Two F7ms, geared for 83 mph, and have nice HEP plants in them, too. Think about it, Ross!!! No GE weirdness to worry about, just good old reliable 645 EMD stuff!!

Howard P.

With the grades on this train's route, two F7's would struggle to keep the train at track speed.

First unit was spotted in Philly today, a former CR C39-8:
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2140630

Quite a few have been wondering about this. Ross mentioned something about them already having cab signals, but sources indicate that the C39's lack much of the equipment that would allow them to operate into WUS. CR never outfitted the C39's with LSL equipment; all they had was the basic PRR-style CS equipment with automatic train stop. So, that alone might prohibit their use into Amtrak owned trackage without rather costly electronics upgrades and modifications.

These C-39s are an odd choice. An NS officer told me they were "pure junk" from the beginning. Why do you think NS is selling them off?
Even if they are nice engines what the heck do you do when one (or both) stall in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere? NS and CSX have mechanical "boards" or staff on call 24-7 to answer questions and offer solutions. But this scenario sets them up as free agents with no backup...who can you call? You could end up waiting hours for a backup engine or a mechanic to arrive.

I say "let Amtrak provide the power".

T7

You know what bothers me about the way this thread began? The gloating, "I told you so!" undertone we've come to expect.

A car dealer told me a story about a man who bought his daughter a hot new car for her high school graduation. He paid a bundle for the car, and when he had it delivered to the house as a surprise, the daughter came out and yelled at him, "You bought the blue one?", turned on her heal, and stormed back into her room.

So GBX begins with Diesel power and brings steam online later? Quit the self-righteous complaining and get your own steam locomotive approved. Rowland has a better chance of scratching the itch than most of us. I suggest we watch, encourage, and be grateful for his efforts.

Sheesh! Can you imagine? The blue one?

Personally, I'm really glad that these ex-Cons are getting a new lease on life in the US (instead of sending them to Brazil). I hope that it means that when GBX is done with them, there's a chance they can end up in the hands of a preservation organization who could give (at least one of them) a good home.

In terms of a start-up operation, I have to think C39-8 will give them the best ROI. Any "classic" passenger units out there would likely need tons of money for rebuilding. The same could probably be said for any F40 out there for sale. GP38-40s are really expensive and decent SD40s get snatched up the minute the become available.

As for using Amtrak power, IIRC Amtrak traffic levels are increasing and they are having difficulties keeping all their trains properly equipped so, I'm not sure Amtrak is in a position to provide power to these trains.

I had not even thought about Amtrak but any engine they use will have to be something that Amtrak has certified and agreed to use. No idea what they will think of worn out old ex-CR c-39's. That might not go over well at all. So...once again I say "let Amtrak provide the power".
And besides...if the power breaks down on a lonely mountain pass in a heavy downpour...they have to fix it.

T7

I agree with Howard! They're not your run-of-the-mill F7's either.

If the shoe fits...

I agree with Howard and Randy about the F-7ms. Not enough power to maintain track speed? How about the Erie Mining/LTV F-9s, both As and Bs? Are they still available? With some regearing, you should be able to come up with a few A-B-B-A or A-B-A sets from the two sources. All EMD, which is not an unknown quantity on Amtrak or CSX-

As far as aesthetics go, I wonder just how many of today's adults, especially the ones with the money to buy tickets, grew up with the Lionel F units? To my mind, nothing spells Streamliner, Passenger Train, or First Class better than a cab unit (have to include Alco and the others here-), on 4, 5 or 6 axles. No matter how you dress up a Dash 8-39c, it will still be a very utilitarian beast of a freight locomotive. To give the historic timeline a twist, those ugly GEs should have been hauling iron ore out of Hoyt Lakes, with the Fs as passenger power elsewhere.

Unknown quantity? The major components of a C39-8 are shared with 8-40CWs and AC4400s, and CSX has plenty of those on the property.

For the price of buying and rebuilding all three of these C39-8 they might have been able to buy and rebuild one F unit. Save that money for the steam locomotives.

The ones that ARE NOT going to pull the Greenbriar Express?

Wait, let me double-check the thread title.

Yep... thats what I thought.. no steam on the Greenbriar. So... save the money to pay for Mr. Rowland's personal assistant, maybe, but not for steam engine(s.)

If the above statement is true, then why are the Class 1's purging themselves of all the early Dash 8's, and still rebuilding second generation EMD's?

Surely, if it was that cheap and/or easy to rebuild the C39's, NS and CSX would be doing it themselves instead of disposing and/or scrapping them in the face of steadily increasing carloadings.