M&E Acquires Additional Locomotives

GP7u #23
Built as ATSF GP7 #2741 (serial #16385, built 8/1952)
Rebuilt to GP7u #2175 11/1979 (chop nose, new cab, Dash 2 electronics)
Sold to National Railway Equipment Company before 10/1988
Resold to BAR #23 in 1991
To MMA #23 10/2002
To M&E #23 8/5/2014

GP7u #24
Built as ATSF GP7 #2845 (serial #17706, built 12/1952)
Rebuilt to GP7u #2023 10/1981 (chop nose, new cab, Dash 2 electronics)
Sold to National Railway Equipment Company before 10/1988
Resold to BAR #21 in 1991
To MMA #21 10/2002
To M&E #21 8/5/2014
(to be renumbered M&E #24)

GP7 #25
Built as BAR #568 (serial #9941, built 11/1950)
Renumbered BAR #68 in 1953
To LMS #100
To MMA #100 10/2002
To M&E #100 8/5/2014
(to be renumbered M&E #25)

GP9 #26
Built as BAR #79 (serial #19556, built 6/1954)
To MMA #79 10/2002
To M&E #79 8/5/2014
(to be renumbered M&E #26)

The new locomotives will not replace any of the M&E's current motive power - yes, the Alcos are staying in service!

May I repectfully request the two original BAR Geeps be returned to BAR colors and perhaps lettered for M&E. It would show some deference to a popular railroad that fell on terrible times.

RGlueck wrote:May I repectfully request the two original BAR Geeps be returned to BAR colors and perhaps lettered for M&E. It would show some deference to a popular railroad that fell on terrible times.

You're pretty much looking at our paint plans for them, albeit with a high hood rather than the short hood pictured above. We're not a historical society and we don't run on any BAR trackage, so there is no corporate heritage there that would incline us to paint them BAR (as cool as I would personally find that to be).

therudycometh wrote:You're pretty much looking at our paint plans for them, albeit with a high hood rather than the short hood pictured above. We're not a historical society and we don't run on any BAR trackage, so there is no corporate heritage there that would incline us to paint them BAR (as cool as I would personally find that to be).

Are the plans to run all 4?
I was under the impression that at least 21 was in pretty rough shape.

KSmitty wrote:Are the plans to run all 4? I was under the impression that at least 21 was in pretty rough shape.

At least three of the four. 23 will definitely run, and likely 21 as well. One of the other two *might* become a parts unit - we're not sure yet.

Thanks for the info, Rudy. I never knew that the ex-ATSF geeps were upgraded to Dash 2 during their rebuilds. That's pretty cool, and I imagine it makes them more reliable and more maintainable than the other two.

Look, I'm all for history, but at least a few of them are still floating around so someone else can grab one eventually...

MEC407 wrote:Thanks for the info, Rudy. I never knew that the ex-ATSF geeps were upgraded to Dash 2 during their rebuilds. That's pretty cool, and I imagine it makes them more reliable and more maintainable than the other two.

Yep. The other two are still 24 brake barrel stands, original 1950s wiring, etc. Not bad or unusable, just not upgraded.

daylight4449 wrote:Look, I'm all for history, but at least a few of them are still floating around so someone else can grab one eventually...

Huh?

Did the ex-ATSF geeps receive 645 power assemblies during their rebuilds?

therudycometh wrote:

KSmitty wrote:Are the plans to run all 4? I was under the impression that at least 21 was in pretty rough shape.

At least three of the four. 23 will definitely run, and likely 21 as well. One of the other two *might* become a parts unit - we're not sure yet.

Try to avoid it if you can.. Making a parts unit, doesnt hurt to have one extra engine available for your use.

MEC407 wrote:Did the ex-ATSF geeps receive 645 power assemblies during their rebuilds?

Yes. I believe the other two also have 645 power assemblies as well, but don't quote me on that.

How about the traction motors -- rebuilt in-kind, or replaced with newer ones?

MEC407 wrote:How about the traction motors -- rebuilt in-kind, or replaced with newer ones?

Not sure.

Great news, Rudy! Had an inkling the M&E would be at the MMA auction for this power. The 7u's are some pretty neat units with their "topeka" cabs and "liberator" exhaust stack setup. Was under the impression that MU and A/C was added during the rebuild, but they retained the 567, albeit with the Dash-2 electronics cab.

While everyone else is throwing in their 2-cents on what a for-profit railroad should do with their power, I'll vote that 2 should be kept for parts so as to get #22 on the road!

Since these never operated on lines with cab signaling, will they be stationed remotely on the D&R / HB or captive to the mo-town line?

therudycometh wrote: Huh?

Rudy, when I say floating around I mean they still exist. As for someone grabbing one... Does anyone here think that M&E will own these geeps forever? Eventually, 10, 15, even 20 years down the road better power will be purchased as these wear out and requirements change. At that point, assuming that someone or some group has the space and money, whats to say that one couldn't get acquired for use as a display piece?