Quoted verbatim from Railpace Newsmagazine's online Hot News page, unattributed (unusual for HotNews) but presumable well-placed, as Railpace Magazine is based in the region:

"LAST RUNNING BL2 CATCHES ON FIRE: On Thursday afternoon, August 16, the Stourbridge Line tourist train was returning from Hawley to Honesdale, Pa. when a fire errupted inside BL2 locomotive 54. Firefighters responded on board all terrain vehicles to a wooded area near White Mills to extinguish the blaze. Passengers returned to Honesdale on board a school bus. The BL2 unit, acquired by the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce in 1988 from the Bangor & Aroostook, is the last such locomotive known in service. It is not certain if this locomotive will return to service.(posted 8/20/06) "

Now, I know there's a WM BL2 in the B&O Museum, and another out on the West Va. Central out of Belington, but I don't know if the WVC one is really running or not--I've photographed it posed on photo trips, but I think it's set up as a dead cab car.

As far as I know, the Kentucky Railway Museum's ex-Monon BL-2 #32 is operable. Operation has been spotty the past few years while the governor and blowers were rebuilt and/or replaced. I think she's running this year, or will be running soon.

The unit had an electrical fire back in the 1980s, and was rewired. During the process, it was discovered that the Monon had rewired the unit in a non-standard fashion.

Not to mention the West Virginia Central and their former Western Maryland BL-2 that's still in operation. But the fact that it is one of the last operating B&A BL-2's is disconcerting.

What? I'm a B&A fan, we're to railfanning what Red Sox fans are to Baseball?

-Justin

Unit is former Bangor and Aroostock (sic), symbol BAR--no Boston and Albany (which, along with parent NYC) did not have BL2s rostered. BAR was the last major operating fleet in the country. I believe about six units are still in operational or near operational condition nationwide.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

I hope that somebody here can provide more detailed information about this event. From past media reports I have read, this description could mean anything from a stack fire (rather innocuous) to something more serious (like an electrical cabinet fire).

I am hoping for the best -

Tom Cornillie

Your absolutely right, Technically it's the BAR, locally it is still referred to as the B&A. (Again here in Northern New England, at least parts of Maine, Boston and Albany vs. Bangor and Aroostook is very similar to Red Sox vs.Yankee's) ;-).

There are four exBAR BL-2's left, This information comes from Jerry Angier's Bangor and Aroostook In Color by Morning Sun Books Inc; These include the 52 and 56 (Monhart) and the 57 (Coles Transportation Museum).

-Justin

The 57 is really well preserved. It is permanently indoors in the Coles museum, and went there directly from BAR.

Coles has done a beautiful job of displaying 57 indoors, along with ex-MEC wooden boxcar and caboose. I have heard various rumors that the locomotive is intact, others saying it has no Prime Mover, and another saying saying everything but the traction motors. I'll try to check this out and get back to the group. The Bangor and Aroostook is no longer a company, having been succeeded by the Montreal, Maine, and Atlantic. The successor company is, however, very cognisant of its heritage. They maintain an F3 (stored, unserviceable) in Derby Shops. At the time of the BL2 donation, there was a caveat which stated that BAR could withdraw the locomotive if they ever disapproved of the care of the locomotive. There appears to be no liklihood of that happening, since the Museum has done an elegant job of preservation. With the exception that we'd love to see her running again, everyone would be delighted with the preservation.

The caboose which resides in the Cole Land Transportation Museum with BL2 57 is MEC 660, which began life as Western Maryland 1878, one of 105 home-built steel NE style cabs. WM 1878 was sold to Maine Central in June 1962, along with four other WM cabs (1804, 1837, 1838, 1904), by the Marshall Railway Equipment Company.

It's always dangerous to say something is the "last" because inevitably, someone will find an exception.

Better to say "one of the last "

Bob H