Looking for first generation Geeps, SDs, and Fs

[trainboyH16-44]

Where in the northern US and Canada are railroads that operate Fs, and first generation high hood Geeps, and SDs? I'm looking for this so I can plan my big vacation this summer, and I would like to see some that still operate them on freights.
Trainboy

[AntonioFP45]

If you hurry, you might still catch a couple of CSX GP30s that have been hanging around the Tampa Bay area for the past few years.

You may have to wind up visiting Class II or "regional" railroads as a number of them around the U.S operate rebuilt 1st gen. geeps and even some Alcos.

Consider going over to the TRAINS forum and pose your same question. A number of guys there are familiar with what's seen on mainlines.

Peace.

[Anonymous]

Might be an idea to post this on the Trains magazine site.


Bob Boudreau

[Bergie]

Check out our (Kalmbach Books, that is) book Tourist Trains 2005. It's a collection of tourist railroads and museums throughout North America. Each listing includes the locomotives that attraction runs.

Click here to check it out in our catalog: http://store.yahoo.com/kalmbachcatalog/01205.html

Have fun!

Erik

[Don Gibson]

Most locomotive's from that generation are in museum's or Park's somewhere.

the Sacramento (CA). RR museum has an AT&SF F-7AB and E-8, plus earlier steam.

The 'Wine Train' out of Napa (CA). had an ALCO PA pulling it when I rode it. Fabulous dinner (really) and reasonable N.V. wine.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

The 'Wine Train' out of Napa (CA). had an ALCO PA pulling it when I rode it. Fabulous dinner (really) and reasonable N.V. wine.

The Napa Valley has Alco FPA4 locomotives, they do not have any Alco PA locomotives.

The Grand Canyon Railway also has some FPA4 and FPB4 locos.

The NS still has some SD9 locomotives (ex N&W, originally NKP) in yard service but most if not all have had thier noses chopped.

[dano99a]

All the CSX High Hood geeps are yard slugs now and have been chopped, but you can catch a GP30 and a GP 38 and GP38-2 here in columbus ohio everynight at about 8:00pm on the CSX track at Cooke Road. We call it the Beer Train. It's the Y222 job out of Parsons Yard for the Anhieser Busch plant in Worthington (Northern Columbus)

It runs EVERYNIGHT

[Anonymous]

Well... it's not a high nose, but I'll be running a GP7 tomorrow. (We switch a lime plant operation at Marble City, OK.) The Geep still has a 567 in it, and yes, it sounds sweet, just like a 567 should.

About 40 miles east/southeast of Marble City sits Ft. Smith, AR. There you'll find Alco C420's, Alco T-6's (the Arkansas & Missouri), and GP20's (Ft. Smith RR) working every day of the week.

There is still neat stuff is out there still working, not just in museums.

Andre Ming

[n2mopac]

I'm not trying to be a nit picker here, as I know some do and many take offense at, but just for information purposes, I believe early GP's (GP7's and GP9's with high hoods for example) are considered second generation diesels, not first. The major shift from "first generation" to "second generation" diesels was in the transition from cab units like E and F units and the PA's and FA to hood units like the Geeps and theRS's and RSC's.

Ron

[jfugate]

Ron:

My understanding of first generation versus second generation diesels is what the diesels replaced.

First generation diesels replaced steam ... second generation diesels replaced diesels.

Using this criteria, first generation diesels go through the GP20. The GP30 diesel was the first diesel that replaced other diesels en masse, so that's the demarkation as I understand it.

There may be exceptions to this, but as far as I know, the GP7, GP9 and SD7 and SD9 all replaced *steam* locos on the majority of roads. This makes them first generation diesels.

[Anonymous]

Ron, As I see it, I'd consider E's F's, PAs, FAs and early cowls, and diesels up to the GP20 first generation. Then second generation up until the SD90MAC-H and AC6000CW. I guess now with the SD70ACe's, SD70M-2s and GEVO's, we're in the third generation.

[trainboyH16-44]

Now that I've been back, I'll say what I saw.
In the Adirondack mountains, not totally sure where, I saw the Adirondack Scenic Railroad's GP7 or 9.
I also saw the North Conway Scenic's units, and that was pretty good. In Nova Scotia, there is a railway calle the Windsor and Hantsport, near Halifax. It operates with mostly Ex CN chopped geeps, but there are quite a few Ex CP RS-23s! Now I know what a first generation ALCo sounds like!
Pretty much all of the places you named were too far south, though.
Trainboy

[Anonymous]

BNSF still has SD9's running and they are repainting them in heritage I paint. I saw two of 'em in St. Louis yesterday. I would expect you could see them on former GN & NP lines to the north. 6128 & 6136 are the SD9's in question, both late SD9's with the extra-high short hood, they're in some sort of captive service with a Dash9-44CW and a GP38.

[Dr. John]

The Columbus & Greenville RY in Mississippi still has a few old GP-7s and 9s with high hoods running. The GP-7s are ex- Florida East Coast units. The GP-9s came from Norfolk Southern and Chicago North Western.

Here's a link to a photo of one of their GP-9s.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=98047

Better hurry if you want to see these in person. They are rapidly being replaced with GP-38s. There are also some CF-7s still on the C&G as well.

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate
My understanding of first generation versus second generation diesels is what the diesels replaced.

First generation diesels replaced steam ... second generation diesels replaced diesels.

Using this criteria, first generation diesels go through the GP20. The GP30 diesel was the first diesel that replaced other diesels en masse, so that's the demarkation as I understand it.

Interesting thought. I've always based it on the technology of the prime mover. That is an EMD with the 567 engine were first generations the ones with a 645 are second. So by this criteria a GP30 has a 567D3 which would make it a first generation. A GP38 would be the first 2nd generation. Other people consider the addition of a turbocharger to the 567 as the division between the generations.

[jeffshultz]

I thought that -2's (the computer diesels) were the 3rd generation, and now the SD70/-9 (SD70ACe, SD70M-2, GEVO) are the 4th generation, since they are replacing units like SD40-2s...

[emdgp92]

The Cuyahoga Scenic (http://www.cvsr.com/index.shtml) has a few FPA4s, RDCs, a C-420, a pair of RS3s, and other interesting engines.

Here's an excursion train out of WV: http://www.mountainrail.com/new_tygart_flyer.html

BTW, there are still some high-hood GP35s running on some Wheeling & Lake Erie lines.

[trainboyH16-44]

Too late for me to go now....
Trainboy

[jrbernier]

Ron,

1st generation engines would be everything up to the GP30/U25B/Alco 'Century' series. There were 'transitional' units built like the GP20/SD24 and various Alco's(like the DL640).

Jim Bernier

[AntonioFP45]

Guys,

(Where's Bentnose Willie when ya need him?!)

Texas Zephyr and Jim Berrier have it correct regarding 1st and 2nd generation locomotives. With EMD, locomotives with the 567 diesel regardless of upgrades and turbocharging are 1st generation.

The 645 series diesel marked the 2nd generation of EMD diesel locomotives.

The confusion with EMD stems from the EMD "Dash-2" series which debuted in 1972, due to the electrical upgrades where locomotives went from DC generators to AC alternators. More efficient electronics were incorporated, but the the diesel was still the 645 series (12, 16, and 20 cylinder) that was introduced in the mid 1960s that actually marked the start of the 2nd generation.

I read this info years ago in books like "The American Diesel Locomotive".

By all means fell free to correct me if I'm mistaken.

Peace.

[Anonymous]

I can understand your reluctance to come south now, by Sunday you will probably be building igloos for the balance of the year. When does summer arrive in the great white north late July or is it August like here in Michigan?[;)][:)]
Will ... living North of CND ( that's C eh, N eh, D eh!)[:D]

[trainboyH16-44]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Overdurff

I can understand your reluctance to come south now, by Sunday you will probably be building igloos for the balance of the year. When does summer arrive in the great white north late July or is it August like here in Michigan?[;)][:)]
Will ... living North of CND ( that's C eh, N eh, D eh!)[:D]

Look at the date of the first post, back before the snow melted in the mountains. I just wanted to say that I'm back, and hopefully will do something similar next year.
Trainboy
P.S. It snowed a few days ago[:D]

[trainboyH16-44]

BTW, there's a bit of a blizzard here now!
Matthew

[bikerraypa]

Southern Railroad of New Jersey runs two F-7's, former B&LE 727 and 728. When they were on the Bessemer system, they used to sit literally in my backyard. I'd like to head to Jersey myself for a visit eventually.

[trainboyH16-44]

is tht an Indiana RR loco trailing?
Mattew

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

Where in the northern US and Canada are railroads that operate Fs, and first generation high hood Geeps, and SDs? I'm looking for this so I can plan my big vacation this summer, and I would like to see some that still operate them on freights.
Trainboy

Maine Eastern runs FL-9's on passenger trains between Brunswick and Rockland. And Guilford was using a GP-7 in Waterville the last time I looked.

Andre