In 1942 General Electric built eight 70 ton center cab diesel locomotives for the New York Central. Numbered 506-513, they were among the first 70 ton switchers built by GE. Originally intended to be used switching passenger cars in terminals, these locomotives proved to be geared too low for that service and were reassigned to other duties. Some were made into shop switchers while at least one other went to Despatch Shops as a shop switcher. By 1952 NYC sold off three of the locomotives, 511, 512 and 513 to Ortner Railcar who resold the units to Standard Slag Co. in Youngstown, OH. 511 and 512 went to Youngstown while 513 went to Cambria Slag (A Standard subsidiary) in Sharpsville, PA. 513 would later go to Youngstown as well. The two locomotives, which started life as NYC 512 and 513, then SSX 40 and 41, finally wound up at Valley Mould as 6114A and 6114B. The 6114A was used primarily for switching scrap cars at the melt shop while 6114B was used as a general plant switcher and for moving bottle cars of molten iron from the melt shop to the foundry. In 1992 Valley Mould closed its doors and a year later the plant was reopened as Ellwood Engineered Castings. Both were originally painted black but 6114B received a coat of read paint in the late 1990s in an attempt to more easily distinguish the two locomotives.
In 2007 the decision was made to retire the two switchers, which by that time had been in service 65 years. The 6114B was offered to the Tod Engine Heritage Park in Youngstown for preservation. In late 2008 title to the 6114B was transferred to the Heritage Park. The 6114A suffered an electrical cabinet fire a few years earlier and had become a parts source to keep 6114B alive. Due to other pressing concerns the 6114B sat at EEC during all of 2009, but now the locomotive has been prepped for its final five mile trip to the Tod Engine Heritage Park for restoration and operation. That move is scheduled to occur next week.
In 1968 the ex NYC 513 was in Youngstown, OH at the Standard Slag plant at Republic Steel.
This shot was taken at the same location in 1977.
In 1980 after purchase by George Silcott the SSX 41 was shipped to McKees Rocks, PA for refurbishing. Here it is in McKees Rocks.
In 1999-2000 I worked at Ellwood Engineered Castings, and while there was qualified to operate the ex NYC 513, which by now was the 6114B. On a bright sunny Saturday I brought along my camera and took a few shots of the locomotive posed at various locations around the plant.
Here I posed it with a 150 ton hot metal car.
And finally, eight years later I find myself aiming my camera at this unit again, but this time not as a railfan employee, but as savior.
In 2007 the decision was made to retire the two switchers, which by that time had been in service 65 years. The 6114B was offered to the Tod Engine Heritage Park in Youngstown for preservation. In late 2008 title to the 6114B was transferred to the Heritage Park. The 6114A suffered an electrical cabinet fire a few years earlier and had become a parts source to keep 6114B alive. Due to other pressing concerns the 6114B sat at EEC during all of 2009, but now the locomotive has been prepped for its final five mile trip to the Tod Engine Heritage Park for restoration and operation. That move is scheduled to occur next week.
In 1968 the ex NYC 513 was in Youngstown, OH at the Standard Slag plant at Republic Steel.
This shot was taken at the same location in 1977.
In 1980 after purchase by George Silcott the SSX 41 was shipped to McKees Rocks, PA for refurbishing. Here it is in McKees Rocks.
In 1999-2000 I worked at Ellwood Engineered Castings, and while there was qualified to operate the ex NYC 513, which by now was the 6114B. On a bright sunny Saturday I brought along my camera and took a few shots of the locomotive posed at various locations around the plant.
Here I posed it with a 150 ton hot metal car.
And finally, eight years later I find myself aiming my camera at this unit again, but this time not as a railfan employee, but as savior.
Would be fun!
