Nostalgia & History > Last new diesels, Lehigh Valley and Reading?

I'm doing a little research into these two roads, and I can't seem to find what was the last new diesel or last diesel order was for them both. I'm fairly certain Reading's last was an order for MP15 switchers, but I'm not 100%. Does anyone here know this information or can point me in the right direction? Thanks.

RDG GP39-2's were delivered in late 1974:
http://www.readingmodeler.com/index.php/articles/89-locomotive-reference/road-locomotives/189-emd-gp39-2

While the above site says the GP39-2's were "basically replacements" for the GP30's and GP35's, those units remained in service and the Alco C424's, C430's, C630's, and GE U30C's went into storage after the 39-2's showed up.

LV's last new units were the U23B's, actually owned by USRA, IIRC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/17 10:54 by CPR_4000.

CPR_4000 Wrote:
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> RDG GP39-2's were delivered in late 1974:
> http://www.readingmodeler.com/index.php/articles/8
> 9-locomotive-reference/road-locomotives/189-emd-gp
> 39-2
>
> While the above site says the GP39-2's were
> "basically replacements" for the GP30's and
> GP35's, those units remained in service and the
> Alco C424's, C430's, C630's, and GE U30C's went
> into storage after the 39-2's showed up.
>
> LV's last new units were the U23B's, actually
> owned by USRA, IIRC.

While the MP15's and GP39-2's were on different orders, they were part of the same purchase.  They were both on a lease from GATX to the Reading.  When Conrail came along and the GP39-2's went to the D&H, Conrail paid the lease to GATX,  Conrail then billed the D&H for the lease payments for the GP39-2's.

My research also indicates the Reading GP39-2's were last, in 1974 (i.e. delivered later than the SW1001s, MP15DCs and GP40-2s).

And over on the LV, it appears the GE U23B's were last. They were built to Conrail specs for the impending consolidation.

TJY



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/17 12:26 by icancmp193.

icancmp193 Wrote:
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> My research also indicates the Reading GP39-2's
> were last, in 1974 (i.e. delivered later than the
> SW1001s, MP15DCs and GP40-2s).
>
> And over on the LV, it appears the GE U23B's were
> last. They were built to Conrail specs for the
> impending consolidation.
>
> TJY

The GP39-2's were built on order number 74640.  The MP15's on order number 74641.  The GP39-2's started delivery in November of 1974.  The MP15's in Devember of 1974.

Again, the were part of the same purchase and financed by the same company (GATX).

NYSWSD70M Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> icancmp193 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > My research also indicates the Reading GP39-2's
> > were last, in 1974 (i.e. delivered later than
> the
> > SW1001s, MP15DCs and GP40-2s).
> >
> > And over on the LV, it appears the GE U23B's
> were
> > last. They were built to Conrail specs for the
> > impending consolidation.
> >
> > TJY
>
> The GP39-2's were built on order number 74640. 
> The MP15's on order number 74641.  The GP39-2's
> started delivery in November of 1974.  The MP15's
> in Devember of 1974.
>
> Again, the were part of the same purchase and
> financed by the same company (GATX).

So technically the 39-2s were the 2nd to last units ordered and the 2nd to last units for the LV were a dozen GP38-2s and coincidentally both groups went to the D&H after C-day along with some LV C 420's I always thought(read)that the RDG's 39's were for the Joanna to Bethlehem ore runs.

pal77 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NYSWSD70M Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > icancmp193 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > My research also indicates the Reading
> GP39-2's
> > > were last, in 1974 (i.e. delivered later than
> > the
> > > SW1001s, MP15DCs and GP40-2s).
> > >
> > > And over on the LV, it appears the GE U23B's
> > were
> > > last. They were built to Conrail specs for
> the
> > > impending consolidation.
> > >
> > > TJY
> >
> > The GP39-2's were built on order number
> 74640. 
> > The MP15's on order number 74641.  The
> GP39-2's
> > started delivery in November of 1974.  The
> MP15's
> > in Devember of 1974.
> >
> > Again, the were part of the same purchase and
> > financed by the same company (GATX).
>
> So technically the 39-2s were the 2nd to last
> units ordered and the 2nd to last units for the LV
> were a dozen GP38-2s and coincidentally both
> groups went to the D&H after C-day along with some
> LV C 420's I always thought(read)that the RDG's
> 39's were for the Joanna to Bethlehem ore runs.

The 5 GP40-2's from 1973 were for the ore trains.

NYSWSD70M Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> The 5 GP40-2's from 1973 were for the ore trains.

No doubt they were used on the Joanna Mine trains, but I always wondered about the choice of GP40's for ore drags.

CPR_4000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NYSWSD70M Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > The 5 GP40-2's from 1973 were for the ore
> trains.
>
> No doubt they were used on the Joanna Mine trains,
> but I always wondered about the choice of GP40's
> for ore drags.

Yeah not sure about that choice either.

Posted from Android

These U23B locomotives were in a separate Conrail number series from the other units for a long time.

Posted from Android

A pair of ex-LV U-23-B's stenciled for Conrail. Note the battery box cover on the 2780, it's off an E-L GE.
Top: Elizbethport, N.J., January, 1979.
Bottom: Croxton yard, Secaucus, N.J., May, 1977.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/17 21:07 by overniteman.

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This MP-15 (9630) would then be the last Reading diesel built.
Reading, Pa., March, 1988.
This U-23-B (2788) would then be the last L-V diesel built. Oak Island yard, Newark, N.J., October, 1986.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/17 01:01 by overniteman.

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The LV U23B's were GE Order 1437B completed in November 1974.

LV 512 was the last one: Serial # 40109

LV 512 became CR 2788 as pictured above.

Not 100% sure but I think actual delivery was in December 1974.

train1275 Wrote:
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> The LV U23B's were GE Order 1437B completed in
> November 1974.
>
> LV 512 was the last one: Serial # 40109
>
> LV 512 became CR 2788 as pictured above.
>
> Not 100% sure but I think actual delivery was in
> December 1974.

Yes.  They were delivered in two batches of six.  Running under their own power from GE Erie via the N&W and ran light to Sayre where they were accepted and put in service.