New Haven H16-44 #1611

 Greetings All,

In 1956 the New Haven RR purchased fifteen of the later boxy styled H16-44s built by Fairbanks Morse numbered 1600-1614. The units featured an eight cylinder opposed piston engine upgraded to 1600 HP and four wheel trucks.

On January 01, 1969 when the New Haven RR became a part of the Penn Central the fifteen H16-44s were added to the PC roster.  

As my prototype knowledge of the Penn Central and its predecessor railroads grows I wanted to enhance my New Haven fleet to more accurately reflect the years 1968 thru 1970.   

The first project was the ex NH Alco FA-FB-FA project. In the upper left of the photo you can see three of my NH H16-44s.

The second project was to send my Athearn fantasy NH SDP40 to my freelanced Empire Belt RR where it has found a good home.

Now owned by the EBRR the NH SDP-40 fits right into this freelanced railroad and SDP-40 consist.

With updating my New Haven roster in mind I came across a new in the box Spectrum New Haven H16-44 #1611 on ebay. The unit was was offered for sale as running but not well with a loud screeching noise.

The Spectrum H16-44 was advertised as a "Baby Trainmaster". Having several of these units I took a chance that I could fix it and add it to my fleet.

Here is the unit upon opening the box. The 1611 is a number not already on my roster. I made a decent best offer that was accepted so if the running issues could not be repaired I would use the engine as a dummy unit for about the same price as a new shell.

The new H16-44 ran as advertised. Terrible and loud!!!

To the work bench we go! 

The H16-44s mirror some of the other Spectrum units with no wiring and a split frame. The power trucks are easily removed and the thrust bearings oiled.

These bearing have a habit of drying out and this is an easy fix. After twenty plus years in the box it's no wonder the bearings were dry and this is what I was thinking when I made the offer.

Not such an easy fix was removing the motor and replacing the broken motor mount with double sided foam tape. A dry motor bearing is also a common cause for the screeching noise. A drop of oil will fix that but don't use too much.

The 1611 is back together and running nice and quiet!

The 1611 leads a four unit New Haven set of H16-44s past RA Tower.

The New Haven H16-44s haul Trains NH-2 and NH-1.

The 1611 is the trailing unit on Train NH-2 pulling into Terminal Yard.

The four H16-44s are in the engine terminal and get the approval of the 1:87 scale railfans. Like the FM H24-66 #6702 in the prior post the FM H16-44s would have a short PC career but rest assured they will enjoy a long career on the NYCTL! 

I must say this four engine consist has become one of my favorite lash ups. They look good, run good and have terrific pulling power.

Prototypical Tidbits:

The fifteen New Haven H16-44s were delivered in a McGinnis type paint scheme and were used to power both passenger and freight trains in 1956 and 1957. (New Haven Trackside with Thomas J. McNamara by Jeremy F Plant) 

At least one of the NH RRs H16-44s received an orange body with a black cab and frame paint job like this photo of NH #1609. This unit would retain this paint scheme into the PC era and was renumbered to 5169 as shown in this photo. 

The New Haven RRs fifteen H16-44s were renumbered by the PC in 1969 to 5160-5174 and were eventually shipped off to it's Chicago terminal where all remaining PRR-NYC FMs were based to provide easier geographic access to the FM parts supply in Beloit, WI. (source Penn Central Power). 

Thanks for reading and watching!!! 

See  you soon!!! 

 

Three Pennsylvania RR engines get merger numbers

Greetings All,

In 1964 New York Central and Pennsylvania RR planners got together in an effort to align their respective locomotive fleets and minimize the number of units that would need renumbering and or repainting for the pending merger. 

As delivered numbers were changed as needed to group locomotives by type. The 6000 series was set aside for six axle locomotives. This series belonged solely to the PRR as they were the only RR including the New Haven that had C-C powered locomotives. 

This trio of Pennsylvania RR locomotives were selected for number changes to reflect the 1964 renumbering plan.

PRR EMD SD9 #7607, one of twenty five of the 1750 HP units purchased in 1957, wears the small as delivered 1957 number.

SD9 #7606 compares notes with PRR H24-66 #8704, one of nine Fairbanks Morse Trainmasters purchased by the PRR in 1956.  

These are good running Athearn Blue Box models that are perfect for Terminal Yard service and an occasional transfer run. 

For P.C.C.M. yard service I wanted the units to be renumbered to reflect their post 1964 numbers used during the Penn Central era. This project is yet another example of the Virtual Ops Catalyst* at work.  

PRR SD9s #6921 and #6924 are renumbered and ready for service like these SD9s at Conway Yard in 1966 .

A close up of the 6921 shows it's a good match for the 1:1 PRR 6921 as photographed in May,1967.

Here is the 6924 fresh out of the paint shop. I used Walthers Solvaset and an eraser to remove the old numbers and repainted the cab that was easily removed from the body with rattle can gloss black.

Not so easily done were the number boards. The Microscale numbers were a tight fit and I spent some time aligning the numbers. In my opinion adding the numbers to the number boards adds a tremendous amount of realism to even the cheapest of locomotives so it was a must for me to add them.

PRR Fairbanks-Morse Trainmaster #6702 is fresh out of the shop and sports a similar look as this July 1969 PC #6700.

A long hood view of the 6702 which is the front of the engine. 

The SD9s easily shoved a long freight train that included two track cleaning cars up the grade to Terminal Yard. The H24-66 handled the same train but could have used some sand as it slipped quite a bit.

The 6702 draws some curious glances in the engine terminal. With only nine H24-66s on the roster and their days numbered before retirement the 6702 would have a short Penn Central career.

The newly renumbered SD9s get the once over in the engine terminal. The twenty five EMD SD9s would enjoy a long Penn Central career. 

I'm pleased with the results of this project that puts these three locomotives firmly into the late PRR  / early PC era.  

Additional Information

*Virtual Ops Catalyst: Ongoing layout, rolling stock, motive power and administrative projects to further enhance the virtual ops also know as the Penn Central Car Movements.

Materials: Walthers Solvaset, pencil eraser, rattle can black spray paint, Microscale decal set #87-21 and Testor's Dullcote.

"The Numbers Game" a blog entry from November 2015 detailing the PRR / NYC renumbering, how I became aware of it and started to apply it to my own locomotive fleet. Many of the locomotives in this blog entry have been repainted, renumbered or altered since this post was originally published to better reflect their prototypes both for my liking and the virtual ops / P.C.C.M.s.

Prototype Information

H24-66 #6702 worked in the Chicago area which is where the PC sent its Fairbanks Morse units to keep them close to the FM Beloit WI parts source. The H24-66s did not receive PC paint jobs and were renumbered to the 6790 series to make room for the U23Cs coming onto the roster in 1970. PC 6700 would become PC #6799 and be the last operating H24-66 on the PC roster. All H24-66s were reported off the roster by the end of 1970.

SD9 #6921 was maintenance based at Buckeye Yard and looks to have made it to the Conrail roster in April 1976.  

SD9# #6924 was maintenance based at Avon Yard and looks to have made it to the Conrail roster in April 1976. 

Book Sources: Penn Central Bi Annual by Robert H Reid, Penn Central Power by Robert J. Yanosey 

Thanks for reading!!!

See Ya Soon!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #86 / NYCTL Part 5 / Final Interchanges

 Greeting All,

Welcome back to Penn Central Car Movements #86!!!

Our two layout virtual op with my NYCTL interchanging freight cars with Ralph's Kings Port Division concludes today on the NYCTL with our final interchanges.

We open with a pair of NYC U Boats pulling Train EC-1, a daily transfer run to Empire City, out of Terminal Yard.

The EC-1 heads thru Bedford NY

 

EC-1 arrives in North Side Yard.

The U Boats reclaim their caboose and depart for Terminal Yard.

The Empire Belt gets to work on the EC-1 freight cars.

The Empire Belt Afternoon Industrial Job is now on the secondary track to work the Empire City industries.

The AIJ shoves into the midtown siding.

EL reefer #5034 loaded with fresh produce for C&P Restaurant Supply gets pulled from Empire Produce.

Being shoved back to Empire Produce are an HRC RBL for continued PCCM loading, EL reefer 50xx for its next PCCM load and BAR boxcar #5226 loaded with blue berries from Maine.

The AIJ is back together and shoves east.

Now working the east side industries the AIJ couples up to an empty PC gondola awaiting its PCCM load and three APRR gondolas with their PCCM loads of pipe for Tropicana in Rock Ridge NJ.

Being pulled from Ralph's Grocery Warehouse are AP RBLs #60394 and #60382 loaded with packaged meals for C&P Restaurant Supply and empty IC boxcar #30130 gets pulled for its next PCCM load. 

B&M RBLs #105, #109 and #110 loaded with soup from Habitant Soup in New Hampshire get spotted at Ralph's Grocery Warehouse.

 

Two loaded steel coil coaches from Kings Port Steel are spotted at Gervais Pipe & Fitting along with empty PC gondola #288673 for its PCCM load.

The AIJ returns to North Side Yard.  
Meanwhile over in Bedford NY the daily LIRR Transfer from Fresh Pond Yard to North Side Yard comes thru Bedford NY.

 

The LIRR transfer rolls thru Bedford

 

 

The LIRR Transfer arrives at Terminal Yard.

The LIRR engines couple up to NYC covered hopper #892010 loaded with grain from Empire Grain going to Ronzoni in Long Island City.

The LIRR crew reclaims their caboose.

The LIRR heads out of Empire City.

Put it in the books!!! The LIRR train rolls back to Fresh Pond Yard.

This wraps up the NYCTL Inbound portion of PCCM #86.

Be sure to catch the action on Ralph's Kings Port Division!!!!

 

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See ya soon!!!

Remembering 911 with CSX Pride in Service Locomotives

 Greetings All,

In July 2021 I added Scale Trains CSX #911 and CSX #1776 "Pride in Service" locomotives to my motive power fleet and think today is the perfect day to unveil them.

Today, September 11, 2021, is the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon which culminated with brave passengers downing a hijacked plane in Shanksville, PA before it could strike another target.

In 2019 CSX painted three locomotives to honor our brave first responders, our law enforcement and our veterans. 

CSX# 911 is painted and lettered to resemble a fire truck or ambulance with "Honoring Our 1st Responders" in bold letters on the radiator flares. The unit honors the first responders from the 9/11/2001 attacks on New York City, Washington DC and Somerset County PA. The unit was built by General Electric in 2008 and retained it's original number when being selected for the "Pride In Service" program.

The 1776 celebrates the five main branches of the United States Armed Forces. It has a traditional CSX nose paint with "Spirit of our Armed Forces" in script. Digital camo adorns the rest of the engine with "Honoring Our Veterans" in bold writing on the radiator flares.

The two new units join Pride in Service CSX ES44 #3194 that is painted to resemble a police car with Spirit of our Law Enforcement in script on the nose and bold "Honoring Our Law Enforcement" on the radiator flares.

Here are the three Prides of the NYCTL Fleet hauling a train thru Empire City and Bedford.

The engines have cut from the train and are at the engine terminal.

All three engines fit at the fuel rack. That's engine hostler Wet Willie Jr who they say is a drip off the old block.😉

The three Pride In Service units really look good in the engine terminal.  

I ran the three engines together on a long freight train with the 911 leading.

 

The 3194 was the middle Distributed Power Unit.

The 1776 was the rear Distributed Power Unit.

 

Checkout the D.P.U. units powering a long PSR style freight train.

 

The Pride in Service units are separated and ready to get away from the Precision Scheduled Railroading that has become all the rage with the prototype CSX and other class 1s. 

Single ES44s power freight trains thru Bedford NY

 

  

The 911 locomotive takes center stage today as the NYCTL honors the nearly three thousand people killed on this date at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan that included 343 Firefighters, 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department, 23 members of the New York Police Department and many EMTs, paramedics, court officers and federal employees.

Unfortunately the butcher's bill from these deadly attacks continues to climb as the asbestos laden air and other toxin levels have stricken many of the first responders who worked what was called Ground Zero where the Twin Towers once stood and the Staten Island Landfill where the Ground Zero debris was brought to be searched for bodies and body parts.

While I feel this twentieth anniversary is nothing to celebrate but should be considered a day of remembrance I am very happy to have these locomotives in my fleet as each engine represents a specific member of my family.

For more on the prototype engines checkout the 

CSX Commemorative Locomotives Page

Thanks for reading and watching.

See ya tomorrow.