Historic ERIE/C&O diesels in Nebraska

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Short note on the Ahead of the Torch (AOTT) website concerning ex-Erie GP7 # 1202 and ex-Chesapeake & Ohio SD-18 # 7303 at the Central Valley AG plant in Seward, Nebraska. The GP7 is in Conrail paint as CR number 1096(?) and the SD-18 in primer. Both units appear to be in good shape and deserve to eventually be preserved.

Les

SD70dude · **Posted:** Mon May 02, 2022 1:23 pm

From a few years ago, an unconventional air compressor replacement. But like they say, it's not stupid if it works!

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/692905/

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

SD70dude -

"Custom" compressor not in evidence in current photos, so apparently the compressor "problem" has been taken care of. Headlight on Erie unit now slightly "askew", but obviously fixable.

Les

NJDixon · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:36 pm **Posts:** 363

I wonder how the pilot on the GP8 got absolutely mangled. Also worth noting that the SD18 rides on trucks from the RSD-5s that C&O traded in on SD18s.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

I wonder if there are any museums that operate on both ex-C&O and ex-Erie track. Hmm....

(LOL, sorry about the unfunded mandate).

QJdriver · **Posted:** Mon May 02, 2022 5:18 pm

Mr Dixon, Take it from somebody who's been there and done that, the pilot got a makeover when this locomotive ran off the end of track, and buried itself drawbar deep. You notice that the pilot had been wiped out at least once before, and repaired with what looks to be 1/4" plate, making it easier to crush..... notice the new hardware holding this plate on. Whatcha wanna bet it came from Wal Mart ??

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

PMC wrote:

I wonder if there are any museums that operate on both ex-C&O and ex-Erie track. Hmm....

PMC -

Kind of funny. But it turns out that the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum starts its passenger runs from its depot located on ex-Erie Railroad right-of-way and quickly switches over onto ex-Chesapeake & Ohio track.

Les

nedsn3 · **Posted:** Tue May 03, 2022 12:56 am

"Both units appear to be in good shape and deserve to eventually be preserved."

Why? Neither model is rare or even scarce.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

nedsn3 wrote:

"Both units appear to be in good shape and deserve to eventually be preserved."

Why? Neither model is rare or even scarce.

Are any former Erie road units saved? A former DL&W GP-7/8 that was saved a few years back was the last Lackawanna diesel. And the SD-18 was delivered with repurposed Alco tri-mount trucks.

Christopher Stone · **Joined:** Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:23 am **Posts:** 74

PMC wrote:

And the SD-18 was delivered with repurposed Alco tri-mount trucks.

I would think the museums would be clamoring all over to get that one; what else better tells the tale of EMD's use of trade-in parts?

Mark Hedges · **Posted:** Tue May 03, 2022 9:06 am

Yeah those trucks sell it for sure.

NJDixon · **Joined:** Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:36 pm **Posts:** 363

I wouldn't exactly say there is a glut of preserved SD18s either. The Diesel Shop only lists three preserved SD18s (and one GP18).

Dave · **Posted:** Tue May 03, 2022 12:33 pm

But this is probably the only one remaining with the tinfoil pilot and nose mounted outrigger compressor modification. This makes it more special than the common road units.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

Les Beckman wrote:

PMC -

Kind of funny. But it turns out that the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum starts its passenger runs from its depot located on ex-Erie Railroad right-of-way and quickly switches over onto ex-Chesapeake & Ohio track.

Les

Actually, that was my point, you guys are the obvious destination for the two units, but I'm not the one writing the check for transport. By the looks of that Rube Goldberg air compressor the units will need a lot of work to move by rail before even considering if they will need modifications. As they were in service with Class Is late it is possible that they both have self-centering coupler pockets, but the GP-7 has Hyatt non-rotating endcap bearings (can't see the SD-18's trucks) and I don't know if UP (presumably) would move them without the extra fee for a hospital train.

SD70dude · **Posted:** Tue May 03, 2022 8:15 pm

PMC wrote:

.....the GP-7 has Hyatt non-rotating endcap bearings (can't see the SD-18's trucks) and I don't know if UP (presumably) would move them without the extra fee for a hospital train.

Are Hyatt journals really not allowed by certain railroads these days?

At work we (CN in Canada) still have a lot of older yard power and even SD40-2s with this type of bearing, so for me it's weird to think of them being an issue.

Our newest rebuilt yard engines even came back from Progress Rail last year with them:

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=44150