Does anyone have any idea what railroad in North America has the oldest diesel locomotive??? or I guess it can be a company etc etc. even one running in a preservation state or museum — just the oldest running.
We have an F-3. I think the build date is 1947. We are also runninga few GP-7s from 1953 or so.
Randy
Metro North runs 3 F10’s which were rebuilt by ICG from exGM&O F3A’s 804a, 809a, and 880a, originally built in 12/1946 and mid-1947.
Isn’t the original FT demonstrator still running? I saw it at railfair 91’ in Sacramento.
[:)] I just saw the original FT at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis and it looks pretty darned good. They have it on display under a shed roof but it is a little dusty and could use a rinse with a hose. I am not sure if it still runs but I suspect the answer is yes.
if we just mean running or running in daily mainline service ??
even some of first generation S-1’s and RS-1’s are running but in Museums on as needed and wanted .
Diesels in daily service, the MNCR F10’s the GP8 and GP9 both of NYC heritage are probably the oldest units in mainline service.
HAHA, i beat you all!
Just kidding, but…
Mack Diesel Switcher – Museum Locomotive No. 1
This locomotive was constructed by Mack Truck Company in 1931 for the Fegles Construction Company and later owned by the Northern Pump Company, both of Minneapolis. After retirement, it was donated to the Museum by Hyman-Michaels Company of Duluth. The locomotive was completely rebuilt for the Museum by Reserve Mining Company at its Babbitt, Minnesota shops. It is fully operational and is used to perform switching at the Museum when required. It is one of the oldest diesel locomotives in the world.
In 1977 I recall seeing the oldest EMD locomotive, an early prototype SC, I think, still in service on what I recall as a US Steel property in the general area of Pittsburgh. I’m sorry about not being more precise but it was a while ago in an unfamiliar area. It was painted red and yellow and had had a 567 engine of some sort installed to replace the 8-201A, but it still had the original GE electrical gear. I’d be surprised if it was still there working now, but was it preserved?
Peter
The Flying Yankee despite still being in existence and being restored, has not operated or run in 25 years or more.
so it mostly don’t even count in this lineup of power.
even if the Flying yankee returns it will not be driven by original engine but by a Caterpillar Diesel.
G’day, Y’all,
Dutchrailnut, are you sure about the Cat? On the Flying Yankee website they were talking about rebuilding the Winton. One thing told of getting new piston rings for the Winton engine. Of course, installing a new Cat would be a better idea.
Jock Ellis
Cumming, GA US of A
What about the Alco HH-600’s still out there in industrial service? Or the odd Plymouth and Porter mice out there?
Acuteally he is right. They are going to run it with a modern power plant and have the winton as a travelling display.
I know Amtrak has 3 SW-1 still operating. 1 in Wilmington, DE and 2 in Washington, DC.
GLENN
A R E A L RAILROADER!!!
A R E A L AMTRAKER!!!
A T R U E L Y DISGUSTED AND DISGRUNTLED AMERICAN!!!
We have several GE 44-Tonners working some chemical plants here in
our area. I’m not sure of their built dates,but remember the 44Ts were
originally built between 1940-55.
Aside from the Geeps Randy mentioned above, BNSF is still running some early GP and SD -9’s around the country.
I saw a GP-9B on a BNSF transfer fron Thomas to Norris yards in Birmingham recently.
I’m guessing the SOO and BNSF units are are the oldest on the Class1 freight railroads.
Jimmy
The Alco-GE-IR boxcab switcher which until recently was in operation in the IR plant in Phillipsburg NJ is still operable and iirc is at the NJ railroad museum. It dates from the 1920s. It is only slightly younger than CNJ 300 which is at the B&O museum but has not operated in decades.
Mudchicken is probably on the mark. RELCO has long been well known for its ancient but still running Alco switchers (including one High Hood) which it leases to factories, grain elevators, etc.
I know that the Portola RR Museum has one of the twin engine ALCo IR GE boxcabs but I’m not sure if it runs…
Since almost all the former U.S. Steel property around Pittsburgh has been demolished and converted into high tech office parks, shopping malls, or waterfront luxury housing (they even reclaimed a former U.S. Steel slag dump in the east end of Pittsburgh and turned it into a neighborhood of $2 million houses) I doubt if much of anything was preserved.