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U Boats

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Posted by DALE W WOODLAND on Monday, February 5, 2018 9:13 PM

Yes, the ESPN B23-7 #3153 between Quakertwon and Telford, Pa on the former Reading Company Bethlehem Branch.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, February 2, 2018 6:55 AM

I believe that Pickens has a handful of ex-CSX/SCL U18B's in occasional service.

Brazil is a pretty good place for old U-Boats.  MRS operates a sizable fleet of U23C's and export models such as U20C's are still in service on other roads.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Saturnalia on Friday, February 2, 2018 12:17 AM

NorthWest

Lake Superior and Ishpeming has U30Cs, but they are runnning leased AC4400CWs on most things I think. There might be others out there, but I doubt it.

The LS&I keeps a pair of U30Cs and a pair of C30-7s in service, but they're generally used last, as mentioned. The "Bluebird" CEFX AC4400CW fleet gets used first, however the lease is supposedly up in April, so things may be changing sooner rather than later. 

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Posted by NorthWest on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 9:25 PM

Overmod
I have no time to check this, but someone will know: there was a short line that specialized in U36Bs and perhaps still does.

I think that's TTI as mentioned above? I think that all of the FGLK units are done, as are the Georgia Central units, and while there might be singular units kicking around on a short line or two I think that they are done in North America in large groups. There might be a bunch in Southern Mexico, but information in that area is a little hard to find.

I think much of the action in pre-dash-7s was overseas, particularly Brazil, where mechanics used to working with next to nothing were delighted to get GEs and keep them cobbled together. A bit like the old saw about overtuned Italian cars, where you had to tinker most of the weekend to get them to run through the ensuing week, but on a much grander scale.

There are a bunch of U23Cs running around in Brazil, but they were built for RFFSA, and I think that most U boats were retired before the big importing binges started, so most older GEs in South America are Dash-8s.

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Posted by Firelock76 on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 5:22 PM

pajrr

This really does not fit the question, but here is a U-Boat story. I was aboard a New Jersey Transit U34CH towards the end of their careers. There was a blank area on the rear cab wall. Someone had drawn a "depth gauge". Get the "U-Boat" (as in German Sub) connection? I thought it was hysterical.

 

I wasn't me, but I wish it was!

And in that vein...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pddW-HeHAwo

I was going to link "Wir Fahren Gegen Engeland"  but there's too many damn swastikas in that one for my taste.

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 8:03 AM

I have no time to check this, but someone will know: there was a short line that specialized in U36Bs and perhaps still does.

i think much of the action in pre-dash-7s was overseas, particularly Brazil, where mechanics used to working with next to nothing were delighted to get GEs and keep them cobbled together.  A bit like the old saw about overtuned Italian cars, where you had to tinker most of the weekend to get them to run through the ensuing week, but on a much grander scale.

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Posted by pajrr on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:49 AM

This really does not fit the question, but here is a U-Boat story. I was aboard a New Jersey Transit U34CH towards the end of their careers. There was a blank area on the rear cab wall. Someone had drawn a "depth gauge". Get the "U-Boat" (as in German Sub) connection? I thought it was hysterical.

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Posted by NorthWest on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 11:43 PM

Transkentucky Transportation/TTI had a few, but the railroad is almost shut down for lack of traffic. Lake Superior and Ishpeming has U30Cs, but they are runnning leased AC4400CWs on most things I think. There might be others out there, but I doubt it.

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U Boats
Posted by southernalco on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 2:37 PM

Are there any shortlines that still use U Boats or have they gone to the Dash 7's or 8's.

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