470 RR Club Acquires B&M GP9 72 from Heber Valley RR

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Dec 24, 2020 8:38 pm

Via Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/470RailroadClu ... 6655684557

Quote:

470 RAILROAD CLUB NEWLY PURCHASED GP9 #72

The 470 Railroad club is proud to announce the purchase of GP9 #72 (Formerly Boston and Maine 1741) from Heber Valley Railroad. The 72 is currently located at the Pan Am Railways Waterville Maine Shop.

The 72 was originally part of a 50-unit order from EMD of GP9s (1700-1749) for the Boston and Maine. The 1741 (serial number 23239) was built in July of 1957 and served the Boston and Maine for many years in road and yard service all over New England. After GTI (Guilford Transportation Industries) purchased the Boston and Maine in the 1980s, the 1741 was renumbered to the “72” which hasn’t changed to this day. This locomotive is powered by a 567C block engine with a D12 main Generator. Properly maintained this locomotive is capable of producing 1750 HP. At some point in 72’s life, it was rewired to a GP18 standard, however it was not renumbered into the 1800 series like many of the other GP9s were. At this point in time 72 [was] one of only four remaining B&M GP9s.

The Heber Valley Railroad acquired the 52 (formerly B&M 1726) and 77 (formerly B&M 1738) from Pan am along with the 72 back in 2017. The 52 and 77 power tourist trains in Heber City, Utah. The only other surviving B&M GP9 is the 1732 which resides at the Railroad Museum of New England in Connecticut and is undergoing restoration after a mechanical failure. The 72 was last operated sometime in 2017. Its last run was on WA-1 the Waterville switcher. On its daily assignment, 72 was headed to Oakland, Maine to switch a scrap dealer when it encountered an electrical fire. The #3 traction motor leads started on fire behind the generator due to poor insulation and being soaked in oil. Oakland fire officials promptly extinguished the fire, however at the time Pan Am made the decision to retire the locomotive rather than perform the repairs it needed to operate again.

At this time, we are aware that in order for 72 to operate again, the #3 traction motor leads should be replaced, the main generator should have insulated paint reapplied to the AC windings, and we must replace the traction motors that Pan Am had removed prior to selling the locomotive to the Heber Valley Railroad. The stacks have been properly covered and the motor is free of water and easily bars over. With a little care at the North Conway shops there is no reason why we can’t see the 72 operational again in the future.

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Thu Dec 24, 2020 11:35 pm

This engine is an interesting acquisition, and not for the reason you might think.

There are photos of dead B&M FT's headed for La Grange and passing through PRR's East Altoona yard in 1957. They were trade-ins on GP-9's such as the 1741 (72) but meanwhile PRR was still using steam at East Altoona, in both yard and road service.

And B&M was going into their second generation of road diesels.

Phil Mulligan

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2020 12:47 pm

EJ Berry wrote:

This engine is an interesting acquisition, and not for the reason you might think.

There are photos of dead B&M FT's headed for La Grange and passing through PRR's East Altoona yard in 1957. They were trade-ins on GP-9's such as the 1741 (72) but meanwhile PRR was still using steam at East Altoona, in both yard and road service.

And B&M was going into their second generation of road diesels.

Phil Mulligan

And B&M was also getting what might be called an early second-generation paint scheme as well, courtesy of the McGuinness management. (There's a reason this blue scheme looks a lot like that of the New Haven's red, white, and black in style.)

DMB builder's photo from American Rails:

https://www.american-rails.com/bm.html

Howard P. · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2020 2:45 pm

McGinnis. Patrick B. McGinnis. "Guinness" is a form of "beverage" that some people find palatable.

Herbert Matter was the graphic designer who did both the New Haven and B&M corporate redesigns. Matter worked for Knoll Associates (Florence Knoll: graphic design, furniture, architecture) and Lucille McGinnis was friends with Florence Knoll.

The official records show these B&M GP9s as number-for-number trade-ins for B&M FT units. There is a Jim Shaugnessy photo at Mechanicville, NY showing B&M FT 4200 and B&M GP9 1700 in the same frame.

We have both builder's plates from B&M 1732 (courtesy of Mr. Muldowney), and they are stamped "REBUILT" above the MAY 1957 date. Like 98% of EMD "rebuilds" of traded-in locomotives, it was an accounting exercise.

Howard P.

Pat Fahey · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2020 6:51 pm

Hi All
Here is a shot at South Station, taken by Bill Rogerson when the B&M was working out of that location. Nice shot Bill and the unit is clean.

Attachment:

File comment: photo by Bill Rogerson nice work

Pictures_of_BM_1741.jpg [ 16 KiB | Viewed 5734 times ]

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

I wonder if there is a video that shows the evolution of the B&M logo that is the counterpart of the one for the New Haven -- you wouldn't believe how awful just about everything but the final iconic version is:

https://vimeo.com/57203024

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2020 9:03 pm

Howard P. wrote:

McGinnis. Patrick B. McGinnis. "Guinness" is a form of "beverage" that some people find palatable.

Herbert Matter was the graphic designer who did both the New Haven and B&M corporate redesigns. Matter worked for Knoll Associates (Florence Knoll: graphic design, furniture, architecture) and Lucille McGinnis was friends with Florence Knoll.

Howard P.

Thank you for the corrections and expansions, that what happens when you're working from memory, it isn't a road you normally follow, and you don't have time to look things up!