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  • LV GP38's

  • Discussion related to the Lehigh Valley Railroad and predecessors for the period 1846-1976. Originally incorporated as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad Company.
Discussion related to the Lehigh Valley Railroad and predecessors for the period 1846-1976. Originally incorporated as the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad Company.

Moderator: scottychaos

 #204541  by Otto Vondrak
 
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What were the circumstances that led to LV purchasing new GP38's? I thought I read that LV was largely bankrupt when the order was placed, so the government guaranteed a loan to purchase them, since they realized these new engines would be going to the Conrail fleet (in reality, they ended up on D&H since they got first round draft pick).

When were the GP38's ordered? When were they delivered?

They are among my favorite engines on the LV.

-otto-
 #204622  by TB Diamond
 
Are you speaking of the EMD GP38AC units or the GP38-2 type? The GP38AC units, Lehigh Valley RR number 310-313 were EMD builder number 7368-1 thru 7368-4, builder date 12/71, delivered to the LVRR 19 Dec 1971. The GP38-2 units, LVRR number 314-325 were EMD builder number 7387-1 thru 7387-12, builder date 11/72 and delivered to the LV a short time later. Trade-ins for the GP38AC units were F3/7 513, 524, 566 and 572. Trade-ins for the GP38-2 units were F3/7 513, 562; DS44-1000 148 (2nd); DRS44-1500 200; S12 231, 233, 242 (2nd) plus three additional units. It appears for the most part that the LV replaced its aging EMD F units with the GP38AC/GP38-2 orders. In addition, in the early 1970s the Lehigh Valley RR took over all former CNJ operations in the state of Pennsylvania, including the L&NE trackage. Therefore the Lehigh needed additional power.

 #205911  by ANDY117
 
I think NS still has 3 of the GP38AC's operating. I know thannon had pics of them somewhere.
 #206006  by TB Diamond
 
Otto: You are welcome. Am sure that LVRR F7A #574 should have been added to the list of units traded in on the GP38-2 order.