Silver Lake posted:Happy SWSat guys! I see we are off to a great start this week. Spencer sounds like a lot of fun Rich. Tom that 0-6-0 might be a good candidate for an engine house scene of changing the boiler tubes in that open front at least until the restoration can start.
This week I have some pics of some BL2s I took a few weeks back in North Creek NY at the Adirondacks at the Saratoga and North Creek. As far as I know this is the only place that has two operable BL2s. The BL2 was a transitional engine that GM made that bridged the gap from full cab hood diesel like the F3 to a narrow hood diesel like the GP7. They had both the clear view out the short hood and a view out the back that did not require sticking your head out the window for switching. The BL supposedly stands for Branch Line. And the windows on both ends made for easier switching.
In the 1980's I got one of these in HO scale as part of the first release Lifelike Proto2000 upgraded offerings that ushered in modern HO scale popular offerings. My teenage self loved this engine. So I have a real soft spot for the C&O version
There were not that many prototypes made but a surprising number still exist. These two were both from the Bangor and Arrostack which had the largest and longest lived fleet. They carry their original B&A numbers. The innards are the same as an F3.
You can see that even in this small fleet of two the paint schemes are different both have B&A inspired striping in D&H inspired colors. The 52 has added blue striping and 56 is more simplified.
Two other B&A BL2 are around one in PA and one in original paint at Cole Transportation Museum in Maine. Two Western MD BL2 are around in origional paint schemes one runs in West Va near Cass and one is at the B&O museum.
The RR has some interesting facilities in North Creek like the engine house facilities and turntable set into uneven ground. The station is where Teddy Rosevelt became president after Mckinley's assassination. Also there is a very nice Clark Dunham Layout . This time I didn't see it but I have seen an Alco S2 painted in Alco demonstrator paint on the turntable in years past.
I had to edit this for clarity and because my pics didn't post.
Have a great weekend guys.
Silverlake, those are great pictures of a favorite engine. FYI, the railroad is the Bangor & Aroostook which was formerly a next door neighbor of ours. The one in the Cole's museum in Bangor is in beautiful condition and is named the "American Railfan".
