Conrail BM repaints in mid-1980s

[Benjamin Maggi]

I have seen pictures of some old Conrail units (U-boats and I think some Geeps) where the "can opener" was painted out and "BM" was stenciled on the nose. In some pictures the can opener wasn't even painted out fully. The pictures were dated 1985. Did they arrive then, or might they have come in 1984? I would love to include one or two on my layout set in 1984 and am looking for more information.

[KSmitty]

All following information is taken from Bill Gingrich's comprehensive roster.

GP40's:
-BM 320-334 were purchased 1984/01
-BM 335-337 were purchased 1984/01 but were placed in service with their CR numbers. They ran as BM 3244, BM 3249, BM 3258 until 1984/07 when they were renumbered 335, 336, 337 respectively.
-BM 338-342 were purchased 1984/07.

U33B's:
BM 190-192 were purchased 1984/04.

No idea on when particular units were repainted into full G colors, or which units were patched a certain way (full CR can opener paint out or only partial...) But it's safe to assume that if you can find photos of the above units patched in 1985 they were probably similarly patched in 1984 and could make an appearance on your layout.

Edit:
Also, some of the GP40's were still in PC black when they arrived if I'm not mistaken. So you might be able to add a little more color. All sorts of potential to work with.

[Benjamin Maggi]

Thank you very much!

Is Bill Gingrich's comprehensive roster part of a book? If so, I will purchase it as it sounds like a great book.

[NHV 669]

That's a yes on the black: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2517764

[KSmitty]

Is Bill Gingrich's comprehensive roster part of a book? If so, I will purchase it as it sounds like a great book.

No its not in a book, Bill is, or was anyway, a member here. It was available on the now defunct Guilfordrailsightings yahoo group in .pfd form. I'm not sure if that group migrated to the groups.io platform. If so you may be able to find a copy there. Or he may still frequent this site and see your interest.

[GP40MC1118]

They did go over to the "groups.io" platform several months ago.

D

[Benjamin Maggi]

I hope Bill does see it, as that sounds very helpful! Thanks to all for the information.

[guilfordrailfan]

I hope Bill does see it, as that sounds very helpful! Thanks to all for the information.

Ben and anyone else interested in the Guilford roster: the all-time roster pdf file that some of you have seen is based on an MS Word document that I haven't updated in a few years. I am, however, continuing to update the roster in an Excel spreadsheet. The problem is, my spreadsheet is not in any sort of shareable format. I have a goal of creating a relational database for the roster data that I can use to generate all sorts of roster reports. I am not too far along with that project, but hope to be able to share updated roster reports sometime in 2020.

Somebody mentioned a Guilford roster book. No I have not done one of those, but there *might* be one coming down the road... MUCH farther down the road.

Bill Gingrich

[EDFLD Bill]

GP40's:
-BM 320-334 were purchased 1984/01
-BM 335-337 were purchased 1984/01 but were placed in service with their CR numbers. They ran as BM 3244, BM 3249, BM 3258 until 1984/07 when they were renumbered 335, 336, 337 respectively.
-BM 338-342 were purchased 1984/07.

Just to clarify a couple things here: 335-337 were leased in February 1984 and purchased in July, May, & June 1984, respectively. The 338-342 were leased in July 1984 and not purchased until the 1st Quarter if 1985. This is why they were not promptly renumbered. All units previously owned by Itel and trusted to CR and its predecessors for 15 years.

Most were CR Blue except 328-332-335-337-338-340-341, which were PC Black. Most (but not all) units started to receive Guilford Phase II Paint at Oneonta during the summer of 1987.

And one more note: Units 3230-3238-3240-3242-3243-3250-3251-3252-3256 were stored by Guilford at Colonie on behalf of Itel during 1984 and never purchased by Guilford.

[Benjamin Maggi]

I hope Bill does see it, as that sounds very helpful! Thanks to all for the information.

Ben and anyone else interested in the Guilford roster: the all-time roster pdf file that some of you have seen is based on an MS Word document that I haven't updated in a few years. I am, however, continuing to update the roster in an Excel spreadsheet. The problem is, my spreadsheet is not in any sort of shareable format. I have a goal of creating a relational database for the roster data that I can use to generate all sorts of roster reports. I am not too far along with that project, but hope to be able to share updated roster reports sometime in 2020.

Bill Gingrich

Thanks Bill. I suppose I can wait until 2020!

[Spike1724]

Is there information about where the units stored for Itel went? I know that around the same time several ex Conrail GP40s went to Rio Grande, Katy, and C&NW.