by Engineer Spike
A while back Preston Cook had an article on the RYPN site about supporting preserved 567 powered units. He talked about how the early U and V deck versions are totally obsolete, and have not been supported for parts for many years. He said that if a classic was found with these versions, and the owner wanted to run it, the best course would to use a later version, but then keep the original for display.
My question is about how the railroads kept early EMDs running. Since the 567 was still in teething stages, when these versions were improved upon, did EMD provide replacement prime movers, once the more proven A block come out? I wouldn’t doubt that GM would make good on the troublesome early types. I know that Boston and Maine sold off lots of its earlier SW1s to short lines, and industries. Some of these ran regularly into at least the 1970s, if not later. Illinois Railway Museun’s E5 is another example. Somewhere along the line either IRM, or CB&Q/BN made changes which make her still supportable, and reliable enough that BNSF still occasionally lets her run out on the main, as LaGrange intended.
Was there a GM replacement program, or did individual railroads eventually throw down on their own replacements? I’m sure that some of these dinosaurs ran on spare parts, which had been taken from retired sisters.
My question is about how the railroads kept early EMDs running. Since the 567 was still in teething stages, when these versions were improved upon, did EMD provide replacement prime movers, once the more proven A block come out? I wouldn’t doubt that GM would make good on the troublesome early types. I know that Boston and Maine sold off lots of its earlier SW1s to short lines, and industries. Some of these ran regularly into at least the 1970s, if not later. Illinois Railway Museun’s E5 is another example. Somewhere along the line either IRM, or CB&Q/BN made changes which make her still supportable, and reliable enough that BNSF still occasionally lets her run out on the main, as LaGrange intended.
Was there a GM replacement program, or did individual railroads eventually throw down on their own replacements? I’m sure that some of these dinosaurs ran on spare parts, which had been taken from retired sisters.