Does anyone know the disposition/history of NYC GP7 No. 5759? It was the “chase locomotive” for the M497 jet-powered RDC3 speed tests.
I really don’t know about that particular unit, but Conrail had retired and/or rebuilt all of thier GP-7’s by the early 1980’s. You might try checking back issues of “extra 2200 south”, or “diesel era”, as these magazines cover in detail rosters of locomotives.
Todd C.
I’ve learned that No. 5759, with its original number intact, survived the Penn Central merger and lasted through to Conrail.
However, beginning in the 1970s, Conrail started rebuilding their aging GP7 fleet into 1,500 hp GP8s. Like their GP10 brothers, these interesting locomotives generally saw yard and local service until Conrail began retiring them in the late 1980s.
Did 5759 get converted into a GP8? Did it get a new number? When was it scrapped?
As I have stated, you’re gonna’ have to do a little “homework” to find your answer. Aside from the magazines I have suggested, you might try the Conrail historical society. Sorry, I do not know the website. Use a search engine, and you’ll find it.
Todd C.