Lehigh Railway

m3ohwell · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:37 pm

A Lehigh Railway U Boat showed up at Luzerne Susquehanna engine house in Pittston, PA. For a 90 day inspection. Both lines as most know are owned by Steve May. The Lehigh Rwy. Just starting up on the former Lehigh Valley Mehoopany to Sayer, leased from the NS. Anyway, a look at the U Boat.

Ed K. cp Laurel Run

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:44 pm

And this has what to do with the board?

m3ohwell · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:59 pm

Joshua K. Blay wrote:

And this has what to do with the board?

A point of interest Blay! What's your problem???
Ed K.

zugmann · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:01 pm

Maybe I'm in the minority, but a U-series GE diesel (whose numbers are shrinking every month) doing what it was made for (hauling freight) to me is a prime example of preservation.

Then add in the nod to history with the Lehigh-ish logo...

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:22 pm

Well it isn't preservation at all. You take wonderful photos and video Ed and I'm glad you share them on the tube and other boards but again I don't see how it fits with the topics here.

Just my .02,

Joshua

m3ohwell · **Posted:** Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:05 pm

Joshua K. Blay wrote:

Well it isn't preservation at all. You take wonderful photos and video Ed and I'm glad you share them on the tube and other boards but again I don't see how it fits with the topics here.

Just my .02,

Joshua

Alright I'll spell it out for you. First of all, any GE U-23B still running is preservation. Second, using the name Lehigh Railway is a form of remembering the Lehigh Valley which is where this line runs. You probally never saw the Lehigh Valley. Anyway. I don't post here too often. So now go do what you do, and leave me alone!
Ed K.

Scott Kwiatkowski · **Posted:** Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:29 am

Josh,

Preservation takes on many forms, to seeing a post about upcoming RR events and work sessions. From restoring a Lawndale boxcar to the F40PH Preservation Society, (F40PH! Holy crap I’m getting old) and seeing a NEW photo of an OLD U-boat.

Photos that guys like ED K. and Bobby Y. post are preservation of the spirit and heritage of railroading and are woven into the fabric of our lives in some way, shape or form.

This is a diverse board and your opinion is about a penny short and should be saved for more controversial topics like funding AMTRAK or restoring 1361.

Scott Kwiatkowki
Pennsy Railcar Restorations LLC.
http://www.prrllc.com

zugmann · **Posted:** Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:05 am

Let's look at this.

Here we have a 40+ year old diesel. A diesel that is still doing what it is designed to do: move freight. Isn't that preservation? I'd rather see something earning its keep than sitting in some museum back lot rusting away.

What is the issue Mr. Blay? Is it because it's a *gasp* diesel? Is it because it is still earning its keep and not in some museum, drained and shuttered? I'm just curious why this doesn't equate to preservation.

PS. A few days ago, I just completed a trip with a C40-8 in the lead. Those things, built in the late 80s, are on their final countdown too. The -7s have all been retired and will probably find their way to South America if they aren't already there. I hope some shortlines/regional buy these things because the museums don't seem that interested. Guess it is "too new".

Kevin Gillespie · **Posted:** Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:39 am

In the eyes of this Moderator, this definitely looks like preservation. Any first generation GE (or EMD) still earning its keep in revenue service is preservation in action.

Steamteam91 · **Joined:** Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:43 pm **Posts:** 29

Some people just dont get it. Nice photo Ed. Keep up the good work!!

Joshua K. Blay · **Posted:** Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:04 am

"Any first generation GE (or EMD) still earning its keep in revenue service is preservation in action."

In that case Guilf, WHOOPS, Pan Am (insert other railroad here) is preservation in action. IMHO these engines are no more preserved then today's modern power, or even the Alcos on the D-L. Preservation? That's the collection at IRM. The John Bull and Southern 1401 at the Smithsonian, that's preserved.

What do we define preservation as?

Joshua

Steve Singer · **Posted:** Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:06 am

Steamteam91 wrote:

Some people just dont get it. Nice photo Ed. Keep up the good work!!

Yeah, really! Guy posts a couple nice photos and people get upset? Surely there are more pressing things to worry about.

zugmann · **Posted:** Sun Mar 15, 2009 1:28 pm

So an engine rusting away, with a cracked block, wires stripped, frame broken with no hope of ever running again (in our lifetimes) qualifies as "preservation", while an engine doing what it was built to do (move freight) is not?

Preservation is in the eye of the beholder. Quite frankly I don't think running a mainline commuter engine in a glorified, 5mph loop counts as preservation. (that's if its not stuffed and mounted...ugh) Give me that engine any day grinding uphill trying to move some cars, and you'll see what RRing is all about.

Joshua K. Blay wrote:

"Any first generation GE (or EMD) still earning its keep in revenue service is preservation in action."

In that case Guilf, WHOOPS, Pan Am (insert other railroad here) is preservation in action. IMHO these engines are no more preserved then today's modern power, or even the Alcos on the D-L. Preservation? That's the collection at IRM. The John Bull and Southern 1401 at the Smithsonian, that's preserved.

What do we define preservation as?

Joshua

Charlie High · **Posted:** Sun Mar 15, 2009 2:27 pm

I was thrilled to see these engines on the Luzerne & Susquehanna. It's preservation to me and I hope Ed continues to post! I used to go up there a lot on business before I retired and alway made it a point to drive by their engine parking spot. Now I visit maybe once a year at most. The fact that there is still freight moving on these old Anthracite region rail lines is definitely preservation in itself, let alone capturing the great motive power for us and posterity. And I would love to see shots of these girls in action on the old "Valley" above Mehoopany.

scottychaos · **Posted:** Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:53 pm

Do U-boats have a GE builders number stamped on them anywhere *besides* the builders plate?

I ask because no one is certain on the exact heritage of the two Lehigh Railway units..

We know one was Conrail 2794 and the other was Conrail 2796, but we arent sure which is which! ;)

and it seems the builders plates have been stolen on both..If anyone has the chance to inspect one of these units up close to look for a number, I would appreciate it! here is what is known about them so far:

http://gold.mylargescale.com/scottychaos/owego/

check page 6 for the Lehigh Railway.

thanks,
Scot

Lehigh Railway

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