1950s Lackawanna unit to be preserved.

[tim o'm]

I think the Preservation thread is the best place for this story. 

As posted on the Tri-State Chapter, NRHS Facebook page, Conrail no 5460 has been rescued from Vulcan Materials (Lehigh Stone) in Kankakee, IL.  She began life as DL&W GP7 no 959 in April 1952.  Serving through the merger with Erie RR to become EL 1278, then Conrail 5993.  She was rebuilt by Conrail at Morrison Knudsen as a GP8 in 1978 to gain her current number.   After only a couple years, she was sold to Pielet Brothers scrap yard in 1981, and sold again to Lehigh Stone in 1991.  After more than 30 years away from Conrail, she still wears her can opener (or snail) and Conrail Blue markings.  

Here is what she looked like yesterday at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton.  The Delaware-Lackawanna and Tri-State are in an arrangement to have her looked at and decide what steps to take next.  She still runs!  How reliably needs to be determined.  She will be painted in Lackawanna black and be stationed at the Steamtown yard.  The Tri-State folks hope to have her work at Steamtown on occasion, too.  

Here is another view from October 6. 

Scranton is definitely becoming a center of rail preservation.  There are a lot of simultaneous projects going on, and we look forward to each piece adding to the interest of the region.

[pajrr]

I agree. Steamtown is great at preserving diesels. I am glad that an actual Lackawanna unit is back home.

[cat992c]

A high hood