http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypXNubHkOjM

Otto Vondrak posted at the forums at Trains.com:

"Metro-North hauled six CDOT-owned FL9m's dead-in-two from Harmon Shop to New Haven, Connecticut last night [June 16th]. In a bit of twisted irony, a brand-new Brookville BL20-GH did the honors. The FL9's were decativated in February and March, and have been sitting at Harmon shut down with their stacks capped ever since. The New Haven-painted units belong to CDOT, while two Metro-North FL9's remain at Harmont (MN 2008 and "NYC" 2012). There are also two rebuilt F10's (rebuilt F3's purchased secondhand from MBTA) at Harmon as well."

Anyone know if preservationists are after any of these? Or will these end up with the next random heavy-rail commuter start-up who-knows-where? Charleston? Phoenix? Oklahoma City?

Would these engines still be viable for continued commuter use, or are they too worn out, and just too old (changes in rules, past the magic 50 or so years, old brake schedules, lower HP rating) to be realistically workable.

Would Federal and/or state rules allow spending on these engines.

It would be fun to see these working somewhere with a couple of Bombardier cars in light service.

Probably a better end than rotting in some back 40.

How many of these are currently preserved and in what condition or situation.

Ooh-I wish Utah Transit Authority's FrontRunner would pick them up. (If wishes were horses...) From the YouTube video it appeared that they were still shiny!

The six CDOT M-K FL9s are stored by CDOT, pending future developments. It is entirely possible that they will be leased (or sold outright, given CT's budget deficit) to another North American transit agency. CDOT may choose to retain them for the about-to-be instituted CDOT NH-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail service.

MNCR "capped" the stacks in their usual manner-- duct tape and plastic. That has a half-life of about 2 months at best. EMD engines don't do very well with rainwater down the stack.

As for other FL9 news, this past Saturday 6/20/09, RMNE installed a set of good batteries in our FL9 2019 (ex-CDOT, a 1985 Chrome Loco rebuild) and started the unit, as prep for operation on our excursion train this season.

RMNE has 2019 and 2002, both 1985 rebuilds, and NH 2059 (MNCR 2033/PC 5059), which is unservicable at this time. 2059 is the last F unit built, in November 1960.

Two other Connecticut museums have FL9s; Danbury has two, Willimantic has one. I do not know if any of those three are operational.

Howard P.
Shoe Beam, CT

Man, I bet the designers of that distinctive F-Unit look in the late 30s and early 40s never dreamed that there would still be F units being retired from revenue service almost a decade into the 21st century.

They sure made a pretty locomotive, here's to you guys, I wish you were here to show em how to build a modern passenger locomotive that was not as ugly as sin.

Rumor has it north of the border in a french speaking province........................

Don't spill the beans, Mikey!!! Or should that be "don't spill the poutine, eh"?

Howard P.
Labatt's, CT

It certainly is fitting that the final 6 FL9s in MN service appeared in the proper, as delivered colors. With 5 currently preserved in CT the class will not be extinct like the Alco DL109s became.
Seeing what the RMNE repair crews are going through with a waterlogged EMD 567 engine obtained from MN, I echo the concerns of the current protection of the CDOT engines. Hopefully someone in New Haven will see fit to protect the state's investment. If railroad museums can fit the stacks with metal covers the commercial railroads should be able to!

I wonder if one could be fitted with a trolley pole and run? I would love to see one at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum, It's not like we are overflowing with equipment after all. Also what about the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad Museum they have next to nothing.