ARHS Alco's

arjay3 · **Joined:** Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:50 pm **Posts:** 162

wilkinsd wrote:

Nice to see a former L&N unit (The NYC-painted Alco FA-2) in good hands.

Those Alco cab united lasted a long time on the L&N, into the mid to late 1960s as they had cab signaling equipment, then used on parts of the L&N's Cincinnati to Knoxville main line. It's funny to see photos of battered and beaten Alco FA-2s leading a 3 unit set of brand new L&N GP-30s on hot auto parts trains. Though, the L&N wanted to discontinue ATC/ATS on its system, and didn't want to invest in the equipment for new locomotives.

Of course, turning these ex LIRR "Power Packs" into locomotives again is a complicated job, just ask RYPN poster "NH0401" who was involved in a similar project for RMNE. It's not as simple as putting traction motors back in and hitting the start button!

Need to remember these were the last American made FA2's. The one pictured was built in 1956 so it wouldn't have reached 15 years old (normal retirement time) until 1971.
Really curious why L&N bought Alco cabs so late and they came with 244 engines when Alco had already started building locomotives with the 251 engine.
I'd love to see a photo such as you describe with the FA leading the newer power.

RWJ

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:27 am

For those unfamiliar with the LIRR "rescue" of ALCO FA's, the railroad used them as Push-Pull cabs, with a C420 on one end, some "newer" former MU cars as coaches, and the FA on the opposing end. They acquired FA cabs from the L&N, SP&S, WM, NYC, and NH, via General Electric in New Jersey, which extensively rebuilt the old freight cabs. Several died while in service, due to fires or wrecks, but most were saved, purchased by a third party, and re-sold to collectors. Thus, we have examples of FA cabs today. A minority of the FA cabs kept their 244's while in service, but most were gutted and rebuilt with Detroit Diesel generator sleds. In the conversion, they lost grills, nose grates, and other characteristics.
LIRR never ran FA's in the era of cab units, but tested a PA, and eventually purchased and ran F-M C-liners for a decade +.