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Rahway Valley Railroad #17 | |
Type: | B=B (70 tonner) |
Builder: | General Electric |
Construction #: | 32130 |
Year Built: | 01/1954 |
Horspower: | 600 |
Engine: | Cooper-Bessemer FWL-6T Prime Mover. Six cylinder. |
Weight: | 140,000 lbs. |
Notes: | Purchased new in 1954. Removed from the RVRR in
1989 and worked for the NYS&W. Donated in 1995 to United Railway Historical Society. On display at the Whippany Railway Museum in Whippany, NJ. |
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#17 was the last locomotive ever purchased by the Rahway Valley Railroad. In late-1953 the railroad placed an order with General Electric for its second 70 tonner. Churned out of the plant in January, 1954, #17 arrived on February 2, 1954. With its arrival, all subsequent steam-powered movements over the RVRR were discontinued. The last fire had been dropped on #15 that past November. From then on the RVRR was a diesel only line. The locomotive arrived in forest green paint with yellow striping, contrasting the red and yellow #16, paint schemes they would retain until 1975 when Bernie Cahill had them repainted in their identical maroon and white paint schemes. Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, these two little switch engines more than paid for themselves on the little Rahway Valley, hauling ton after ton of freight over the line. They even hauled a special passenger train to Baltusrol for the US Open in 1980. After the RVRR lost its liability insurance, operations over the railroad were assumed by the Delaware Otsego Corporation in April of 1986. The new operator went on to purchase the line that December. #16 and 17 went on to serve their new owner, on home rails, for a few more years. By the end of 1989 #17, as well as #16, were removed from their old home to perform other duties for Delaware Otsego. #17 even went on to serve on the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad in upstate-New York. Both #16 and 17 were subsequently donated to the United Railway Historical Society in 1995. Today #17, as well as her sister #16, can be seen on display at the Whippany Railway Museum in Whippany, NJ. See what #17 looks like today.
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