Former New Haven FL9 Locomotives Scrapped in NJ

(SOURCE:  Trains.com Newswire, By Steve Glischinski)

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – This spring, the “Streamliners at Spencer” festival in North Carolina will bring together nearly 20 examples of streamlined motive power, including former New Haven FL9 No. 2019 from the Railroad Museum of New England. While No. 2019 has been preserved and restored, three of its sister locomotives met a different fate: They are being scrapped this week at the Morristown & Erie Railway yard in Morristown.

The three locomotives, former Amtrak Nos. 485, 486, and 487 built in 1957 for the New York, New Haven & Hartford, were owned by RRPX, a railroad leasing company owned by Morristown & Erie owner Wes Weis. Weis tells Trains News Wire the FL9s were scrapped because they had been stripped for parts and were vandalized.

In addition to the FL9s, three Alco locomotives were or will be cut up by C&K Scrap Metals of Newark since they have major mechanical or other issues.

According to Weis, a former CN M420W that was scrapped had a broken Hi-AD truck, seized turbo, and the drive had failed between the main generator and the auxiliary generator. Ex-Canadian Pacific C424 No. 4231 had a failed prime mover while out on lease. Former Erie Mining RS11 No. 7205 had been for sale for four years with no takers, and had been vandalized.

The FL9, New Haven Class EDER-5, is a dual-power locomotive capable of operation as a diesel-electric or an electric powered by a third rail. General Motors Electro-Motive Division built 60 units for the New Haven between 1956 and 1960. They were the last F units built.

FL9s served the New Haven and successor Penn Central, then several owners including Conrail, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. A total of 12 FL9s were sold to Amtrak, with six, including the three scrapped units, remanufactured between 1979 and 1981 by Morrison-Knudsen. Amtrak finally retired them in June 2002.

Two other FL9s, ex-Amtrak Nos. 488 and 489, operate on Morristown & Erie affiliate Maine Eastern Railroad pulling excursion trains between Brunswick and Rockland, Maine. Former Amtrak No. 484 operates on the Orford Express tourist train out of Sherbrooke, Quebec.

There is several other MTA/Metro-North and Connecticut Department of Transportation FL9s preserved, and CDOT still owns six out-of-service FL9Ms stored at New Haven, Conn.

Maine Eastern Railroad to Host MEC 470 Fundraiser 4/12/14

The Maine Eastern Railroad has partnered with the non-profit New England Steam
Corporation to offer a public Touch-a-Train open house event on Saturday, April 12,
2014, as a fundraiser for the restoration of Maine Central steam locomotive #470.

Held at the Maine Eastern’s roundhouse in Rockland, ME, the Touch-a-Train event will
be a rare opportunity for the public to visit a working railroad maintenance facility. The
event is family-oriented, and children are encouraged to come and enjoy the sights and
sounds of American railroading. Visitors may climb aboard and explore the cab and
engine room of a -vintage FL9 diesel locomotive (built in 1957), recline in the comfortable
seats of a 1940s Maine Eastern passenger coach, and learn about railroad snow removal
operations while standing inside the Maine Eastern’s 1946-vintage snowplow.

Visitors will also be able to explore the Maine Eastern’s operating turntable, built in 1921,
and the 1922-vintage wooden roundhouse. The railroad’s dining car will also be on site,
selling beverages and snacks as visitors walk through.

The event coincides with the Maine Rail Group’s first annual Maine Rail Fair, being held
on the same date at the nearby Owls Head Transportation Museum. Visitors are
encouraged to visit both events and experience all aspects of Maine railroading.

Admission to the Touch-a-Train event will be free. However, the non-profit New England
Steam Corporation will be collecting donations towards the restoration of Maine Central
steam locomotive #470. The locomotive, currently on display in Waterville, ME, will be
operated on the Downeast Scenic Railroad after restoration is completed and will have
the opportunity to operate on the Maine Eastern, as well. Any and all donations, no
matter how small, can make a difference in the speed and success of #470’s restoration.

For more information about the New England Steam Corporation and its mission to
revitalize #470 and steam railroading in Maine, please visit www.newenglandsteam.org
or contact the organization at newenglandsteamcorp@gmail.com.