B & A EMD f-7 A & B units on the PRR

[Kuh Shise]

Anyone know what arrangements were made between the PRR and EMD for testing F-7's in the early 1950's ? Growing up we used to watch for Bamgor & Aroostook engines assigned to iron ore trains over the Northern Division. I always assumed that they were test engines of EMD on the heavy grades 1.9% pulling the hill out of Ridgway into St. Marys. This section was the ruling grade for the Erie to Emporium run, and many times we kids witnessed the trouble when draw heads parted and it became necessary to double the hill. Maximum number of iron ore hoppers was around 64 cars going east. Most were A,B,B arrangements, although sometimes the Baldwin shark noses had 3 B units or A,B,B,A arrangements on the head end. A pair of I1-sa's always brought up the rear.

[Allen Hazen]

I think I remember reading that the Pennsylvania and the Bangor & Aroostook had different peak traffic seasons (?potato harvest? and ?iron ore goes by rail because the Great Lakes are frozen over?), and that they therefore, at some point in the 1950s, made a deal by which one would borrow the other's diesels for part of the year. Have you posted the question on the PRR forum? I'm sure somebody there would be able to tell you more.

[Kuh Shise]

Thanks Allen:

Your comment makes a lot of sense, and I will try the PRR forum.

Kuh Shise

[Engineer Spike]

I remember reading somewhere about the two roads sharing the units. Again, I think that it was because of the spud harvest.

[SSW9389]

B & A is Boston and Albany. BAR is Bangor and Aroostook. BAR owned F3s and no F7s.