BL2, a engine only it's mother could love? What can you tell me about it.

[Wdlgln005]

The BL2 was an attempt to adapt the cab carbody into a switching/ branchline world. Some BL2's had a s/g for a passenger train. You may find pictures of a short Monon train pulled by a BL2/F3 combo. The C&O in Michigan had some BL2 passenger runs.

The fatal flaw is the weaker carbody. BL2's can't be used as trailing units, the forces pull them apart. The Monon model may be the same # as the unit at the Kentucky RR museum. Worth a visit to find out!

The LL models are very nice. The Nscale ones started LL on the split frame design- good pullers & performance similar to Atlas or Kato.

 

[BRAKIE]

The BL2 was a orphan locomotive.You see EMD's design engineers did not like it,the sales department did not like and above all the railroads did not like it..

So,it was soon dropped and replace with Dick Dilworths "ugly duckling" GP7.

Long time Train magazine's editor David P.Morgan  once described the BL2 as a cross between a cab unit and a Bordon's Milk car.I concur with that description

The BL2 suffered the same fate as the Cab unit did when it came to switching cars..The engineer could not see the switchmen on the ground or riding the  foot boards and that is what basically doom the BL2 as a road switcher..

Why EMD design this unit remains a mystery to this day since the road switcher conception wasn't anything new to railroading..After all ALCO had 3 types of Road switchers on the market in 1948 the RS1 and RS2/RSC2.

EMD's NW5 was a better choice for a road switcher over the BL2. After all the engineer had good  vision from the cab compared to the vision from the cab of the ill fated BL2.

 

[Dave-the-Train]

Just a diffferent body style... imagine what would have happened if they had gone that way instead of to hood units?  What would SD60s and later have come out like.

For a real ugly duck try the Ingolls S4.

[pbjwilson]

Always liked the look of the BL2. Yours is especially nice in Monon colors. I think they have alot of character. Kindof the ugly duckling.

And those who dont know alot about trains seem to notice that they are different. Always got comments when I ran mine for friends or family. "Whats that one?"

Enjoy!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Manufacturer      Locomotive Type             Model         Start Date End Date No. Built
-----EMD --------- Branchline ------------- BL2 -------- Apr.48 ---May.49 --- 58

Incidentally, there was one BL1 ever built (February 1948)

Source - Diesel chronology

[Texas Zepher]

What can you tell me about a BL2 engine,

Lets see.  EMD BL2 locomotive 1500 hp produced from 1948-1949.  Had the same guts as an F3, a normal 567B prime mover. Approximately 60 of them made total.  There were two models one freight only and one passenger (which I did not know!).  The original design was supposed to give the engineer better visability for switching trains than an F unit did.

Source "The second diesel spotters guide" by Pinkepank.

I thought the Proto-2000s came with an information card about the prototype locomotive?

They obviously weren't real successful. In my opinion the second ugliest diesel ever made, second only to the Baldwin babyface.

[cudaken]

 What can you tell me about a BL2 engine, when was it made, guessing the late 50's. I bought one NIB off  E-stupid at a pretty low prices. Not sure to say it is ugly or just driffrent looking. If it was PINK and had Tail Fins Evles would have owned one.

  Main goal was to gut the good stuff and kit bash a old BB but I will give it a chances. Heck the motor, flywheels are worth what I paid for it.

  Real one that looks sort of cool?

 

 Rear in under coat.

 

 And the one I bought.

 

 Cuda Ken buying Ugly again