The recent topic regarding 2 free 45-ton GEs being offered by a Louisville, KY mfg. plant prompts me to ask if y'all know of other "free" small-ish engines available in the south, southeast or mid-Atlantic regions. I volunteer on the Craggy Mountain Line, a start-up shortline on former Southern Ry trackage north of Asheville, NC. We are now restoring 2 ex-SR bay window cabs, an ex-CB&Q Model 20 Edwards car and an Asheville trolley. An open-air car will be built on top of a SR 53' flat.

We have tight curves and a short 3% grade near the shop area and, although our train length will be only 3-4 lightweight cars, we still need some oomph to get over the line. Ideally, we're looking for an SW-1, NW-2, SW-7/-9/-1200, but will consider 44t, 45t and 70t GE's. Non-turbocharged Alco switchers may also be considered but are not of primary interest due to parts unavailablity.

While it's nice to have a decent, scenic run and restored equipment, nothing moves without motive power and that's where we're lacking. Any suggestions, legitimate sources, etc. would be appreciated. We have equipment moving capabilities and are classified as a non-profit tourist/museum line, so donations can be completely written off.

Jim King
Asheville, NC

Ozark Mountain Railcar usually has some decent stuff.

http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/index.htm

For those whose jaws crashed as badly as mine did, this has to be the car in question: CB&Q 507, built 1925-26 and last seen/photographed at Cape Charles, Va. on what was supposed to be the Bay Coast RR excursion operation (apparently stillborn):

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?m ... ay2009.jpg

At the risk of utterly spectacular topic drift, I ask:
Where was this car hiding before the Bay Coast/Edwards/Torrico/whoever found it?
And has anything come of the Cape Charles excursion operation plans?

For the record, an Edwards car is the perfect car for a small operation out of Asheville, as N.C.-based Edwards built cars for several short lines in the N.C. area, including the Morehead & North Fork (Model 25 #200, now at California Western) and the Smoky Mountain RR.......

According to the group's website it is NOT 507, but 9505.

http://craggymountainline.com/index.php?page=Car-9505

[jaw crashes yet again]

The "Q" car is indeed 9505. The body was found in Iowa minus (as usual) any signs of running gear and only had a skeleton of a frame. To date, the exterior has been restored with new windows, replaced steel, rubber roof, new windows and dark green paint. The interior is gradually being worked on. Ex-PCC trucks are under the car but we are still debating the best powering method ... leaning heavily toward diesel/hydraulic.

Western NC is a hot bed of preservation lately, and the Craggy Mountain Railroad will be a spectacular destination once it is up and running. If you would like to see all of this activity, in a very shameless plug, I urge you to make plans to attend the upcoming National Narrow Gauge Convention, Sept 9-10, in Hickory, NC.

www.narrowgauge2011.com

Even if you don't care about narrow gauge specifically, there is the NCTM at Spencer (50miles east from Hickory), along with their completely original Hampton & Branchville Edwards car (and marvelous facilities & collection); the Alexander Chapter-NRHS with Edwards Yadkin#100 and the ongoing restoration of narrow gauge boxcars from the Chester & Lenoir; ET&WNC; and Lawndale (in Hickory); and the Craggy Mtn Line. That's 3 Edwards cars within 100 miles of each other. Of course, you still get the old Southern Old Fort Loops, the Clinchfield Loops, and the Alexander Railroad, which still regularly operates two Alcos and a 44-tonner. And that's just what is within a 60 minute drive!

Make your reservations soon- two hotels have filled up and the third is getting there...

Shameless plug over, but a chunk of the convention proceeds go toward RR preservation!

Matt Bumgarner

Sandy,

The photo you provided of the CB&Q car was owned by Miner Rail Services.

The Morehead & North Fork was located squarely in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with a connection to the C&O, not in North Carolina. You are right, they did have an Edwards car.

Well.....a short search thru bing shows an edwards car at Virginia and Truckee RR in virginia city, nevada.... it is the 507 mentioned earlier.
for those who don't know.....
Miner had two edwards cars.....the 507 they had running, using modified PCC trucks and a chevy gas engine.....kind of a odd layout with no reversing gear box.
I had been wondering what happend to the 9505.......any body know where the 0-4-0 steam loco went?
Miner also had two ex P&W cars one was rebuilt to look like an edwards model 20 and is currently in Montgomery....The other, I heard, went to some place like oklahoma? not too sure there.....
@Jim King,
I think it's a bit interesting for ya'll to choose PCC trucks......If you look at the Edwards car at spencer, you'll notice that the truck is nearly entirely made of simple steel channel sections.... shouldn't be too hard to make a reasonably good set.....
perhaps use a set of 33" caboose wheels with 5 1/2 x 9 or 10 EE bearings?.....
Bolt or weld instead of rivets,etc.....
Having seen the PCC truck arrangement before..... well,.... they could have done alot better.
Going the diesel engine route is also a definite must......maybe use a nice cummins B, or if you want lots of horsepower, a 6.9L early power stroke?
I'm not too sure about a hydraulic.....hasn't worked out too well in most RR uses I've seen, at least with edwards cars....... How much were ya'll planning to run it?

(Miner also had two ex P&W cars one was rebuilt to look like an edwards model 20 and is currently in Montgomery....The other, I heard, went to some place like oklahoma? not too sure there..... )

El Reno, Oklahoma is where that ex-P&W car is located.