Has anyone seen a VO-1000 operate lately? These old Baldwins seem quite scarce.

According to this website ("the diesel shop") there are only seven at established museums.

There are probably others in private hands. The guy pictured below is apparently a VO-660 (similar to the VO-1000), owned by the Pickens RR.

I also read here on Rypn that a VO-1000 was just scrapped in Paris, KY (TTI #9).

I kinda like these early diesels, but am possibly in the minority on this one.

(Photo credit below image)

Pickens Railroad Baldwin VO-660 #2 by Thumpr455, on Flickr

I kinda like these early diesels, but am possibly in the minority on this one.


What's not to like?

Well Supe,
I think a lot of the youngsters don't like that they sound like old Model T Ford's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyF_IkSLFTc

Edit (7/4): It was pointed out below that the video does not show a VO-1000 but a later model. It is a DS44-1000.

Poor misguided children.

You can add one more. Their list does not appear to include USN 8 at OERM http://www.oerm.org/collection/other-railroads/usn-8

SMS has a couple, from the Copper Range and also PRR, in service on their industrial line in New Jersey.

Photo of the PRR unit 9069

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 1&nseq=117

A bit off topic, but after looking at the VO-1000 clip, I noticed one for the road's AS-616, and just had to notice the operational gyrating headlight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK8hsHOPo5Q

Not quite a VO-1000 but also an early Baldwin diesel (and also not on the list from the Diesel Shop) is DS-4-4-660 #662 at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. It was restored by members of the Roanoke Chapter, NRHS after sitting in a scrap yard for close to 50 years.



Photo history of the restoration are on the Chapter's Facebook Page (no account required):
1) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.168982543154084.62990.168975893154749&type=3
2) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.354052211313782.111440.168975893154749&type=3
3) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.406934959358840.121369.168975893154749&type=3

A minor point of order: SMS 1293, featured in the video, is not a VO-1000. This loco is the successor model with a 608NA engine, built between late 1946 and early 1948. Very similar overall, but with the improvements of the 600 series engine. Later 1000 HP BLW switchers such as PRR 9069 used the 606SC engine, a 6 cyl. turbocharged version whereas the 608NA was an 8 cyl. normally aspirated.

That CW restoration is amazing, especially considering the starting condition.

I know making it run is something else entirely but looking that good, they really should if at all possible. Pretty snappy color scheme, too. Restoring an all-black unit would have been a similar amount of work but not nearly so satisfying.

Steve

They do have a spare sister in the back, so perhaps in time there might be a CW Baldwin on the prowl, in all it's wheezy glory!

Probably another $70,000 or so to make 662 run, but we are rather tired of restoring Baldwin diesels at the moment. For some odd reason mentioned in a couple of other threads, we are thinking a lot about passenger cars here lately....... It would be neat to do 663 a few years down the road, though. After watching the video, how cool would it be to see a CW unit with 6 stacks running?

"Restoring an all-black unit would have been a similar amount of work but not nearly so satisfying".

. . . unless it is painted in Western Maryland fireball. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Amen to that! When we first got our S1 Alco switcher # 310, we painted it in the Erie black paint scheme with yellow lettering and the yellow/black Erie herald. Eventually the museum opted to repaint the unit into the "snazzier" maroon/gray/yellow Erie Lackawanna paint scheme. Yes it looks sharp, but I still prefer the simple, and authentically correct, Erie black.

Les