Eastern Railroad Discussion > GSLX 385 Switcher at Keyser, WV - 07 October 2019

Caught this fellow in CSX train Q316-05 eastbound at Keyser, WV heading for Cumberland, MD.

Not sure who, what, or where it's going......

Tim W.

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at Dawson, MD....

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Looks like a very early model SW7 but I have no idea the heritage of the unit.  The large fuel take may help give away its pedigree.  

Just needs a little TLC and great to see the American flag taken care of on both sides.

GSLX reporting marks assigned to George R Silcott Railway Equipment Co of Worthington Ohio

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> Looks like a very early model SW7 but I have no
> idea the heritage of the unit.  The large fuel
> take may help give away its pedigree.  

Agreed. The blue paint makes one think ex-CR ... Lackawanna had fuel tanks with air piping like that, but they didn't have SW7's. Pennsy had the tanks and pipes, but no SW7's that early. NYC, Erie, LV, and CNJ didn't have tanks like that. So maybe not CR.

Looks like a "1" in the numberboards.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/19 09:32 by CPR_4000.

Needs lots of TLC !

Mike Bannon
St Catharines, ON

The old paint job showing through the faded blue might be the biggest hint.  Looks like Indiana Harbor Belt (or maybe NYC) to me; can anyone make out the outline of lettering on the cab sides?

Those red marker light fixtures to the right and left of the front and rear head lights strongly suggest this is a ex PRR unit. The fuel tank and air cooling piping were not normaly under a SW7 evidently a SW9 fuel tank was installed on this unit to replace the origional. Hopefully someone can look just above the "F" on the front right corner and write down the four digit a dash and another single or plural number that is stamped there with a 5/8 inch tall metal stamp. The number is also stamped on the left rear on that raised portion of metal that runs the length of the unit. The number is known as the order number and can be trace to the locomotives serai number. Please post the number on Train Orders so the past history of this unit can be determined. Thank you. Richard Adams   

Apparently headed for the Beech Mountain RR in WV to replace one of the Alcos.

Posted from Android

I believe I have solved the mystery. After much Googling.
I was led to Donsdepot site. 

Here is a description and history of the locomotive. Listed under George R. Silcott:

For some reason I am not being allowed to post the description.
However, here is a link to Don's page. You will need to scroll down to George R. Silcott
Equipment Co. https://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr799.htm

Link to a photo of same. https://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0401/grs9190.jpg

BaltoJoey Wrote:
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> I believe I have solved the mystery. After much
> Googling.

Good job! It even has the funky bell hanger. I was thinking maybe IHB but stopped at NYC and didn't investigate further.

If you are thinking it is the 9190 in the photo, it looks like it would have to have received a different hood on the unit which is possible.   The radiator is full length in the current version and the front axle sand filler is higher in one than the other.   They clearly have the same size fuel tank so its possible they could be the same unit but I suspect they aren't.  

The 9190 was retired by Conrail on 6-7-84. I or someone else did observe the order number on Conrail 9190 as E1042-7. Hopefully someone in the future will be able to recheck the frame number. It would also be interesting to note the prime movers model and serial number. Richard Adams

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> Looks like a very early model SW7 but I have no
> idea the heritage of the unit.  The large fuel
> take may help give away its pedigree.  

Take another look at the cab front windows. I see the outline of arched windows, plated over with non-standard windoes. I suspect a late model NW2.

Arved Grass
Fleming Island, FL

From another source over in Facebook land, the switcher was mis-routed east to Cumberland, MD it was supposed to be taken off Q316 at Grafton, WV.
It is destined for the Beech Mountain Railroad replacing one of their Alco's...

As of last night it was still in Cumberland, MD. Should be going back west in train Q317 tonight.

Tim W.

DTWilson Wrote:
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> From another source over in Facebook land, the
> switcher was mis-routed east to Cumberland, MD it
> was supposed to be taken off Q316 at Grafton, WV.
> It is destined for the Beech Mountain Railroad
> replacing one of their Alco's...
>
> As of last night it was still in Cumberland, MD.
> Should be going back west in train Q317 tonight.
>
> Tim W.

If so, the Beech Mountain RR must have a new customer in the works!
Possibly a mine reopeneing?

Same old Carter Roag mine thay loads on a sporadic basis. One of the Alcos is beyond repair, and this is the replacement. I do not know which Alco is being replaced.

Posted from Android