What is the deal with the BL2

[jwr_1986]

Recently I saw a BL2 that pulls the Stourbridge line rail excursion and it made me wonder why the BL2 was designed that way. They are pretty cool but I talked to the crew and they said they hate working off of it. I was just wondering some of the history behind this locomotives design and who had them.

Jesse

[rrinker]

Early EMD attempt to get into the road switcher market after they got caught napping by Alco with the RS-1 and RS-2.
Why EMD would design something so crazy after seeing proof that a hood style unit works, and works well, is beyond me. But then, they ARE part of GM, and lookign at the way GM designs cars... What they did was cut down the truss frame that supported F units to allow move visibiity for switching, but that also reduced the frame strength, while still not providing as much visibility to the engineer as a true hood unit.
After not selling very many, they finally came up with the GP-7 and got it right.

--Randy

[leighant]

BL stands for "branch line". It was intended by EMD to be a small diesel, smaller and able to go both backwards and forwards in one unit, more easily than covered wagon F-units, E-units, etc. But intended to be more than a yard switcher.
Not so easy to see for switching, although odd shaped body is a little better than switching with an F-7.
The BLs were superceded by hood unit road switchers such as GPs and SDs.

[jwr_1986]

Thanks that explains why the crew wasn't too happy working with it. i must say it looked nice. Just search for stourbridge line at www.railpictures.net and you can see the one I saw.

[locomutt]

If you would really like more info on the BL-2s,try to find the book,
EMD's BL-2s. It's in the 'Diesel Data Series' book 3,by Bob Hundman.
It is an older book,and maybe out of print.
Interesting read.[:)]