Ridgefielder wrote:Statkowski wrote:The EDER-5 FL9s (2000-2029) had 567C prime movers, just like the GP9s being produced in the same timeframe. They were built as dual-service engines, with nose MU connections, dynamic brakes and a head-end brakeman's seat in the cab.
The EDER-5a FL9s (2030-2059) had 567D1 prime movers, just like the GP18s being produced in the same timeframe. Due to the terms of the Federal loan guarantees, these were built as passenger-only engines, with no dynamic brakes and no provisions for a head-end brakeman. They had the same gear ratio as their predecessors and therefore could be MUed with the other same-timeframe engines, but could only be used as a lead or trail unit, and dynamic braking would not be available.
Apart from the Maybrook Line, where else on the New Haven would dynamic braking have been used?
Others would (and will) know for sure, but I'm guessing the Highland between Waterbury & Bristol, the Midland through Bolton Notch, and the Air Line... and Sharon Hill in MA.
A couple of things here. The FL-9's were not intended to be a primary freight engine although they were used in freight service from time to time. I had a pair to Bay Ridge once, I know they ran to Holyoke at least once on a Sunday Holyoke Extra (after they made NY-2 and YN-1 a Monday - Friday affair they usually ran a Holyoke Extra in the daytime on a Sunday, train up and light back, FL-9's were sometimes used on that move as they would be back in time for Monday's rush hour trains), Cape Code trains to Hyannis and probably some more that escape me right now.
As for dynamic brake operation, the FL-9's were not normally used on the line between Waterbury and Hartford and in fact except for a period in 1959 this line did not have any heavy through freight trains on it, FL-9's did not run through Bolton Notdh except in rare occasions on a passenger extra (they did run them a few times, I rode the cab of one from Waterbury to Willimantic way back when) and as far as Sharon Hill was concerned this could be run just as well without dynamic brakes. The only place I used them other than on the Maybrook Line and Beacon Branch was on Hell Gate Bridge and this was during the early years of Penn Central when we again got diesels with working dynamic brakes. Dynamic brakes were a wonderful tool but the engineer had to know the best place and time to use them.
Noel Weaver