by hankadam
Good Morning: We've been beating a dead horse, for weeks now, but it has taken a NYC expert to hit the nail on the head! BLW and BLH Diesel locomotives had wonderful qualities (as we have discussed many times) but they sure had their faults, also! The engine (De la Vergne) had a great history going back to the beginnings of diesel types. It had been modified and upgraded dozens of times over 60/70 years of manufacture. When it went from a casting of the cylinder block ("A" frame) it was designed with 1/4" steel. Of course it cracked badly, and often. So put in 3/8" steel = still not enough (and corners were square, rather than rounded, as in a casting, so more stress points). Finally "chrome-molly" steel which helped, but not completely. Also the engines leaked oil, always, so with the Westinghouse electro-mechanical switches sparking away there were fires = too often. Some of this could be endured in switchers, some of which are around today, but road locomotives = NEVER! All the best, Hank Rentschler
Henry A. Rentschler