E-Units Hauling Freight Trains

[eolafan]

Back in the seventies I used to see some pretty unusual lashups of power on the SOO Line near Stevens Point, WI...used to see F7/GP40/U30C/SD40/GP9 combinations or variations on that theme all the time. They even had a F7 with the "high" nose headlight removed and bondo'd over and only the lower light in the door remaining...what a wierd sight to see.

[AntonioFP45]

Eolafan,

I've see a photo of that F unit you're taling about! I think it was in a TRAINS issue some years back. It was hauling a string of tank cars for a short line.

I was amazed at how weird a graceful looking F unit can look with just that light removed. Yuck!!

[rtstasiak]

Oddball freight engine notes:

1. Not much with E's except their use on NYC and PC mail trains with FlexiVans and express boxcars (fast trucks plus steam/signal connections).

2. ALCO PA's were used by the Lehigh Valley as A+A pairs to handle freight assignments (locals) in the Cement Region and for the Owego turn between Sayre PA and Binghamton NY when their passenger days were through. Lehigh also had a set of FA-2's with steam generators and their sole Baldwin AS-16 had steam generators, just to keep the Karma balanced.

3. PRR regeared PA's and PB's for use as power on ore trains. Not exactly one of the better engineering achievements on the Pennsy!

4. Stock and EMD repowered FM 5 Axle C-Liners were used in regular freight service by the NYC and CN. Include these guys because of their B-A1A wheel arrangement and targeted use in passenger service. I'm not 100 percent sure, but NYC may have used its EMD repowered Baldwin Babyface A1A-A1A passenger units to haul boxcars.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

EL used both PA's and E's in freight service quite regularly. RI used E's in freight service, including those purchased from UP in the late 1960's, some of which may have never pulled a passenger train on RI.

UP also re-geared its PA's and PB's for freight service. UP also used some of its E's in freight service in the late 1960's.

NKP put its PA's into freight service shortly after it completed dieselization since they were equipped with ATS or cab signals (I'm not sure which) for parts of the Buffalo-Chicago main line. They were in turn replaced in passenger service by boiler-equipped GP9's.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jockellis

Seaboard Coastline had at least one A-A lashup in 1973. I saw it at the Waycros shops when I went out to interview the Waycross mayor who was also General Shop Superintendent. I was quite surprised to see them. I never saw the units on the road. But in 1979, I saw a pair of Southern Railway F units dressed in Virginia green pulling a freight train. And in 1985, I saw the 611 hammering through Cordele, GA, at the head end of a freight the day after we rode behind it from Jacksonville to Valdosta.
Jock Ellis

Now, that was sweet!

Jockellis, that lashup in 1973 (I was 10 back then!) were they E or F units?

If I'm not mistaken, SCL was in the process of trading F units in to GE for brand new U-Boats. That's why SCL U33 and U36Bs had the old Blomberg trucks. Really set them apart.

I'm assuming that crews might have appreciated them as the Blomberg trucks supposedly had better riding qualities than GE or Alco trucks.[;)]

[rrandb]

The FEC was forced to stop passenger service in the early 60's due to a violent strike. All there E units went to freight service. They worked well on FEC's long, flat straight line. The E units were still available in 1968 when it was discovered the state charter required them to provide passenger service between Jacksonville and Miami.[2c] As always ENJOY

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

FEC's five E9A's eventually made their way to the IC as 2036-2040.

In the realm of passenger power pulling freights, UP leased a batch of F40PH's from Amtrak a few years back, their gearing made them suitable for high-speed intermodal trains and almost nothing else.

[caldreamer]

OK, where ALCO PA's ever used in freight service and if so by whom?

[M636C]

QUOTE: Originally posted by igoldberg

OK, were ALCO PA's ever used in freight service and if so by whom?

I'm pretty sure I've seen photos of Erie-Lackawanna PA units in freight service, and I think Pennsylvania may have used their PAs in freight.

Strangely, some Fairbanks Morse Erie -Built units were built for freight service, and they were about the same size, power and wheel arrangement as the Alco PA units.

M636C

[greyhounds]

The greatest photo I've ever seen of E's on "freight" is in Fred Frailey's great book, "Twilight of the Great Trains".

It's on page 32. Two UP E units, back to back, pull mixed train #93 over dirt ballast at Oskosh, NE in 1968. Behind the E's were, one head-end car, one coach, and a bunch o' freight cars.

It's a great photo, but I have no freaking idea why the UP would put E units on such a train.

[caldreamer]

SP used its FM H24-66 Train Masters for commuter service on the San Francosco peninsula during the day and for freight service at night. They ran at 80 MPH on the commuter runs.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

QUOTE: Originally posted by igoldberg

OK, were ALCO PA's ever used in freight service and if so by whom?

I'm pretty sure I've seen photos of Erie-Lackawanna PA units in freight service, and I think Pennsylvania may have used their PAs in freight.

Strangely, some Fairbanks Morse Erie -Built units were built for freight service, and they were about the same size, power and wheel arrangement as the Alco PA units.

M636C

EL definitely used its PA's in freight service, other confirmed uses of PA's on freight include PRR, UP, NKP, NH, and possibly others.  The TRAINS article, "A Salute to a Different Diesel", back in November 1966 or 1967, would have the particulars.

[MOJAX]

In the early 70's the Rock Island ended up with several old UP E units. The Rock put them into freight service out of Chicago. This is a photo from my friend Dan Tracy taken at Joliet, IL.

 

[AntonioFP45]

Mojax,

Thanks for posting that photo (I downloaded and saved it).  It also during this time period that a number of Penn Central E units could be seen hauling freight in the eastern states. 

In the book "The American Diesel Locomotive" (out of print) there is a photo of Ex-New York Central E7 #4025 on a Penn Central MU lashup freight train.  Was a bit saddening as it was completely covered with grime.  Hard to imagine that this unit once hauled trains, such as the 20th Century Limited and the Empire State Express, at nearly 100 mph.  

[BaltACD]

The greatest photo I've ever seen of E's on "freight" is in Fred Frailey's great book, "Twilight of the Great Trains".

It's on page 32. Two UP E units, back to back, pull mixed train #93 over dirt ballast at Oskosh, NE in 1968. Behind the E's were, one head-end car, one coach, and a bunch o' freight cars.

It's a great photo, but I have no freaking idea why the UP would put E units on such a train.

My guess would be to provide steam to the coach.  I am certain that the UP had some passenger equipped GP7's or GP9's, but I would guess on the day you saw them the E's were more convenient to use for this particular service.