away from needed restoration of a piece already in the collection? We all like new "toys", but can they always be justified, especially if at the expense of another "artifact"? Something to ponder, and something I have to keep telling myself.

Oh, and if you do get one and decide you need some track space, I could find a home for one of your SW-8's here. :>)

Recall that the CofG was absorbed by Southern. Before the NS merger, the 58 and 59 were assigned to the old Georgia & Florida from Augusta to Greenwood, SC prior to its abandonment. So, they WERE used in South Carolina (as Southern units) prior to the NS merger. That means they fit our focus in a broad sense.

There are 7 units up for retirement out of 9 surviving NS SD9s, Nos. 51-59. Two (56 is one, the other is either 55 or 57) were converted to r/c and are being retained for use in a yard in NJ. The 51-57 are ex-NKP, built 1957. The 58 and 59 are ex-CofG, built 1955.

SCRM has a number of freight cars and main-line passenger cars, but out of 10 diesels on the roster, the only non-military units are #4, which came from Lone Star Gravel, and #33, which was PRR #9339 then Foster-Dixieanna Sand #33. We have no main-line locos at all. We don't actually own ex-ACL 2-8-0 #712 so I'm not counting it, and I consider it more of a Rockton & Rion loco anyway.

A Southern Railway engine would fill a gaping hole in the collection, and that's essentially why we'd like to have the 58 and/or 59. If we were to somehow land both, one would eventually be repainted GofG and the other would get a Tux with CofG sublettering. Since the units were overhauled less than five years ago, they shouldn't need paint for several years which means minimal impact on restoration efforts. If we find they really are too big for us (which I doubt), they'd be excellent trade bait.

We could really use a bigger engine or three. The usual train is the Southern diner and trailer coach #6746. That train isn't that heavy. If the '46 is down for brake work, though, we have to use one of the heavier motor coaches. When the big crowd hits in late summer, the diner and two motor coaches starts to get a bit heavy for 600-800hp on a 2.5% grade. I'm not sure the 600-hp RS4's could do it, in fact, especially given that both of them have throttle problems. An ex-Southern high-nose GP38-2 with dual control stands would be ideal, and light years better than the SD9s. However, the SD9s are up for retirement and the Geeps aren't!

What's REALLY on my wishlist for practical SC locomotives are the Lancaster & Chester's SW1200s. The L&C is using everything they've got and still looking for more power, though, so I doubt those units will be available any time soon. I also wouldn't mind one of the orange SC Central GP9s (which are of B&O lineage), although most if not all of them have been converted to road slugs now so they'd be problematic.

Has anybody noticed my last post about the "contemplated railroad?" I'm not having a whole lot of luck tracking that line down.

Some may argue the CofG was not so much absorbed as swallowed whole and what came out the other end was, shall we say, less than what it was. But I digress...

Thanks for the info on the assignment of the CofG SD-9s. I had wondered if they stayed primarily on "home" rails or were dispersed throughout the Southern Railway system. Do you happen to know when they were being used on the G&F? Was it soon after the takeover or later? Just curious.

Good luck with the acquisition hopes. Like I said, TVRM has already announced they are going after the least modified of the 2, which is apparently No. 58.

Please keep in mind what I said about your SW-8s, or even the RS4TC 600 hp USAF units. I suppose those came from Shaw AFB, but we did have Turner AFB here into the 1960s, and it was NAS Albany in the 70's and we still have the USMC depot, so an ex USAF or USN locomotive would be at home here.

Again, good luck.

I don't know exactly when the locos were on the G&F. Southern didn't keep the G&F intact long, though, so that narrows it down. That info came from another SCRM member who lives in Augusta. His dad was THE athority on the G&F.

If the SD9s flop, maybe we'll ask NS for an ex-SOU high-nose GP38-2. Really, one of them would be a better engine for us.

And as for those big monsters on our track -- just last week, NS drilled Plastech with an ex-SOU high-nose SD40-2!