During the 1950s, the New Haven sought to cut costs by reducing electric operations in the electrified zone between New Haven and New York City. Although diesels could be used elsewhere, electric operation was required in the Park Avenue Tunnels leading to Grand Central Terminal. Therefore, the dual-power FL-9 locomotive (electric and diesel-electric), which could operate as a conventional diesel-electric or as a straight electric on the 650 volt DC third-rail in the tunnels, was designed specifically for the New Haven by EMD. EMD lengthened the FP-9 locomotive by four feet and substituted a 3-axle Flexicoil rear truck to meet axle load restrictions on the Park Avenue Viaduct leading to the tunnels. The first thirty FL-9s were delivered to the New Haven in 1957 with 1750 HP EMD 567 diesel engines. Thirty additional were delivered in 1960 with 1800 HP. They lasted to the end of the New Haven.
In 2017, four FL-9s remain parked in the Metro-North Lamberton Street Yard in New Haven.
Photo shows my Sunset/3rd Rail model of New Haven EMD FL-9 #2043.
MELGAR
