P-RSL GP-38's alive and well

I came across this site in the NJ forum.
http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychao ... rkCentral/

They list 3 of the GP-38's as active. 2011, 2012, 2013.

Here are links to pics.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locopi ... x?id=62073
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locopi ... x?id=60975

Does anyone know if the other GP-38's are still out there.
Since I wasn't born until 78, I never got to see these in person. Its ashame the CMSL, SRNJ or one of the historical societies, couldn't bring one of these home and restore it.

Were they ever used in passanger service or just for freight?
Thanks,
Jason

they list 3 of the GP-38's as active. 2011, 2012, 2013.

While the above as well as a couple more GP-38's were designated for the Seashore Lines, they never in fact got here on the roster. The GP-38's that did work here were numbers 2000 thru 2009. Maybe someone could restate why the above engines were diverted as I can't remember the full skinny on it.

Were they ever used in passenger service or just for freight?

I don't remember ever seeing them on a passenger train. And I think by time they got here, the Seashore Lines coach stock was gone or nearly so anyhow.

According to all the PRSL books, the delivery of the 3rd batch of 38's coincided with the PC's declaring bankruptcy. Since PC was guarantor of the lease with GM, the units returned to GM and then delivered to PC with the same numbers. I saw them in the winter in pairs (up to 1977 or 78) on the head end of Budd powered trains in the noreasters in Feb or March, when heavy, wet snow must have prevented the RDC's from handling well (tractive effort/braking/signal shunting?) It was qute a sight the first time I saw them that way in 1977 blasting thru Lindenwold around United States Avenue with a tremendous train-induced whiteout trailing behind! I do know the ones sold to the BAR went away when it reorganized as the Montreal Maine and Atlantic a few years back. They were easy to tell with the extended "dual control" cabs compared to the regular BAR 38's. They looked nice blasting theu Fort Kent at 50 or so on 211, the old BAR Madawaska-Millinocket road job.

I noticed that 2011 had dynamic brakes added at some point. Does anyone know when this was done as all of the units were originally delivered to PRSL and PC without DB's.

Another picture of the units working for PC can be found here: http://www.thebluecomet.com/rdg_prr_2012reading.jpg

mitch kennedy wrote:........ I saw them in the winter in pairs (up to 1977 or 78) on the head end of Budd powered trains in the noreasters in Feb or March, when heavy, wet snow must have prevented the RDC's from handling well (tractive effort/braking/signal shunting?).....

Now that you mention it Mitch, I do remember seeing this same lashup of Geeps and RDC's. I think (think ,I said) that the reasoning behind the lashups in snow was that the RDC's were a bit skittish punching holes thru snowbanks and had a tendancy to wander off the rails doing the same. The above could have been good reasons too, as I know the RDC's would sometimes not trip various electric circuits within the interlockings.

I have seen alot of pictures of GP-38 locomotives in Wildwood and on the Cape May and Ocean City branches. Some were used at lot on Beesley Point trains.