The Philadelphia Chapter of the

National Railway Historical Society

Established in 1936

A series of fortunate events brings us to this week's interesting power report. The power is not incredibly interesting, but where it IS is the interesting part.

It started with last Friday's C746. The usual power for this train has been almost strictly a pair of ex-Conrail SD40-2's, due to SEPTA's requirement that all engines traveling between Tabor Junction and Wayne Junction be equipped with cab signals. The pair holding down the assignment the past several weeks, CSX 8820 and 8856, ran down to South Philly and were promptly sent out of town to Cumberland with no return trip to provide power for Sunday night's C746 run originating in Lansdale.

With no power for the Lansdale to South Philly run other than a pair of ex-Conrail GP38-2s, CSX 2746 and 2788, and no local job B745 scheduled for Sunday nights, they took the local power for the transfer run for Sunday night's round trip.

Fairly unusual and somewhat interesting.

However, the local power would be needed for the next B745 on Monday night, so C746 originated in South Philly with the only power available, CSX SD40-2 8053. Not being cab signal equipped and with a consist containing a high cube boxcar, the train ran up to Lansdale via the NS Harrisburg Line and the NS/CSX Stony Creek Branch, with the power laying over Tuesday. On Tuesday night, 8053, with its long hood forward, powered C746 back down the Stony Creek and Harrisburg Line to South Philly.

And this is where it gets really interesting.

Due to the cab signal requirements, the pool of CSX locomotives qualified for the SEPTA Main Line is very limited, so they sent what they had: CSX C40-8W 7363 and ES44DC 5215. Big units such as SD50's and C40-8's have made the trip before, but this is the first time for a GEVO. Of course, the heavens have opened up all day long, but considering the slim chances of this power returning, it was important to get the shots now.

Sunday's C746 power CSX GP38-2 2746 and 2788

All pictures November 5, 7 and 8 2006 Copyright © 2006 John P. Almeida

Photographs for personal use only. All rights reserved by original owner of image. Reproduction or redistribution in any form without express written permission is prohibited.