Does Danbury have something Special?

[train18393]

To add to the above response, the highest E-Unit number is an E-8, as the NYC did not roster any E9s.

IIRC They did have an E-7A that was wrecked and rebuilt with an E-8 carbody, but with the E-7 internals. I can't put my hands on the unit number right now, as I am not at home to look through my books.

All their E-Units were numbered consecutivaly, with no gap between E-7 & E-8, so I would agree that the next number would be an E-9 if they had any.

Paul

[FlyingCrow]

Actually it's an E9A.    Ex T of T, Ex UP (rebuilt to E9), Ex AMTRAK.     They sort of made this up because NYC's E unit roster really ends with locomotive 4095.

 

 

[Acela026]

Hello all,

Today I visited the Danbury (Connecticut) Railroad Museum, which was great. No complaints, all the volunteers were very friendly and we even stayed a little after closing time. 

One of the volunteers brought up something interesting. He claims that an E-units in the yard was originally the unit GM used on its "Train of Tomorrow".  Then UP bought the unit (that much we know for sure) and it ran there for several years until (according to this volunteer) New York Central bought the unit.  I have a picture of the alleged unit, now numbered New York Central 4096.

Also, the volunteer told us that 4096 started out as an E7, but it was modified when UP bought it, bringing it up to E8 standards, including replacing the rectangular windows with porthole windows.  

Can anybody verify part or all of this information?  It is a great story, but you never can be sure.  I wouldn't want to start any rumors, but if this is what I think it is, it might help with the museums publicity.  They need it. 

An interesting side note about the volunteer ("Pete") who told us this; he started chasing steam when he was 10 and got his first job running the turntable at Danbury when he was 15.  He worked for New Haven for 12 years, then Penn Central and Conrail after that. 43 years of 'hogging'.  He said something about how in his last 6 months before retiring, he was number 12 of over 1000 (or maybe 1500) hoggers in the area. Now he volunteers in the very spot where it all started. Pretty neat.

Cheers! I will try to get some photos, I know that might help in identification
Acela