https://www.facebook.com/IRMDieselShop/ ... 9464227209

It was used as a power car by Long Island RR in later years, and is remarkably intact. Looks like the main impediments to operation, should they decide to go that far, are electrical parts stripped off by LIRR, the 244 is still in place. L&N had a line across Southern Illinois, plus 1/2 of the C&EI line along Eastern Illinois and the Monon into Chicago, so this unit is appropriate to IRM's mission.

IRM is on a roll right now, this is possibly more exciting to me than their restoration of the Santa Fe FP45 and the Rock Island Geep, both of which I have fond memories of from my childhood.

Yup, I'm following it on FB too. They have obtained traction motors for it. The biggest thing they have right now is redoing all the high and low voltage electrical. There has been no mention I see of the condition of the 244 although it is complete.

Great news, but this isn't the only ex-LIRR power car nearing the end of restoration. I'll let the owners speak for themselves, but there are two being completed, and the plan is to do them up as PRR A-A units, to be followed by L&NE A-A units. DL has one being worked on, too.
So glad to have ALCO cabs getting a break.

I am not a big L&N fan but this is one of my favorite low key pieces in IRM's collection. Partly because it felt like something that would never get restored in the old days when IRM had a much more visible "dead line".

Those photos reminded me, can someone explain the perforated material used in cabs? Was it to let the insulation "breathe"?

Sound deadening

Indeed. Having had hearing loss since I was a kid, I've spent more than my share of time in soundproof rooms getting audiograms. Back when I was a kid, some of those rooms were likely contemporaries of the Alco FA's. The interior finish was universally perforated metal.

Thanks! I had always wondered.

Came across this item, which has a disposition list of the FA power cars (scroll down):

http://sbiii.com/alco2.html

I am glad to see that the L&N Diesel is getting some work done on it. I recall a detailed article about it in Rail & Wire a couple of years ago; it may be on the R&W posts by this time, for those of you who want the details.

I has been in the IRM collection for a long time. I was just hoping for a cosmetic restoration; but this is much better.

Ted Miles, IRM Member

How did this work as a power car? What sort of power? Did they use the 244 + original traction generator to make 600V DC?

Yup.

The FA's went to GE, in New Joisey and were rewired so the power generated by the 244's went to provide electricity for heat and lights in re-purposed and "relatively modern" MU cars. The MU were freed up by the arrivals of M1 series MU's. Power on the other end was usually an ALCO C420. Long Island was an all ALCO road at the time, so rarely, an RS3 provided the power.
The platinum paint scheme was not a really great choice for ALCOs. Can you guess why? Eventually, the C420's and RS units were either retired or scrapped (the dark times) and replaced with GP38's. A select few of the FA's retained their 244's. FA1's, mostly ex-SP&S units, were rebuilt with Detroit Diesel power and termed "sleds". The 244's were scrapped. Some extremely important ALCO cab representatives operated in the fleet, but sadly one was destroyed in a fire and another in a very terrible wreck.
When the MTA retired the push-pull concept, the coaches were sold and the FA's put up for sale. A buyer came forward and purchased the lot, then sold them at a fair price to museums and private collectors. Many have languished, but some have seen return to service after extensive rebuilds. Some are cosmetically restored as representatives of the design.
If it wasn't for the LIRR, we'd likely have none. If it wasn't for the individual who rescued them a second time, there'd likely be none.
The LIRR FA's had no axle motors and provided no motive power to the trains. Rebuilding is an extensive exercise in replacing cables, rewiring or replacing electrical cabinets, and in the case of the "sleds" finding a whole new set of innards.

I found a photo of #314 in service, it managed to get the later grey and yellow scheme at some point. Ron Flanary photo:

PMC -

The light gray/yellow nose L&N scheme wasn't too bad, but can't hold a candle to the original dark blue (black?) body with crème colored stripes trimmed in red. Can't find a photo of #314 in that scheme, but here is number 359 wearing it:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/397065/

The L&N red herald on the nose is the clincher!


Les