Oh no! I'm Having THOSE Kinds of Thoughts Again!

[Iain]

I saw the 400 today.  I couldn't get a good shot without waiting for it to emerge from the yard.  Unfortunately, I didn't have time to wait around.  Trip to Aberdeen is planned for Saturday afternoon depending on weather, which sucks at the moment (cold rain).

I have finally got all the A&R photos I have access to gathered up, and I'll be getting them emailed right here directly.  Most are too old to be of interest to you, but they'll still give you a feel for the railroad.

[davefoxx]

I finally received Atlas GP7 #205 in the mail today, so I've now got a fleet!  That will be two GP38s and a GP7 on the property and in the stable when I get home tonight.  That'll do nicely for the future HCD layout.  If I ever get the itch to custom paint a locomotive, then just maybe I'll check out one of the CF7 kits that are supposed to become available in the future.

Until then, this is fine and I'll just worry about rounding out the rolling stock for appropriate freight cars.  I bought a couple of tank cars last week at the Timonium show.  I could probably use a couple of LP gas cars and a number of grain cars.  I just don't know enough about covered hoppers to determine which ones are appropriate yet.  Judging by the photos in the A&R book I have, though, I can use some of my existing C&O hoppers for coal deliveries (along with my new LRV hoppers, of course ).  Nice!

DFF

[Brakie]

Other way around, the 2486 went to A&R from the PDRR.

Cool! Thanks for the information..I will add that to my short line notes of interest.

[Iain]

Dave, I'll try to get some shots of the hoppers down at the chem plant A&R serves here in town.  Tank cars are a must as well.

[Iain]

Well, I was on my way to my part time gig and I saw the complete roster of A&R equipment on the front of a train.  I got photos; I'll get them online tonight.

[davefoxx]

SWEET!!!  I wondered how often they MU more than two locos. 

[Iain]

Notice the ATW hopper.  ATW = Atlantic and Western.  You will need a few of these if you do modern AR.



I hope these help.  If not, I thought it was a sweet find.

[Dave V]

Sweet pics!  Looks like the A&R is still a class act.  Great pick by Dave; great pics by Iain.

[davefoxx]

HAWT!  I really appreciate you taking the time to go out, shoot pics, and post them to this thread.  What a great find.  You have got to love those days when you're at the right place at the right time.  Doesn't happen often, which makes it all the more satisfying.  Thanks for sharing!

So, four units.  Was this to balance power or was this a huge train?  Also, what can you or anyone tell me about #102?  Long term lease?  Has it been on the A&R long and is it expected to hang around a long time?

DFF

[Brakie]

Great photos!

I love that A&R CF7!  ;D


I am surprise to see that GATX SW1500. ???

[davefoxx]

You have got to love it!  Not only is GP7 #205 unrebuilt after 50+ years of service, it's also got its full side skirting above the fuel and water tanks.  Many roads torched those off or cut holes into them to ease mechanical inspection and servicing.  Supposedly, the steam generator is still in the short hood, too!  With the exception of the ditch lights, #205 doesn't look much different than the day it rolled off the assembly line decades ago.  Fascinating.

The mechanical department at the A&R must be commended for what has to be superior care of their locomotives.  I appreciate the philosophy that if you take care of the locomotives, they'll take care of you.  I have never understood the mentality of deferred maintenance on some roads that shall remain nameless.

DFF

[Iain]

HAWT!  I really appreciate you taking the time to go out, shoot pics, and post them to this thread.  What a great find.  You have got to love those days when you're at the right place at the right time.  Doesn't happen often, which makes it all the more satisfying.  Thanks for sharing!

So, four units.  Was this to balance power or was this a huge train?  Also, what can you or anyone tell me about #102?  Long term lease?  Has it been on the A&R long and is it expected to hang around a long time?

DFF

You're quite welcome.

I first saw #102 about a month ago; but that's when I moved here and started hanging out at the right place (more on that for a SNFF some time; it would have happened this week, but I filled the memory of my camera with A&R).  At first I thought it was being used by CSX.

[DKS]

It's a shame this old girl isn't still around...



...although I wonder if CF7 #2486 may have originally been #201?

[davefoxx]

David,

Those F-units were definitely classy.  The story on #201 was that it was not preferred by engineers and was considered unsuitable for switching, because it wasn't very powerful.  So, #201 was sold in 1952, and it became RF&P #1111.  Number 200 stayed on the roster until 1963 and was traded to EMD as partial payment for GP18 #300.

Therefore, neither is CF7 #2486 in a former life.  Number 2486 was a AT&SF rebuild, so, prior to 1975, it was a Santa Fe F7.  In 1988, the A&R bought #2486 from the Blue Mountain & Reading RR.

Dave

[DKS]

Dave, thanks for the background on these units. While the A&R may be small, its history is richly detailed.

As it happened, subsequent to posting the A&R Fs, I came across an A&R roster online that indicated the CF7 was an AT&SF rebuild. I believe a great many CF7s are of that origin; IIRC, the CF7 at Black River may be an ex-AT&SF as well.