Norfolk Southern SD45-2 1700

o484 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:53 am

Norfolk Southern has painted SD45-2 1700 in its original Erie-Lackawanna livery.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:55 am

That is beautiful. I wonder what has induced NS to be so heritage friendly?

NH0401 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:06 am

NS Mech. Dept (from the VP on down)and the various system shops are chock full of folks who appreciate 'railroad heritage'...and can execute these tributes.

Dave

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

It's a shame that it's going to be limited to the Shared Assets area in Jersey, especially considering NS recently took over portions of the Nicholson Cutoff

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2605

I'm glad, as a stockholder to see that the new management is continuing with Mr. Moorman's initiatives.

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

A really nice job by NS.

Looks as good as it did the night we signed in into service at the diesel shop in Marion, Ohio following its receipt from La Grange. The entire order of SD45-2's came out in one string hauled from Chicago by a single GP35.

Former Erie Lackawanna 3669 if I remember correctly.

PC

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

Does look very good! Who cares where it runs. At least it runs!

As recently as 3 months ago, one of the xEL SDP45s (with no steam generator but
the longer carbody and frame for larger fuel tank), still in UP paint, was sitting in the back lot at VMV Paducah.

Dennis Storzek · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2015 6:59 pm

I'm rather surprised they are still rebuilding units of this vintage. I would have thought this was a "paint-it-up-pretty" for a museum. Sure hope it looks this good when they do donate it.

LeoA · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2015 12:30 am **Posts:** 312

Doesn't surprise me, she's essentially a SD40-2 these days and Norfolk Southern is busy rebuilding locomotives of this vintage for the future. They just upgraded her cab not long ago with things like a new AC system and an electric handbrake. So it's clearly not being done with museum donation in mind.

While I'm not about to complain, too bad it wasn't picked from 1703-1705. Unlike the first three, these still have their 20 cylinder engines. But that's probably for the best where her longevity is concerned. If one of those has a failure during a business downturn like some worry we're returning to, there's less chance it would be repaired or perhaps repowered with a 16-645 like some of their sisters have had done.

Does NS happen to own any former NYC GP40's? None of the 105 units survived to the end of Conrail, but most have enjoyed second lives elsewhere including a few being rebuilt as GP38-2's for BNSF in recent years. Would love if one made it in a roundabout way to Norfolk Southern's roster and was done up similarly.

Andy J · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 12:36 am **Posts:** 63

NS is really showing it'self to be a class act... Now contrast their heritage program with CSX's latest heritage unit...

From Trains magazine:

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/20 ... ocomotives

And BNSF's heritage hoppers, here is a photo I found using google image search for those that have never seen them..

LeoA · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2015 12:30 am **Posts:** 312

Not even a poor attempt at a heritage program. They only do this to protect their legacy trademarks.

Dougvv · **Joined:** Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:52 pm **Posts:** 914

Hi,

I must thank Southern/NS on again-off again interest in its Hertage.

Southern's Steam Program (1960s-1991 or 1992) was the era I went from 6th grade to my first job in 1980.

Doug vV

scottychaos · **Posted:** Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:35 pm

LeoA wrote:

Does NS happen to own any former NYC GP40's? None of the 105 units survived to the end of Conrail, but most have enjoyed second lives elsewhere including a few being rebuilt as GP38-2's for BNSF in recent years. Would love if one made it in a roundabout way to Norfolk Southern's roster and was done up similarly.

No known New York Central units are with NS..
They do however have some PRR SD40's, rebuilt into SD40-2R units by Conrail..
NS has ten of them, and they classify them as SD40-2's..although they are still in their shorter SD40 carbodies:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3452786

NS also has some SD40's built new for PC, that went through the same Conrail SD40-2R rebuild program. and some Penn Central SD38's, GP38's and GP38-2's.

and I think thats it for NS..some PRR and PC locos, but no original New York Central:

http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychao ... rkCentral/

Scot

LeoA · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2015 12:30 am **Posts:** 312

I believe that you're correct that no former NYC GP40 made it here (The only likely candidates). But I'm pretty sure that it's seven former PRR SD40's.

They got 12 former PRR SD40's that had been rebuilt by Conrail, at the split. But as part of their recent trade with NS that saw 12 former Conrail SD40-2 conversions going to CSX for a like number of their SD80MAC's, 5 of these have departed and are now CSX owned and entering their rebuild program.

Rounding out the 11 SD40-2R's that remain on the roster, I see a former B&O/CNJ unit and three former KCS units. The two Penn Central ordered units went to CSX in exchange for two of the SD80MAC's that have recently joined the NS roster.

Numbered among Conrail's regular SD40-2's though was a 1995 replacement for a wrecked SD40-2, #6449. Not normally counted with Conrail's SD40-2R's, this wreck replacement started life as a Penn Central SD40 and remains on the NS roster and is still numbered amid a bunch of late 70's CR SD40-2's rather than with the other 11 conversions.

railfan261 · **Joined:** Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:30 pm **Posts:** 226

Oh my, what a treat number 1700 is. Norfolk Southern sure has outdone itself with its heritage this time. Not only do we have new units in vintage paint schemes, they are repainting veteran units into the paint schemes of their original owners too.