Hey there everyone! I was doing some research on the KRM back in its early days in New Haven and came across some information that I was wondering if anyone could elaborate on?

Their H-12-44 Fairbanks Morse (US Army) used to run in New Haven but shortly after the museum moved there was taken out of service and I was wondering if anyone knew why? There is a very similar situation with their S-1 Alco switcher #7374.

The other thing is a small 44-ton switcher that was parked on a siding with #1846 (the H-12-44) and #7374. It was labeled "NEO 1025" but that's all the info I could find. Does anyone know what its origins were or if it was ever used at the museum?

Thanks

The #1846 was the victim of a botched attempt at converting the trucks from friction bearing to roller bearing.

Can you elaborate on this botched conversion? We have been contemplating this same conversion for a few years at SMRS. We even have wheels and converted journal boxes that came from a donor unit. Not sure where the wheels came from but they have been sitting in our yard for years.

Could someone explain to my why you would convert something like this? In excursion service, the advantages can't be much, the risk high. The original bearings are well, original, and they should be easier to repair with more primitive equipment.

Replacing the journal brass would only be a 2/3 job. There's a brass and babbited friction bearing in the gear box that rides on the axle to support the housing.

Can't tell you much, it happened forever ago. Plus all I ever heard was second hand information. From what I can understand it was either one of those "got started, got over their head, lost interest" sort of situations or "guy started it, got pissed off by group, then left in middle of project" sort of situations. Considering we're talking about KRM either one is par for the course.

In the end it all ended up with one of the power trucks disassembled and nobody bothering to put it back together while the engine floated on a shop truck for years until scrapped.



I think the logic at the time was something along the lines of not wanting friction bearings on the excursion train. When #1846 was running it was used quite often as the engine that made the pull back from Boston.


Fun fact for you Swede, when Fort Knox was liquidating railroad equipment back in the day the #1846 and her sister #1849 were supposed to both be given to BGRM. KRM pitched a fit and complained until the army gave both groups one each.

Very interesting, especially that both were supposed to go to the BGRM. Kind of ironic that one is scrapped now and one no longer runs.

I would guess trying to convert have a complete master plan and backing before even starting, to be able to work it from start to finish than..oh lets try it and see how it goes..

I don't know why friction bearings would really be an issue, keepem oiled up...had been done for years on the railroads, I recall an oil squirter on a hump yard squiring oil in opened covers while humping.

Squirting hot oil into the journal boxes at the top of the hump
wasn't for maintenance, but to ensure better and more uniform
rolling and coasting into the yard.

I forget what year the museum (KRM and BGRM) acquired 1846 and 1849, but if it was after the KRM moved to New Haven, the conversion may've dealt with CSX. I believe the museum's first years in New Haven they wanted to still run some mainline excursions (don't quote me on this) and as we all know CSX is picky about what they'll transport on their tracks, so the museum may've wanted to convert the trucks for that purpose. Other than that, I'm not really sure of a definite reason.

After doing some digging this evening I've found somethings that give me a little more information. #1846 was donated in 1993.

The Alco S-1 #7374 was acquired in 1975 and was taken out of service in 1995 in need of an overhaul of the prime mover.

NEO 1025's trail is still cold; I can't find any info at all on build dates, origin, etc. Unless it was previously KRM #76 (the museum's 44-ton #77 switcher's sister). I guess it could be possible it was repainted at some point for whatever reason since I can't find any pictures of #76.