Critters

[Bob Bufkin]

I shot too many photos over the weekend.  Was going to save this for Thursday but will post others there.  Here are some interesting 'Critters' I found outside the Metro facility alongside the D.C. beltway by the CSX tracks.  Finally sound out how to get there.  Sorry about the quality.  Had to shoot into the sun.  Plan on going back are a better time someday:

[Philip H]

Bob,
You were in the Greenbelt Metro Station.  One of my favorite train watching spots because you can get MARC there too.  Metro has a couple o fthese in the yard by Union STation as well - painted MOW yellow.  I think they are for moving train cars and trains that aren't working off the third rail.  Not sure if they ever work in the tunnels or not.

[Philip H]

Speaking of critters, does this look like something from a certain challenge we had a while back?

http://cgi.ebay.com/CUSTOM-SCRATCH-BUILT-12-GONDOLA-WITH-COAL-LOAD_W0QQitemZ230404130196QQcmdZViewItemQQptZModel_RR_Trains?hash=item35a5280594

[Mark5]

Ah so that's where they are now ... one used to be parked in DC near Ivy City.

Those are Whitcombs I think.

[Bob Bufkin]

Look like Witcombs to me.  I have seen GE's there in the past.  Saw one of these with a work train while traveling south on RT 66 a few years back. 

[Chris333]

The grab iron ladder on the far right of the right loco makes it look like a 100T Davenport.

[Chris333]

OK I'm gonna say 65T (or 80T) drop cab GE, final answer.
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/usa1368.jpg
65 & 80 tons shared some body parts.

[Mark5]

Hmmm, yeah the cab roof has the wrong shape for a Whitcomb ...

[central.vermont]

Here it is!!!!

A GE 44tonner low cab.

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/wmataL001.jpg

Jon

[Chris333]

The cab must be a chop job then. Never heard of a 44T drop cab.  Now that I see the vents it is a phase II-B1.

[Chris333]

Here is another:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1045/966725730_d2fb7d7998.jpg?v=0
this one is a 45T drop cab, but it looks like the roof was chopped even more.

It was built for the military during WW2, 94 built.

[Packer]

Here it is!!!!

A GE 44tonner low cab.

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/wmataL001.jpg

Jon

Here is another:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1045/966725730_d2fb7d7998.jpg?v=0
this one is a 45T drop cab, but it looks like the roof was chopped even more.

It was built for the military during WW2, 94 built.

Both the units you guys pictured are the same exact units from the beginning. The numbers and paint match up just right, and the shots may even be of the same side. (hope I'm not stating the obvious, not familiar with center bad switchers) So L001 is a drop cab 44 tonner, and L0011 is a drop cab 45 tonner. Question is what could be gained from a drop cab?

[Chris333]

I don't know why the 44t is chopped, but the reason for the 45t dropcab model was to allow them to operate on the motive power starved railways of Europe during the later half of WW2.