Stone Mountain Park in Georgia unveils first FP7A units

[Jeff Smith]

Registration required: http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20New ... units.aspx

ATLANTA — Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta has released the first of its two former Southern Railway FP7A units after a complete rebuilding. No. 6143 was released in mid-April, while No. 6147 should be out of the shop by July 4. Dixie Engine & Equipment Co. of Pell City, Ala., was tasked with rebuilding the units.

Each rebuilt unit is receiving an EMD 16-645E engine, replacing the original 567BC, as well as a rebuilt D12 main generator, new cooling fans and radiators, Dash 2 electrical components, and D87 traction motors. The original 24RL brake system has been replaced with a 26L, and a new Perkins 400-series diesel will provide head-end power.

[Noel Weaver]

With the kind of work that took place on these historic locomotives they should have a lot of good years ahead of them. I wish these operators lots of success in this one.
Noel Weaver

[litz]

Our 4631 (a GP9R) on the Blue Ridge Scenic is a very similar rebuild ... it's a former GTW unit that was part of a large fleet of elderly GP9s that all went through a rebuild in the early 90s.

Like Stone Mountain's unit, all received a 645 rebuild, new electrics, etc etc etc.

The result is, for all intents and purposes, a brand new locomotive. And considering these things last 50+ years under heavy use, running it in selected service on a small passenger train is absolutely no sweat for it.

Ours runs great and looks great, too.

They should have many, many, many happy years of circling the big rock ahead of them with the "new" FP9s.

- litz

[jtudor]

Registration required: http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20New ... units.aspx

Not registration, but Subscription to the print issue is required.

[Mikejf]

Nice looking unit.