Well they claim to be purchasing ex EL 3639 now Conrail 6670. This one has the original 20 cyl. engine in it and dual control stands.
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Interesting restoration project.....
Gary: Rail-fan
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You both beat me to it! Yes we have a deal to purchase the 6670 / 3639 from VMT. So far we are about $7,500 toward our initial goal of $20,000, which is pretty good considering the project is only 11 days old.
Once the hurricane is done flooding the south and after NS moves the 6670 to a location nearer to the museum, our crew will be spending a few days securing the locomotive and starting work to get it ready to ship out. Initially it will remain a Conrail locomotive but down the road it will again assume its EL identity. While the 6670 is missing a few major components, we are planning on eventually restoring it to operation.
This effort is truly a grassroots effort and we are looking to fellow railfans to help us get to our goal. We have a couple of different ways for people to show their support for the project which are linked below.
She is a big engine, but not too big that all of us can't save, restore and run her!
If I remember correctly, these used the SDP frame to obtain a larger fuel tank. None had steam generaters for passenger service.
Dominic Mazoch posted:If I remember correctly, these used the SDP frame to obtain a larger fuel tank. None had steam generaters for passenger service.
Correct. In fact, I don't recall that EMD even used the model designation "SDP45" for those Erie Lackawanna units.
Hot Water posted:Dominic Mazoch posted:If I remember correctly, these used the SDP frame to obtain a larger fuel tank. None had steam generaters for passenger service.
Correct. In fact, I don't recall that EMD even used the model designation "SDP45" for those Erie Lackawanna units.
A common designation I've heard was SD45M for the Erie Lackawanna units.
Was this a commuter locomotive? The dual control stands made me wonder.
Brody B. posted:Was this a commuter locomotive? The dual control stands made me wonder.
No. The order for these "special" SD45 units for Erie Lackawanna had an "SDP" underframe in order to carry an extra large/long fuel tank (at least 5000 gallons of fuel). Thus, they were NOT designed/built for ANY kind of passenger service. The customer also required dual control stands for bi-directional running.
The idea was to be able to operate all the way between Chicago and Croxton Yard, in New Jersey WITHOUT having to stop for fuel.
Conrail had no problem calling them SDP45s. The official designation from EMD was SD45M.
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Rick Rowlands posted:Conrail had no problem calling them SDP45s. The official designation from EMD was SD45M.
So,,,,,has a bonafide Historical Museum, will you thus call the locomotive what the original manufacturer called it, or what the idiots at Conrail named it?
It is going to be an SDP45M! 
But really, SDP45 when it is blue, SD45M when it is grey.
Hot Water posted:Brody B. posted:Was this a commuter locomotive? The dual control stands made me wonder.
No. The order for these "special" SD45 units for Erie Lackawanna had an "SDP" underframe in order to carry an extra large/long fuel tank (at least 5000 gallons of fuel). Thus, they were NOT designed/built for ANY kind of passenger service. The customer also required dual control stands for bi-directional running.
The idea was to be able to operate all the way between Chicago and Croxton Yard, in New Jersey WITHOUT having to stop for fuel.
That the was idea... but they stopped for a drink in/around Meadville
EL liked to shop for the best prices on diesel fuel, I was told. Apparently they could refuel wherever the spot price was lower. While the big SDs could make the trip without refueling, they usually teamed up with units with much smaller fuel tanks which of course needed more frequent refueling.
Lehigh Valley Railroad posted:Hot Water posted:Brody B. posted:Was this a commuter locomotive? The dual control stands made me wonder.
No. The order for these "special" SD45 units for Erie Lackawanna had an "SDP" underframe in order to carry an extra large/long fuel tank (at least 5000 gallons of fuel). Thus, they were NOT designed/built for ANY kind of passenger service. The customer also required dual control stands for bi-directional running.
The idea was to be able to operate all the way between Chicago and Croxton Yard, in New Jersey WITHOUT having to stop for fuel.
That the was idea... but they stopped for a drink in/around Meadville
The bottom line was, occasionally those big SD45M units did NOT make it all the way to New Jersey. So,,,,,the EL then ordered "special" SD45-2 units with the main air reservoirs relocated to inside the long hood, with a very special/custom fuel tank of about 5500 gallons, which wrapped upwards under the walkways. These were the most unique SD45-2 units ever built, and NS currently has one totally rebuilt and operating in their "Heritage Fleet".
Hot Water posted:Lehigh Valley Railroad posted:Hot Water posted:Brody B. posted:Was this a commuter locomotive? The dual control stands made me wonder.
No. The order for these "special" SD45 units for Erie Lackawanna had an "SDP" underframe in order to carry an extra large/long fuel tank (at least 5000 gallons of fuel). Thus, they were NOT designed/built for ANY kind of passenger service. The customer also required dual control stands for bi-directional running.
The idea was to be able to operate all the way between Chicago and Croxton Yard, in New Jersey WITHOUT having to stop for fuel.
That the was idea... but they stopped for a drink in/around Meadville
The bottom line was, occasionally those big SD45M units did NOT make it all the way to New Jersey. So,,,,,the EL then ordered "special" SD45-2 units with the main air reservoirs relocated to inside the long hood, with a very special/custom fuel tank of about 5500 gallons, which wrapped upwards under the walkways. These were the most unique SD45-2 units ever built, and NS currently has one totally rebuilt and operating in their "Heritage Fleet".
GMD (EMD Canada) built SD40-2's with those big 5500 gal fuel tanks for the Quebec, North Shore, and Labrador. Like the EL SD45-2's the air reservoirs were in the end of the long hood.
Also, regarding whether they were designated SDP45 or SD45M, I believe that EMD designated the first part of the order SDP45, and the second part SD45M. What is interesting is that EMD also built SD40's on SDP45 frames (for the big fuel tank) for Illinois Central which EMD designated SD40A.
Stuart
