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‘Locomotive’ awards $1,000 grant to “must-see” Lackawanna F unit
Don’t you think it would be fitting for 663 and 664 to have a little unobtrusive plaque or logo somewhare on them, recognizing their BAR heritage? After all, if the BAR hadn’t originally bought them, there is a good chance that they would no longer exist.
It’s a nice choice, even though I would’ve chosen the big CP Alco/MLW or the Krauss-Maffei. Also gratifying for this MILW fan to see the high totals for that less noteworthy unit.
You’re right, Jeff, and as historians we do not hide the B&A heritage at all. Within the nose portion of the cab the original numbers are still in the original paint and they will stay that way, and we will note the heritage on plates somewhere, possibly on a builder’s or trust plate. We are proud of the history of these great locomotives. When we bought them in 1985 there were bunches of F-units running all over the country, from the commuter fleets in the East to those with the big plows in Alaska. Now they are the oldest operating and unaltered F-units in the land. We hope to take care of them and to hand them to the next generation. And we are greatful to the B&A to have run them so long, and to have sold them to us rather than as scrap in 1985. We had to move quickly as the B&A were scrapping them before our very eyes. Tri-State bought the 44, a complete and running F3. The ARHS bought the 46 that already had its prime-mover, main generator and other major components removed and sold off. ARHS later bought a CF-7 as a parts donor to get the 46 running. It’s been a long and strange trip to get them into the shape they are now. In 2015 it will be 30 years.
I didn’t vote, but anything with NYC’s “Lightning Stripes”, in passenger greys or freight black-and-grey, or black “Cigar Band” would have been my pick.
In August 2013 my wife and I, while visiting (my home town of) Scranton, watched 664 from the window of our room at the hotel in the old Lackawanna station. We were not in town this time for Steamtown, but it was a real nice sight! Even better would be to see both - and this comes from someone who prefers steam!