Looking for FL9s on Metro North and other passenger diesels

[Anonymous]

Hi all. I'm a British railroad fan who's just moved to the U.S. I'm interested in travelling behind and photographing some of the older diesels that work passenger services (especially in the Northeast, which is where I'm located). I'm not particularly interested in tourist lines at present. If anyone can share any of their wisom with a newcomer who knows next to nothing then that would be very kind indeed.

I bought my first copy of Trains magazine recently and saw mention of FL9s on Metro North services to danury, Waterbury (and Wassaic?). Does anyone know how often these locos work these services (i.e. I'd rather not make the drive 5 times before I stumble across one).

I also saw a photo of 682 on the 'Downeaster' last October. Is this service always worked by one of this type of loco?

I'm basically trying to establish (a) what services by what companies are loco-hauled and (b) which ones are operated by anything other than the latest breed of GE diesel which seems to be everywhere! (Not that there seems to be anything wrong with them).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[eolafan]

Your best bet to ride behind or photograph the old FL9 units is to travel by car or train to North White Plains and take a train destined for the stops way north of there (your best bet is to take a train for Dover Plains which is the last stop on the old Harlem Division). The upper Harlem Division is the last of the stomping grounds for the venerable FL9 units.

I am fond of the FL9 as it was the unit which got me hooked on railfanning in 1973. I lived in Tuckahoe, NY at that time and held a job in Manhattan. I would board a MU train at about 7:30 a.m. and shortly before that time an express from way up north would come barreling through the station with two FL9's and a bunch of heavy weight cars bound for Grand Central Terminal. I would also sometimes see a pair of the FL9's sitting with their train on the next track over from my outbound MU train in the evening. The sheer power of and beauty of these ancient beasts was enough to hook me for good.

I now live in the Chicago area but will always have a soft spot in my heart for the FL9's.

Good hunting!

[Anonymous]

Thanks! The paragraph in Trains mentioned F10s too. Are these similar to FL9s?

You mentioned the upper Harlem division... does this mean that these old F units no longer operate out of Danbury and Waterbury?

BTW - to anyone else reading... I realised my stupid mistake regarding the 'Downeaster' in my original post [:I]

[eolafan]

The F10 units used to be MBTA units (Boston mass transit) and were origninally GM&O F3's in the 1950's and at one time ran Chicago area commuter trains before going to Boston and being upgraded to F10 specs. They are now in service of CDOT in Connecticut and are not the same as the FL9, but are actually "normal" F units where the FL9 is a F9 with a six axle truck in the rear and a four axle truck up front. The FL9's originally had a third rail pick up shoe so they could take third rail electric power while operating within the tunnels in Manhattan going into Grand Central Terminal (so they could shut down their diesel prime movers to avoid generating diesel exhaust smoke within the tunnels). These pick up shoes are no longer installed as the units no longer go South beyond White Plains.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

As mentioned above, the FL9's and F10's operate strictly beyond the limits of the electrified zones. Any trains running strictly within the electrified zones (catenary or third rail) would be MU cars. The GE's handle trains that originate at GCT and terminate beyond the catenary or third rail.

[Simon Reed]

As a British fan of American Railroads still living in Britain (Bradford, W. Yorks) can I recommend Simon Bennett's site www.usabyrail.co.uk. It's not totally up to date but will suffice.
From experience, Danbury and Waterbury branch are fairly solid FL9, Wassaic not so much although this time last year on my last visit a pair of F10's produced on the last Southeast-Wassaic shuttle of the day.
Stamford, or Bridgeport, at rush hour are your best bets.
Wish I could get there more often but then, I'd miss all the rats on North Yorkshire Moors...

[jchnhtfd]

I think -- but am not sure -- that there are still a few FL9's operating on the Waterbury Division in Connecticut. Can't guarantee that. Can't even guarantee that it's still operating -- ConnDOT would love to get rid of the train. At the present time (today) there are 6 trains from GCT to Waterbury, and 6 back.

On the other hand, the FL9s may have been replaced by F10s by now... or GEs. Or who knows what.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your advice. The usabyrail site is really good - even though it's not up-to-date. I'll have to see if I can get round to working out the current diagrams (I live just an hour by car from Danbury). Any ideas where I can get up-to-date Amtrak loco diagrams?

[Dutchrailnut]

Ok there are no GCT to Waterbury trains , only Bridgeport to Waterbury connecting trains.
The Danbury branch currently has 413(F10) and 3 car shuttle, normal cycle is 1841/1844
The second shuttle has Genny 221 and two cars, this one runs all day.
The upper harlem has FL9 2014 for shuttle power, the shuttle runs from SouthEast(brewster north) to Wassaic, not Dover plains as the upper Harlem was extended about 4 years ago.
The 3 xF10's belong to MNCR not ConnDot.
the other two F units 2008/2012 belong to MNCR too.
the 6 New Haven painted FL9m's are owned by ConnDOT.

[daveklepper]

For Dutchrailnut: Do the two White Plains Stations, the downtown one and NWP, now have decent PA and/or signage? When I rode south from NWP regularly as a reverse commuter, after electrification was extended to Brewster nearly every southbound express had a local passenger bypassing his stop. Are there now decent train anncouncemnts or simple signs on the platform announcing "Express to Grand Central", "Express to 125th St", "Local up to Mt. Vernon" and "Local, The Bronx also"?

[Simon Reed]

Dutchrailnut - are these today's/ yesterday's workings? My understanding is that MetroNorth work on pretty much a "European" basis with cyclical diagrams, using the Beacon Road to/from Croton for maintainence purposes.
47449 - if there are such a thing as Amtrak diagrams other than for NECR electrics and P32DM's I don't know about them but would love to.
Incidentally have you considered NJT? Get there soon while the F40's are still at large. An F40 on Raritan Valley workings is about as loud as you'll get in the Western hemisphere on regular service these days!

[Simon Reed]

Another thought - Shore Line East, which is another ConnDOT operation. GP38's on peak hour stoppers between Stamford and New Haven. Or if you could get to Chicago, do most of Metra. Or Washington, for MARC or VRE. Or the Diesel Amtrak bits.
Basically - US railways in passenger terms are where UK railways were in the early-mid 80's, in terms of traction interest, so make the most of it, Mr. 449.
( Incidendtly - first had 47449 off 40121 on the Blackpools in 1979!)

[Dutchrailnut]

Simon SLE has GP40-2h not GP38's. here is roster info:
remanufactured in Montreal to GP40-2H and numbered 9994 tru 6699
here is roster info:

6694: ex-CSXT 6580/B&O 4005(GP40)
6695: ex-CSXT 6578/B&O 4003(GP40)
6696: ex-CSXT 2075/C&O 3875(GP38)
6697: ex-CSXT 2090/C&O 3890(GP38)
6698: ex-CSXT 2181/SBD 6272/CRR 2001(GP38)
6699: ex-CSXT 2189/SBD 6280/CRR 2009(GP38)

the GP38's (ex Guilford) were sold years ago.
The Upper Harlem currently has two ConnDot FL9m's on the one shuttle, 2027 and 2011

all MNCR stations other than Danbury and Waterbury branch have electronic signs and PA to give what train is next.

[eolafan]

Just read in the latest edition of TRAINS mag. that there are three (?) FL9's on the Adirondak Scenic Railway but thery are not operating (yet), and there is also an F10 (ex-GM&O F3 once on MBTA lines after leaving the Midwest). Yet another place to hopefully keep the FL9 alive and well for a long time to come.

[Anonymous]

Ooh! Just had 2014 from Waterbury to Bridgeport and back, and all for the bargain price of $4.50. Very impressed.

[Simon Reed]

See what I mean? For a nation not really associated with passenger rail the US, when it does provide a rail service, does it well and cheaply.
Amtrak obviously lurches from crisis to crisis but while it's still there it is tremendous value for money. I fully accept that the long distance services hardly constitute a social amenity, as they would elsewhere in the world, but from the perspective of the traveller sitting back and watching all that scenery sliding past the window is an experience that is irreplaceable.
And the diesels are mighty impressive - and loud - too!