Preparing NYC and PRR Locomotives For The Merger

 Greetings All,

Around 1965 representatives from the NYC and PRR got down to business to work out a Penn Central classification system based on the PRR system and a renumbering plan to organize the almost 4,000 units that would become their locomotive fleet. A major part of the plan was to renumber and repaint the least amount of units as possible.

Let's take a look at what these planners came up. Here is a brief explanation of the classification system to get us started

1. First letter indicates builder. A=Alco, E=EMD etc.

2. Second letter and third letter where used indicates service. F= Road freight unit with streamlined car body, low nose road switcher car body or "B" unit road switcher equipped with multiple unit connections. More on this as we go along.

3. Numbers indicate horsepower to nearest lowest hundred. Example 1750 hp would be 17.

4. Final small letter indicates special features or modifications. 

For example the first locomotive on page 171 of the PC Bi Annual detailing the reclassification is an Alco S-1, PRR class AS6 and NYC class DES 8, or DES 9. The PC classed the engines as an AS6 and AS6m. A=Alco, S= Yard Switcher, 6= Horsepower x100, m=Multiple unit equipped, used for yard switcher only.

Numbers 1 thru 999 were assigned to m-u car and rail diesel cars like NYC M-499 to prevent having motive power with identical numbers on the railroad at the same time to avoid train order and dispatching problems.

The planners set aside the the 1000, 1100, 1200, 1600 1700 and 1800 for Diesel Road Freight Car Body "A"-Units with NYC ATS (Intermittent Inductive Train Stop). 

NYC FA2 #1049 was classified for the merger as an AF16 locomotive. A=Alco, F=Road Freight, 16 horsepower x 100. The PC would later renumber the surviving FA units into the 1300 series.

NYC EMD F7A #1645 is ready for the merger as an EF15. E=EMD, F= Road freight, 15= hp x 100. The planners used the NYC F unit numbering to minimize the renumbering as the NYC had the bulk of active F units from Alco, Baldwin Lima and EMD for the pending merger. 

Series 1400 and 1500 was assigned to Diesel Road Freight Car Body "A"-Units with PRR cab signals.

My friend, fellow modeler and well known Penn Central fan PC Ralph undertook a renumbering project on a PRR F7A and F7B set for use on his Kings Port Division layout.

F7A  #1485 was delivered to the PRR in 1951 as #9785A. F7B #3516 arrived on the PRR in 1950 as #9645B. The 1485 was classified as an EF15. The F7B was classified as an EF15. 

Some of the 1400 series (1400-1425) began life as F3s geared for helper service on the Allegheny slopes. They were rebuilt to F7 specs in the 1950s and classed EF15a for the merger. The small "a" indicating a major change in original design.

 
The 1200 series was assigned to the Baldwin Lima Hamilton RF16As known to many as the Sharks. None would make it the PC roster. Seven ex NYC Sharks along with two B units would be sold to the Monongahela RR in late 1967.

Series 1900 (ex PRR 1900-1906 / 9656-9661 and 9666) was assigned to the seven Diesel Road Freight Car Body "A"-Units with both cab signals and ATS that were set up for the pending merger.

Here are a few more of the renumbered merger ready locomotives in service on my layout:

The PRR started their cost saving herald only paint scheme in 1963 with the new EMD GP30s and this scheme continued up to the merger.  PRR GP30 #2218 was one of 52 PRR units numbered 2198-2249. NYC GP30 #2197 is one of 10 NYC GP30s that were renumbered from 6115-6124 to 2188-2197. Both units were classified EF22. E=EMD, F=Road Freight, 22= hp x 100. 

119 EMD GP35s #2250-2368 arrived on the PRR in 1964/1965 and would be classified EF25. E= EMD, F= Road freight, 25= hp x 100. These are last four axle locomotives purchased by the PRR.

The NYC would add 31 GP35s to the EF25 stable that will be renumbered from 6125-6155 to 2369-2399. NYC EMD GP35 #2399 was originally NYC #6155 and the only NYC GP35 with dynamic brakes. Classified on the NYC as a DRS14 it will become classified as an EF25 on February 01, 1968.

1965 was also a pivotal year for the would be partners as they started to tailor their locomotive purchases for pending but not yet approved PC system wide use so the new locomotives could be used on the purchasing RR should the merger not be approved. 

The PRR purchased their last four axle units in 1965 and began buying six axle units exclusively to battle their mountainous terrain. The NYC in turn purchased 105 GP40s with dynamic brakes for their water level route. Numbered 3000-3104 the herald only paint scheme appeared mid order of the NYC GP40s in 1967 as seen on GP40 #3054.

NYC U33B #2858 also arrived on the NYC in 1967 in the Central's newly adapted spartan herald only paint scheme. Pay no attention to the "New York Central" lettering that I added a long time ago as I'm not a fan of the herald only look on the NYC. This unit would be classified GF33. G=GE, F= Road Freight, 33 hp x 100.

NYC Alco S4 #8598 shows the NYC herald only repaint scheme. This unit would be become #9729 and go from NYC class DES11 to PC class AS10 or AS10m. A=Alco, S= Yard Switcher, 10= hp x100, m= multiple unit equipped. Used for yard switchers only. 

The proposed classification system set aside the 6000 series for Diesel Road Freight, 6 traction motors with low nose road switcher type car body. This series would be PRR units only. The units would have a small "a" in the final letter indicating six wheel trucks.

PRR U25C #6500 is one of twenty such units numbered from 6500-6519. Classification: GF25a. G=General Electric, F=Road Freight, 25 hpx100, a= six wheel trucks. In 1969 the 6500 would be modified with creeper control so it could travel 1/4 mph when loading unit PP&L coal trains. Would this reclassify the 6500 from GF15a to an GF25aa?  a= major modification.

GE U30 #6539 bears the distinction of being the last U boat to arrive in PRR paint in 1967. Classification: GF30a. 

PRR SD9s #6921 and #6924 began life as PRR #7621 and PRR #7624. These units were originally PRR class ES17m. E=EMD, S=Yard Switcher, 17=hp x 100, m= multiple unit equipped. 

The SD9s were reclassified to ERS17a for the merger. E=EMD, RS= switcher type body with high speed trucks; horsepower limits for four traction motors from 1000-2000 hp and six traction motors from 1500-2400 hp, 17=hp x100, a=six traction motors.

FM H24-66 #6702 is one of nine units that arrived on the PRR numbered 8700-8708 and renumbered into the six thousand series as 6700-6708 and reclassified to FRS24. F=Fairbanks Morse, RS: Switcher type car body, 2400 hp x100. No small "a'' noted.

New York Central Alco RS-1 #9909 wears its new merger number but is in the better looking pre 1967 NYC paint scheme. It was delivered to the NYC in 1950 as NYC #8109 classified on the NYC as a DRS-1 (Diesel Road Switcher 1000 hp). 

PRR Alco RS-1 #9921 is wearing it's merger number. The 9921 arrived on the PRR in 1950 as PRR #5621 classified as an AS10s, AS10as, AS10m, or AS10ms (Alco Switcher 1000 hp equipped with either s= steam generator, as=a major modification and steam generator, m= multiple unit equipped and ams= major modification, multiple unit equipped with a steam generator.

Trying to organize and make sense of almost four thousand locomotives from six builders with so many different models equipped with different features and the modifications and rebuilds of certain units cannot have been an easy task. I believe the NYC and PRR representatives did a fine job on this portion of merger preparation.

Sources: Penn Central System Bi-Annual by Robert H. Reid and Penn Central Power by Robert J. Yanosey, Kings Port Division HO Scale Model Railroad,  fallenflags.com and rrpicturearchives.com.

Thanks for reading!!! 

See ya soon!!!