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  • U23B preservation project?

  • Discussion of General Electric locomotive technology. Current official information can be found here: www.getransportation.com.
Discussion of General Electric locomotive technology. Current official information can be found here: www.getransportation.com.

Moderators: MEC407, AMTK84

 #37545  by Allen Hazen
 
A banner at the top of one of the Railroad.Net forum pages had a picture of a LV U23B and something about a "Sayre Historical Society' (?) "rescue" project, but when I clicked on it, it didn't fully load. Anybody know about this? Is someone in Sayre trying to preserve one of LV's U23B?

 #37559  by TerryC
 
This is the entire article

The Sayre Historical Society is no stranger to unique, unusual and sometimes heavy items of Sayre's history received from many generous donors. However, the latest contribution takes the prize. It's a 131-ton General Electric diesel locomotive.

Operation LifesaverThe locomotive is one of 12 GE U23B diesel electric locomotives built in 1974 for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Upon inclusion into Conrail in 1976, the "U-Boats", as they were fondly known, were painted blue, renumbered and reassigned to various portions of Conrail's far-flung system. Upon retirement from Conrail, many were scrapped and the remaining few were sold to private companies in need of motive power.

In 2000, one of the last remaining U23B's was delivered to a motive power supplier and repair center for further distribution.

Greg Deibler, Sayre Historical Society Board member, became aware of this locomotive through numerous contacts. Aware that none of the original Lehigh Valley steam fleet remained and only one of the diesel fleet was preserved, Deibler contacted the present owner of the locomotive and over a period of several weeks, consulted with that owner regarding a possible donation of the locomotive to the society. It would then be restored to its original colors and displayed in Sayre at the future Sayre Museum.

This donation came with a very large condition, that the Society transfer it. The current plan for movement is to attach the locomotive to an active locomotive to move it from its current location to Mehoopany. When it reaches Mehoopany, it will then be attached to a train and sent up to GE Rail in Sayre. There it will wait until funds can be raised to construction of a display track on the Sayre passenger platform that extends from the south end of the Sayre station to just above the Packer Avenue. Appropriate funds must be raised to defray the substantial costs to the Society to contract the move and to hoist the locomotive into place. Funds may also be necessary to repaint the locomotive to its original Lehigh Valley colors.

If you would like to contribute funds to this project, please send check to U23B Project C/O Sayre Historical Society P.O Box 311, Sayre, PA 18840.

Contributors' names will be placed in a displayed record visible to all who visit the museum. The society is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit, significant contributions are tax deductible.

If you would like to contribute funds to this project, please send check to U23B Project C/O Sayre Historical Society P.O Box 311, Sayre, PA 18840.

If you have any questions, please send an email to the project manager, Greg Deibler at [email protected] and use "U23B" in the subject line"

 #39717  by scottychaos
 
YES!
Greg Diebler had an original LVRR U23B donated to the society by RMDI in Pittston, PA.
they just have to pay for the move!
It started out with the LVRR Survivors list:

http://www.frontiernet.net/~scottychaos/LVRR.html

then Greg noticed that 2 former LVRR U-boats were at RMDI, he contacted them and arranged for the donation!
(thank you RMDI!! :)

Greg and I put the webpage for the project together:

http://gold.mylargescale.com/scottychao ... -U23B.html

and that page is linked from the main Sayre Historical Page:

http://www.sayrehistorical.com/

So far they have raised over $1,000 of the needed $5,000.
the engine will be repainted to her original LV colors, and put on display right next to the Sayre station, along with the LV caboose that is already in Sayre..(the caboose is going to be moved back to its former location alongside the station)
they are also looking to get maybe one freight car, to make a small display train. There has been talk of maybe trying to get a flatcar, so the car could be used for community concerts and the like..put the band up on the flatcar! and they already have space for the audience to sit..
Also, they got a grant for external work on the station!
repainting and general repairs to the exterior..
Scot

 #129048  by wess
 
whats the status on the U-boat?

 #141949  by scottychaos
 
wess wrote:whats the status on the U-boat?
still in fund-raising mode.
it takes awhile to raise the cash.
they are now up to $2,200..
about half-way there.

the unit is just sitting in Pittston, waiting for its move to begin.
it will happen! :P

http://gold.mylargescale.com/scottychao ... -U23B.html

Scot

 #142495  by ANDY117
 
any pics of it?

 #142809  by scottychaos
 
as far as I know, they arent certain which of the 2 engines at RMDI will be coming to Sayre.
it will be either 501 or 511,
since those are the 2 engines RMDI has..

The SHS might know which one it will be, but I havnt heard..

Scot