Hi,

I've got a question for the fine folks at the Western Maryland Scenic Ry, Have there ever been any consideration to a pair of F units for their passenger trains instead of the GP30's?

Reason for asking is because of the current availability of the two former Marc F9PH units from the now defunct Iowa Pacific RR. These units are fairly rare and have a direct connection to the state of Maryland. Being used from the 1980's to the early 90's in commuter rail service within the state. Both are ex B&O units that might have also seen service in B&O livery in Maryland at some point.

The F9PH is a rare breed, with their strange pilots fitted by Boise Locomotive on request of the MDOT during their overhaul. Both of the units for sale had seen service supplying HEP for the early years of the American Orient Express train as well. At least unit #84 had, as it appears in quite a few photos of the AOE train behind their own GP40 and GP40-2. As well as Chessie and later CSX power.

The #82 and #84 are the only two of the F9PH units still in original configuration. The others have since lost their unique pilots.

I'm not suggesting WMSR go out and buy these two diesels. I'm only asking if any thought to F unit power had been considered?

Robert

I can't speak for the WMSR, but I imagine their plate is full in trying to raise enough money to restore the ex-C&O mallet #1309. There's also the little matter of satisfying environmental concerns at their WV shop facility, lengthening the siding in Frostburg, etc. etc. etc.

The WMSR also recently acquired F40PHM-2 #450 from LTEX, back in September 2018.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=5206975

Not as handsome or historic as the F units, but it seems to be serving their needs for the time being.

This seems to be the current paint scheme on #450 ("Polar Express")? As found on the WMSR Facebook page from December 2019:

Interesting.

Does this unit still retain the HEP package? I thought these all had been rebuilt as GP40-2 units for working freight trains originally.

The current condition of the two F9PH units can be seen in the updated photos on Ozark Mountain Railcar. https://ozarkmountainrailcar.com/railEquipmentGrid.php?category=Locomotives

These units would look good in WM or their old Marc paint scheme. Certainly more classy than that ugly square box on wheels!

Like I said,

I'm not suggesting the WMSR go out and acquire these F9PH units. They certainly would fit well on the WMSR because of their historical connection to Maryland.

Robert

I hope they use that paint scheme for the #1309!

Some pictures of Marc F9PH's #82 & 84.

http://rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=87295

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=87297

They'd look good in WM passenger colors!

Robert

Once upon a time, probably in the late 80's,MARC, a "Cycle Across Maryland" special from Baltimore all the way to Frostburg. It was part of a memorable 2 special -train day, as we also ran a special from Cumberland to Baltimore for a baseball game. I deadheaded the baseball train to Cumberland after the Friday evening rush hour and the next morning rode the that equipment east-bound out of Cumberland, jumping off at Martinsburg, to catch the west-bound back to Cumberland/Frostburg. I can vividly remember the "Cycle Across Maryland" train had three silver, orange and black F9PH locomotives on the point. A CSX engineer ran the train from Baltimore all the way to Frostburg, but deferred when it came time to come down the hill. The WMSR supervising engineer who brought the train down the hill out of Frostburg did a masterful job that day, handing the train back to the CSX engineer at the station in Frostburg, and we all lived happily ever after. I will see if I have any pictures of the train and post them separately here, if I do.

Both GP30's have been tired enough that two fall seasons ago, it was a 'make or break moment' to get a second reliable locomotive to pull the fall rush. Faced with that situation, something had to be done, and fast.

If you had the luxury of money and time, yes, it would have been nice, but remember above all, that's a tough piece of railroad and you need a reliable locomotive with both dynamics, air, and functioning transition.

That F40 rebuild came through Central Maine & Quebec, and those kind of rebuilds were generally stripped of the gensets, moved to standard EMD transitioning like a GP40-2, and had the freight switching pilots added (which are a requirement if a locomotive is used in road switching, BTW). WMSR has also put together its own genset car since Dec 2019:
https://www.facebook.com/WMSRailroad/po ... 9872947970

That freight switching pilot makes it sorta resemble a BL-2.