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Narrow Gauge Diesels

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  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Marion,Iowa
  • 239 posts
Narrow Gauge Diesels
Posted by billbtrain on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 12:31 PM

I have questions about the following;

CN NF110 and NF210 built by GMD in the 50's.What trucks did these ride on?

CN G8 built by GMD.Were these units on A1A trucks?

U.S.Gypsum owned small narrow gauge power at Plaster City(?).It(or they)had 6 axles.How many were there and were they C-C OR A1A-A1A wheel arrangement?Who built them?(for reference I know they had a photo and discription in 'The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide').

Have a good one.

Bill B

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Nanaimo BC Canada
  • 4,117 posts
Posted by nanaimo73 on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 1:24 PM

Hi Bill,

USG at Plaster City had 4 steam locomotives-
4   4-4-0  Baldwin 1976
8   2-8-0  Baldwin 1980
12 2-6-0  Porter 1900
12 2-6-0  Porter 1900

And probably 8 diesels-
2      B    Plymouth 127hp 1929
40    B-B Whitcomb 300hp 1941
111  C-C Bombardier 1200hp 1982
112  C-C Bombardier 1200hp 1982
113  C-C  Bombardier 1200hp 1982
1203 C-C Porter 660hp 1946
1303 B-B  GE 390 hp 1956
1403 B-B  GE 390 hp 1956

111, 112, 113 built for the WP&Y, but were not delivered. They bought 112 and 113 during 1991, and 111 replaced wrecked 113 during 1993. 

The July 1991 Railfan and Railroad has a nice article on the operation.

Dale
  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Marion,Iowa
  • 239 posts
Posted by billbtrain on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 3:24 PM

Thanks Dale.That Porter(1203) might be the one I was thinking of.The Second Diesel Spotters Guide was published about 1973 or 74.Best diesel book ever made along with Extra 2200 South magazine of the 60's and 70's.

Here's a link to the photo of 1203     http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_usg1203.jpg

That was the unit I had in mind.Thanks again!Thumbs Up [tup]

Have a good one.

Bill B

  • Member since
    July 2005
  • From: In the New York Soviet Socialist Republic!
  • 1,391 posts
Posted by PBenham on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 5:04 PM
The Newfoundland units were all B-B units so far as I can tell. They all appeared to be using modified flexicoil or General Steel Castings type b switcher trucks. The Newfoundland line was notorious for having lots of tight curves. This may have influenced CN when the time came to buy diesels for the Newfoundland operation.
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,783 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 6:57 PM

Georgetown Loop # 130 and #140 (ex - USG 1303 and USG1403) now call the grounds of the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, CO home until Lindsay Ashby finds a new home for them.

They have no troubles with the tight curves (30+ degree) on the museum grounds.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Nanaimo BC Canada
  • 4,117 posts
Posted by nanaimo73 on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 1:42 AM

As for Newfoundland, the 6 G8 (800-805) were built during 1956 and were A1A-A1A.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_G8

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=611835

The 38 NF-210 (909-946) were built 1956-1960 and were C-C.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_NF210 

The NF-110 were 900-908.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NF110

Dale
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,476 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 6:53 AM

The G8 on CN and the DL535E's on WP&Y/USG are fairly standard export designs, they just happened to be sold in North America.  G8's were sold as B-B, A1A-A1A or C-C, depending on which options the customer wanted.  Various permutations of DL535's can be found all over the globe, the biggest collection may be in India, where they are called YDM4's and are the major power on the meter-gauge lines.

The NF110/NF210 was a custom design, although it appears that it's more of a novel arrangement of standard parts.  Some of the NF models were later sold to the Antofogasta & Bolivia Railway in Chile.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

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