On the grounds of the railroad museum in New Orleans, LA are two diesel locomotives that I have been told are privately owned. One is an E-8/9 still painted in the Amtrak scheme with wide red and blue bands separated by a narrow white stripe. The number on the engine is 4037. The second vintage diesel is either an SW-8 or SW-9 numbered 748. It also may have come off of Amtrak, but I am not certain. Does anyone happen to know who ownes these units? Please contact me off list if you can assist.

Thanks,
Stephen Syfrett

ssyfrett@bellsouth.net

One is
> an E-8/9 still painted in the Amtrak scheme
> with wide red and blue bands separated by a
> narrow white stripe. The number on the
> engine is 4037.

The Surviving E-Units list has the following information on this unit:

AMT 4307 E9A Stored New Orleans LA B/N: 26673 BLT: 8/61 ex AMT 468, ex AMT 414, ex AMT 1414, nee UP 909

I have a hunch that this unit (and perhaps the one below) is owned by Ed Bowers - but I can't confirm.

The second vintage diesel is
> either an SW-8 or SW-9 numbered 748. It also
> may have come off of Amtrak, but I am not
> certain.

Via Mike Palmieri's LOUISIANA·RAIL·SITE on the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal this unit is:

748 EMD · SW8 · serial no. 16327 · frame no. 4144-18 ! · Feb 1953

New York Central 9625
to Penn Central 8625 in 1968
to Conrail 8625 in 1976
to Amtrak 748 in May 1983
arrived in New Orleans on Illinois Central Gulf in Feb 1989
never used by Amtrak at NOUPT
sold, left NOUPT in Sep 1994
stored in Metairie, LA

Does anyone happen to know who
> ownes these units? Please contact me off
> list if you can assist.

Actually, please reply to the list. I (and I am sure many others) would like to know who currently owns these diesels.

Tom Cornillie

rrhistorian@hotmail.com

> Actually, please reply to the list. I (and I
> am sure many others) would like to know who
> currently owns these diesels.

> Tom Cornillie

Thanks for the information, Tom. That helps very much. Your's was the only response received so far, however, on- or off-list. Anyone else that can interject a tidbit of info?


ssyfrett@bellsouth.net

> Thanks for the information, Tom. That helps
> very much. Your's was the only response
> received so far, however, on- or off-list.
> Anyone else that can interject a tidbit of
> info?

My wife and I recently took a vacation to New Orleans, riding Amtrak's City of New Orleans both ways. Is the equipment in question the same as that which is visible from the train in the New Orleans metro area? There was some type of covered wagon and at least one (perhaps two) diesel switchers along with some other equipment. We also went by a blue station type building labeled Louisiana Railroad Museum (just a little futher out from the New Orleans Union Station.) Could they be the owners of this equipment?

In addition, we also passed by an extremely interesting wood interlocking tower labeled EAST BRIDGE JUNCTION that still looked very active. What is the prognosis for this tower? Would hate to see it go the way of so many others.

Finally, enjoyed riding the New Orleans street car (and bus) system. Their $5 per day pass was a great way to get around. And of course, riding 1920's era street cars in regular service was just super!! The new Canal Street line that is being installed is coming along and is expected to be up and running by October. I understnad that the new cars for this line will be copies of the 900 series cars currently in service. I saw a number of trolley cars but would like to get an idea of where I can get a roster (with car numbers.) Anyone have an idea?

Thanks for any info that can be furnished.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana

midlandblb@cs.com

Les,
I was located in New Orleans for three years starting in 1990. I don't know about the diesels but I can tell you about the other two items about which you inquired. The museum that you passed is at Kenner, LA, out by the airport. It is a large collection of "S", "O" and tinplate model equipment. The individual who owns the models has amassed quite a bit of rare Lionel equipment and has it on display along with a couple of operating layouts.

East Bridge Junction is operated by the CN/IC and it controls access to the east approach to the Huey P. Long Bridge and to Southport Jct which is the beginning of the NOUPT trackage. It is a busy junction, so short of remoting it to another location, it should be fairly safe for the time being.

Funny you should ask the questions as I just got done instructing a physical characteristics class for NOUPT for Amtrak train directors in Chicago. Plans are underway to remote the NOUPT trackage to Chicago in the near future.

Don C.



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