McHugh Locomotive and Equipment is proud to announce that we have assisted another heritage railroad with their preservation efforts.

The Northern Central Railway has purchased former US Army 80-ton GE locomotive No. B1685 from McHugh Locomotive & Equipment. The McHugh team delivered the locomotive from the Letterkenny Army Depot / Pennsylvania Southern RR to New Freedom, PA by truck. The locomotive was loaded earlier this week and delivered today (09/25/24). The McHugh Company has transported countless pieces of historic rail equipment over the road without an issue.

The railroad has been shut down since the beginning of September due to the lines GP-9 diesel locomotive being out of service. The Northern Central Railway plans to restart operations as soon as possible with their new diesel locomotive which will be numbered 32.

Ann & JC McHugh also donated a unique Hancock air whistle that will be installed onto the No. 32.

The photos below show the move and delivery to the Northern Cenrtal Railway.

The locomotive is ex-US Army 1685 that departed Fort Belvoir, VA, in August 1993 for Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD), PA after the post utility railway shut down. LEAD had previously been home to two Alco MRS1 locomotives numbered B2044 and B2052 that were acquired by the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum and later scrapped. USA 1685 was renumbered by the local rail crew by hand at LEAD as B1685 because they believed all Army locomotives were supposed to have a B prefix, not understanding the B prefix on the MRS1s meant the locomotives were equipped with steam boilers. Why they thought the Army was sending them improperly numbered locomotives and that it was their responsibility to “correct the error” is not clear.

The number of this locomotive may sound familiar to RYPN readers. Earlier this year it was announced this same locomotive was to be leased by the WMSR. Here is a picture of it repainted into Western Maryland colors:

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Did this engine ever go to WMSR/GCK before the recent move to Northern Central? Where’d the other center cab wind up?

I went up to the Georges Creek line in the spring to see if anything was happening there, but I saw no trace of ex-USA 1685 or any activity to restore the line, nor have I heard of any since then. I don't know if the locomotive ever went to the WMSR but I didn't see it on the George Creek line.

Reportedly McHugh acquired ex-USA 1674 as well but I've seen nothing about it since leaving Letterkenny AD.

We’re happy to report that GE 80-ton center cab No. 32 operated perfectly at the Northern Central on its first weekend at work. The railroad was very pleased with its performance and economic operation.

To address the question about providing an 80-ton GE locomotive to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad if it requires additional motive power for the George's Creek RR. The answer is yes, our red 80-ton GE locomotive that was also located at the Letterkenny Army Depot is still available.

However, we have this 80-ton unit, as a number of other locomotives available for sale to heritage railroads, industrial rail operations, and short lines that are looking to purchase a locomotive.

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... on-diesel/
NCRy at one time had two geeps, one of which was an ex-PRR unit rebuilt at Paducah as a GP10 (or GP-8 I think Conrail called them) a long time ago, plus the new-build steamer.

One geep returned out of lease
Other one has broken air compressor, railroad lacks maintenance personnel to make the repair and cancelled rides
Steamer is undergoing inspection refit period