gallons of water. While on the subject of volume, the BL2 had the ability of hold- ing 1100 gallons of diesel fuel, 200 gal- lons of lubricating oil, 204 gallons of cooling water and 16 cubic feet of sand. From April 1948 to May 1949, the to-
tal production run was only 59 units. This includes the original BL1 which was rebuilt and later sold to the Chica- go & Eastern Illinois to follow in their numbered series from 1600 to 1602. Other customers included Bangor & Aroostook (8), Boston & Maine (4), Chesapeake & Ohio (14) (actually or- dered by Pere Marquette, which be- came part of C&O in 1948), Chicago & Eastern Illinois (3), Monon (9), Rock Is- land (5), Florida East Coast (6), Mis- souri Pacific (8), and Western Mary- land (2). While all this seemed to be a only small addition to EMD’s bottom line, you have to remember this was all new to the folks at La Grange, and con- sidering what was learned as a result, the BL project paid off in dividends. Was the BL2 doomed from the very
TOP: Sold in 1986, former BAR No. 54 was the only BL2 to be painted in the late-era three-stripe design. It retained those colors throughout its career on Pennsylvania’s Stour- bridge Railroad excursions, seen here crossing Main Street in Honesdale. RIGHT: An im- promptu photo session was held at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., with ex-BAR No. 52. After a brief stint on the Wisconsin & Calumet, this venerable locomotive was dragged out of mothballs
and reactivated for the new
Saratoga & North Creek service in 2011. Paint colors are tribute to Delaware & Hudson. BELOW: Half of the Western Maryland’s BL2 roster is pictured below, in operation on a photo freight at the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia. The other unit is preserved at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. STEVE BARRY PHOTOS
46 FEBRUARY 2014 •
RAILFAN.COM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66