Nostalgia & History > EMD BL2 question

I have only come across any EMD BL2s on the former Western Maryland. Are there any other railroads that bought that model for their rosters?

Matthew

Bangor & Arostook bought several

Rock Island and Missouri Pacific did, too.

Check out the listing in this Wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_BL2

MOPAC had a few.

Monon also

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> Bangor & Arostook bought several

Interesting. I had read somewhere a few years ago that model had not be perticularly been admired because of its overall appearance. Is there anything anyone can elaborate on that?

Matthew

B&M had them.  Ugliest unit ever produced IMO,

Western Maryland owned 2 of 59 BL2's built (and both survive today).    Other roads: 

Bangor & Aroostook - 8 units and 4 of these survive
Boston & Maine - 4 units equipped with steam generator but no m.u.
Chesapeake & Ohio- 6 out of 14 were ordered by Pere Marquette but delivered after C&O aquired PM. All C&O units had dual controls; the only BL2’s so equipped.
Chicago & Eastern Illinois  - 3 units; one of those was EMD's BL1 demonstrator
Monon - 9 units and 1 has been preserved
Rock Island - 5 units; they mostly pulled "dummies" (commuter trains) in and out of Chicago
Florida East Coast - 6 units; these looked stunning in their as-delivered "Champion" scheme currently worn by contemporay FEC power
Missouri Pacific - 8 units

Some, like the B&M's were retired early (1960-61) while the Wild Mary's and BAR's were in service into the 1980's.  

Tom Coughlin
Stow, MA  



Edited 9 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/22 06:59 by tomcough.

Earlier today I posted a photo of WM 82. That will give you an idea of what one looks like.
Bob

Lackawanna & Stourbridge has an ex- BAR unit. Not sure if it’s serviceable currently. And one of the WM units is used on the Durbin and Greenbrier.

Posted from iPhone

Doug Wetherhold
Macungie, PA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/21 12:26 by ALCO630.

My recollection is the BL2 lacked easy access to the engine  compartment for service, and had issues with the sight lines for men on the ground during switching. 

Compared to road switchers like the GP7 and RS-1, it wasn't a great choice for general purpose road switching

refarkas Wrote:
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> Earlier today I posted a photo of WM 82. That will
> give you an idea of what one looks like.
> Bob

Your photo looks fantastic. In fact, that's what prompted me to ask my initial quesiton!

I'm very aware of one's appearance. I was just wondering if any other lines had aquired any as well because I have only seen them #81, #82 in the WM paint scheme.

Matthew

Still in service.

ALCO630 Wrote:
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> Lackawanna & Stourbridge has an ex- BAR unit. Not
> sure if it’s serviceable currently. And one of
> the WM units is used on the Durbin and
> Greenbrier.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Also, until it recently became defunct, the Saratoga and North Creek operated at least one.

C&O had them as well.
ft

The last time I saw one was when I was participating the WM Convention in 2016. Attached is an image of one at Spruce, WV.

You say that the WM engine utilized there ROW around Durbin, WV. Did it use the entire ROW, between Elkins and where it once joined the ex-C&O?

Matthew



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/21 14:56 by Cumberland.

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They actually are not bad looking when clean and paint is fresh, but their limitations are what they are with regard to sightlines and such....EMD made the sloping cuts to make reward visibility a thing, but it just didn't quite hit the mark....still there were so few made they are worth preserving...and being EMD...they should be stupidly easy to maintain...even if worst comes to worst and you have to upgrade it to keep it going. 

Don't forget Chicago & Eastearn Illinois.

sums007 Wrote:
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> B&M had them.  Ugliest unit ever produced IMO,

Better looking than a CF7.

Cumberland Wrote:
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> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bangor & Arostook bought several
>
> Interesting. I had read somewhere a few years ago
> that model had not be perticularly been admired
> because of its overall appearance. Is there
> anything anyone can elaborate on that?
>
> Matthew

Actually NO! The long on-going myth is that the railroads "didn't like them", however internal EMD records indicate that many, MANY railroads wanted to order them. The real problem was in the main Locomotive Division at the EMD McCook plant. Unlike the F Units and E Units, once the BL2 underframe was rotated right-side-up, it could no longer be moved within the assembly area due to the design of the carbody. As a result, Manufacturing and Process Engineering complained long and hard to the Design Engineering Dept. to "Do SOMETHING" with this damned thing so that production can be speed-ed up. As a result, Mr. Dick Dilworth was asked to come back from retirement and the end result was the design of the GP7.

Now you know the REST OF THE STORY!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/21 17:43 by HotWater.