Greetings All,
I recently completed project using an Athearn BB Penn Central GE U28C as a Penn Central GE U23C. Here's the story, some prototype info and the results.
Looking to add some six axle power to my yard operations to conquer the grade into Terminal Yard I came across the GE U23C. The PC purchased 19 of them (6700-6718) in 1970 for hump yard and transfer service in Buffalo, Enola and Selkirk.
General Electric U23C: A 2,300 HP engine designed for use in yard, transfer and heavy drag service meant to compete with the EMD SD38 and SD39. Production began in 1968 using an FDL 4 cycle 12 cylinder prime mover. The U23C was virtually identical to the U30C with the only variation being the U23C had two less hood doors per side. The U23C produced 85,000 pounds starting and 90,000 lbs continuous tractive effort. Designed to pull heavy loads the engine certainly had the tractive effort to do so.
Penn Central U23C #6718 One of 19 U23Cs (6700-6718) purchased by the PC in 1970 and one of 9 (6710-6718) assigned to humpyard and transfer service at at Selkirk.
I currently have six Athearn BB U28Cs in my collection. Three are powered, three are dummies. Four are painted for the Penn Central. Two are factory painted and two I painted.
An undecorated BB U28C from my project box courtesy of friend and fellow modeler John Bruce donated it's cab for the project. Thanks John!!! All that would be needed now were some additional decals and yellow paint.
PC U23C #6718, on loan from Selkirk, heads for Terminal Yard.
The 6718 is part of the Selkirk-Terminal Yard train VN-4 consist.
The new U23C is checked out by the Terminal Yard trainmen. Microscale decal set 87-84 was used for the number boards, cab numbers and Selkirk maintenance base lettering.
Numbers and a PC emblem from Microscale were added to the rear of the engine. The ACI label is from Highball Graphics.
The 6718 is put right to work switching out Terminal Warehouse & Cold Storage. The PRR employed six axle yard power and the PC carried on that practice so a six axle PC engine looks right at home to me working Terminal Yard.
The U23C pulls the cut down the grade on the Terminal Yard lead.
The U23C will make its bones right here shoving this cut up the grade with no problem.
1/87th scale Metro Division Sup't Shore gathers the guys together and let's them know he wants the 6718 used in both the yard service and transfer service it was built for.
Later that day the 6718 heads over the High Line leading a transfer run to Empire City and Bedford Park.
Coming thru the West Side reverse curve we get a good look at all the yellow safety paint applied for crew safety. The yellow paint is an easy spotting feature of the U23C.
The 6718 is now shoving back to access the Empire Belt RRs North Side Yard. These moves will allow the 6718 to depart short hood forward when the tasks are completed.
After dropping off a block of cars 1/87th scale Big Mike gives the EBRR trainmen a report on the newest engine in the PC fleet.
The 6718 is now at Bedford Tower to pick up and drop off cars for the Bedford Park Ford Plant. 1/87th scale Jon B has come down from the tower for a close inspection of the new unit.
The swap is complete and it's time to head for home.
The 6718 arrives back at Terminal Yard after a very successful first day on the job.
A quick look at PC 6718 at work.
Although my 6718 is not a perfect rendition of the 1:1 PC 6718 it was very cost effective and added a good looking six axle yard and transfer service engine to my fleet. I'm planning on performing the same conversion to the Empire Belt U30Cs down the road. A fuel efficient yard and transfer engine U23C makes more sense to me for the shortline E.B.R.R.
Thanks for reading & watching!!!
See ya soon!!!
I have another U28C body getting ready to ship to you. This one I removed the cab roof vents and the fireman's side equipment box behind the cab, filled the gap, primed, and added separate grabs. With Atlas announcing a new U28C, I'm going to pass this project along.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the current U28C shell used in this project and thanks for the one coming my way! Perfect timing for another GE Project! I really appreciate your generosity. Thank you!
DeleteNice work on the conversion and it's great to have a little help from a friend! Now that you've made this conversion I'm sure the next one to the EB unit will look just as great as this one.
ReplyDeleteI must say that's a lot of heavy duty motive power you're using in the yard. Are there plans for the EB and NYCTL to expand and acquire another railroad (expand the layout again?)?
Thank you for the compliments Sir Neal!!!
DeleteThere are no plans to expand the NYCTL or the EBRR's role at this time. The HD motive power being introduced reflects the Penn Central's post bankruptcy 1970 motive power purchases when they added among other engines the SD38s and U23Cs for humpyard and transfer service.
Converting the EBRR U30Cs into U23Cs makes sense to me for a short line RR that basically switches industries and runs transfer trains. No need really for the U30Cs big 3,000 HP 16 cylinder prime mover and thoroughbred symbol train power when we can use the 2,000 HP 12 cylinder model working the local industries and a drag freight to Terminal Yard. The EBRR will save on fuel costs which will increase profits.
I admire your thoughtful approach to developing motive power for Terminal Yard and the E.B.R.R. Your research makes the new U23C very plausible for both. Nice work putting it together, especially for including the yellow panels that seem unique to these units as far as I can tell! The Athearn loco in the video looks like it handles the grade and tonnage issues very well while working at the yard and while on the road!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliments and all of the consultation you provided Ralph!! The yellow panels were an absolute must for this PC U23C to be visibly believable.
DeleteNice looking engines! It's always fun to expand the roster. I found that can lead to unthought of operations. Not being up on diesels, I seem to remember reading 3 axel trucks are to heavy for light rail but I also thought I read 3 axel truck's center trucks are idlers to distribute weight on light rail. Would I be right to assume heavy drag units had all 3 powered and the one's with 2 powered axels have similar traction as the 2 truck unit? Even more important to me, would an SD9 have 2 or 3 powered axels? (I have a CNW SD9 ) Your expertise is always enlightening!
ReplyDeleteThanks K.K.!!! The EMD SD series (SD9-SD40 etc) employed six axle C-C trucks which has all axles powered. The EMD E series(EA-E9 etc) employed an A-1-A truck with the the center truck used as an idler to distribute weight.
DeleteAlcos RSC series used an A-1-A wheel arrangement and the RSD series had the C-C trucks.
The EMD SD9 has six powered axles and was designed for heavy duty yard and transfer service. Compare the SD9 89,000 lbs of tractive force to the GP9s 62,250 lbs.
Last tidbit: The PRR changed their locomotive purchasing practice with the purchase of the SD35 40 SD35s in 1965 to combat the Alleghenies. The SD35 performed well and they never bought another four axle road engine again.