Scranton

When Steamtown National Historic Site Superintendent Harold “Kip” Hagin learned his facility was to be the recipient of a second disbursement of “stimulus” money, he was overjoyed. After all, an initial round of federal moneys was used to address long standing needs in preserving the park’s steam locomotives.

However the second payment was for a very specific project. Instead of restoring the park’s steam locomotives or the many historic buildings on its 60 plus acre site, The park has been ordered to use the money to convert its “Nickel Plate” 514 diesel locomotive to an new environmentally friendly “GP-22eco” model. That diesel locomotive is used by the park to supplement its steam fleet and is used in both regular operations and during the off-season when firing up one of its steamers would be impossible due to annual repair and maintenance.

Electromotive Diesel, the spun off successor to the division of General Motors created when GM sold off its diesel locomotive manufacturing operations a few years ago, has responded to a need for railroads to maintain their aging fleets of low and medium horsepower locomotives and competition from operations rebuilding older locomotives with engines from manufacturers such as Caterpillar by developing 8 and 12 cylinder versions of their most up to date “710” diesel engines. Major railroads, including Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific have sent scores of older locomotives to be rebuilt with new diesel engines and advanced electronic control modules designed to save power and reduce emissions and fuel consumption.

The grant, which is being disbursed through the Department of Transportation, headed up by former Congressman Ray D. Hood is for 1.2 million dollars and the expenditure was approved by the Interior Department.

One critic of the stimulus program, Matt Bruyette, at the conservative Commonwealth Fund, located in Harrisburg made to the following statement: “this exemplifies the type of reckless spending that typifies the fiscal policy of the federal government. They are willing to spend a million dollars to upgrade an infrequently used locomotive that isn’t central to the mission of Steamtown.”

Secretary Hood’s office refused comment.

The conversion will be made under contract by Norfolk Southern’s Thoroughbred Mechanic Services after the 2010 operating season is completed. In its absence; visiting diesels currently located at Steamtown will handle chores normally assigned to 514. One interpretive ranger, speaking on condition of anonymity indicated in an interview that the locomotive is now over 50 years old and the conversion will provide Steamtown with what is essentially a brand new locomotive with more power (the original power rating of GP-9 locomotives was 1,750 HP, the GP-22eco rebuild is designed to produce 2,200 horsepower). He also said some park staff were hopeful that upon recommissioning Vice President Joe Biden, a one-time resident of Scranton with a long time commitment to federal expenditures would be able to attend.

That would be Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transporation, and former Republican Congressman.

Nice try, but that error gives it away.

I'm pretty certain that in reading a rather extensive list of recent DOT pronouncements and directives that the correct name is "Ray D. Hood".

Please see link below to bio page on Secretary LaHood from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_LaHood

Seriously, read the most recent things coming out of the DOT. You'll understand the individual's correct name is pronounced "Ray Dah Hood" .

I strongly agree with this statement. That's alot of money that can be used to help speed up the rebuilding of #26 and #3713.

Not quite reality, but the old girl is getting an extensive rebuild with 645 packs and other modernized components...

An almost...the price tag won't be that high though...

Post Script:

If you were one of the people who fell for this (hook, line and sinker) five years ago, (and you know who you are) it's still 4-1 Bravo Sierra.

ACTUALLY, what they're doing is putting a REALLY long extension cord inside the unit to power the traction motors. The cable reel will be spring loaded so the 514 can run on the yard shuttles without cutting the cord.

The prime mover is being replaced with a LYIN-L Brand(tm) 'Realistic Smoke Generator' to provide Realistic Steam and Smoke at Steamtown. There will also be a tank for 100% recycled coal oil to feed the Smoke Generator......