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Reading & Northern new power

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  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Rhode Island
  • 2,289 posts
Posted by carnej1 on Thursday, January 9, 2014 11:26 AM

Mario_v
Actually not that 'new' ... Here's a video depicting their arrival at the place wich will now be called home. Video here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGk-pLKBnEM (sorry for not being embedded as usual, but on the PC I'm using I only have IE 11, and it seems to be quite a 'picky' browser with some sites) A brief description : "On January 8, 2014: 4 ex-ATSF GP30u's are destined to Reading, PA behind Norfolk Southern SD40-2 6150 and GP38-2 5303, which wears a special Operation Lifesaver paint scheme. First seen traveling east on the NS Harrisburg Line on train 961, these units were recently moved by CSX to NS in Enola Yard, where they are being forwarded to their new owner, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern, which has a major interchange with Norfolk Southern in Reading, PA. The final scene shows the train arriving in Reading at BELT interlocking, in which the train proceeds through the interlocking on the mainline and then makes a reverse move toward Reading Yard. ATSF bought 85 GP30's in the early 1960's. Originally equipped with 2,250 horsepower 567D3 prime movers, ATSF upgraded their GP30's to GP30u's prior to the BNSF merger. These locomotives now contain an EMD 645 2,500 horsepower prime mover. BNSF has since retired and sold off many of its GP30 fleet to Larry's Truck and Electric (LTEX) in Ohio. Thankfully, these four were rescued and purchased by the Reading and Northern, which will be the first four-axle road units on the R&N in years." By rhe way, even the NS units are classic ;) Another question : why having two units pulling at the head end? It doessn't seems to be a super heavy train

According to an article in an edition of "Diesel Era" magazine I have, all of the ATSF GP30/35 rebuilds retained the crankcases (i.e engine blocks) from their original 567 engines but with 645 power assemblies fitted and electrical systems upgraded.

This is also true of similar Geep 30/35 rebuilds inherited from BN. 

The units still on the BNSF roster all have alternators which replaced the as-built DC generators and Dash 2 or 3 electrical systems although IINM some of the units sold of were not rebuilt to Dash 2 standards..

"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 464 posts
Posted by Mario_v on Thursday, January 9, 2014 10:25 AM

Video link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGk-pLKBnEM

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 464 posts
Posted by Mario_v on Thursday, January 9, 2014 10:25 AM

Ok, able to edit the original, now on a PC with a cooperative browser

Actually not that 'new' ... Here's a video depicting their arrival at the place wich will now be called home.

Video here :

A brief description : "On January 8, 2014: 4 ex-ATSF GP30u's are destined to Reading, PA behind Norfolk Southern SD40-2 6150 and GP38-2 5303, which wears a special Operation Lifesaver paint scheme. First seen traveling east on the NS Harrisburg Line on train 961, these units were recently moved by CSX to NS in Enola Yard, where they are being forwarded to their new owner, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern, which has a major interchange with Norfolk Southern in Reading, PA. The final scene shows the train arriving in Reading at BELT interlocking, in which the train proceeds through the interlocking on the mainline and then makes a reverse move toward Reading Yard. ATSF bought 85 GP30's in the early 1960's. Originally equipped with 2,250 horsepower 567D3 prime movers, ATSF upgraded their GP30's to GP30u's prior to the BNSF merger. These locomotives now contain an EMD 645 2,500 horsepower prime mover. BNSF has since retired and sold off many of its GP30 fleet to Larry's Truck and Electric (LTEX) in Ohio. Thankfully, these four were rescued and purchased by the Reading and Northern, which will be the first four-axle road units on the R&N in years.

By the way, even the NS units are classic ;) Another question : why having two units pulling at the head end? It doessn't seems to be a super heavy train

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 464 posts
Reading & Northern new power
Posted by Mario_v on Thursday, January 9, 2014 6:50 AM
Actually not that 'new' ... Here's a video depicting their arrival at the place wich will now be called home. Video here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGk-pLKBnEM (sorry for not being embedded as usual, but on the PC I'm using I only have IE 11, and it seems to be quite a 'picky' browser with some sites) A brief description : "On January 8, 2014: 4 ex-ATSF GP30u's are destined to Reading, PA behind Norfolk Southern SD40-2 6150 and GP38-2 5303, which wears a special Operation Lifesaver paint scheme. First seen traveling east on the NS Harrisburg Line on train 961, these units were recently moved by CSX to NS in Enola Yard, where they are being forwarded to their new owner, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern, which has a major interchange with Norfolk Southern in Reading, PA. The final scene shows the train arriving in Reading at BELT interlocking, in which the train proceeds through the interlocking on the mainline and then makes a reverse move toward Reading Yard. ATSF bought 85 GP30's in the early 1960's. Originally equipped with 2,250 horsepower 567D3 prime movers, ATSF upgraded their GP30's to GP30u's prior to the BNSF merger. These locomotives now contain an EMD 645 2,500 horsepower prime mover. BNSF has since retired and sold off many of its GP30 fleet to Larry's Truck and Electric (LTEX) in Ohio. Thankfully, these four were rescued and purchased by the Reading and Northern, which will be the first four-axle road units on the R&N in years." By rhe way, even the NS units are classic ;) Another question : why having two units pulling at the head end? It doessn't seems to be a super heavy train

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