Eastern Railroad Discussion > From Amarillo to Akron, ABC 4005

Headed out this morning to catch the recently released Akron Barberton Cluster RR GP40-3 #4005. The ABC (and ABB before that) had relied on two SW1500's of Conrail/IU heritage and whatever they could use from parent Wheeling to move their freight. This unit is hands down the highest HP diesel to wear ABC or ABB lettering. It will be a nice change, but what's with the Amarillo reference ? Well, this unit started life as a Rock Island GP40 delivered in 1970. I'm sure it passed through not only Amarillo, but most other Rock Island towns as well. Other operators of this well traveled unit were MP/UP and DM&E. All three scenes attached are in Akron, Ohio 01-09-20 as a Z train on CSX.

Roger Durfee
Akron, OH



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/20 10:35 by EL833.

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Should be ex DME 4005.  Ex Rock 4700.

sp8192 Wrote:
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> Should be ex DME 4005.  Ex Rock 4700.

Yep, built in 1970.

Roger Durfee
Akron, OH

Congratulations on ABC 4005. I'm glad she is out and working and that you posted photos of her first.
Bob

Sharp looking unit. Not bad for a 50 year old !

refarkas Wrote:
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> Congratulations on ABC 4005. I'm glad she is out and working

Thanks Bob. I pretty much just lucked into her today. I had checked Barberton out first to find nothing there, so I went searching. Caught some scanner chatter and caught up with it near Brittain yard. I don't know if this was it's first revenue run after the paint job or not.

Roger Durfee
Akron, OH

I noticed it  has dynamic brakes. I thought Rock Island only bought non-dynamic locomotives. Who added them?

1019X Wrote:
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> I noticed it has dynamic brakes. I thought Rock
> Island only bought non-dynamic locomotives. Who added them?

They were added while the unit was on the DM&E.


Chris Toth
NSDash9.com

       Has grown ditch lights and dynamic brakes since Rock Island owned it too.

Great catch and shots of 4005.
In picture 1, I can't get over how different it looks around the old Quaker Oats factory.
Congrats on IOTD.
Thanks for the post.
Gary
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/20 03:03 by gcm.

Now THAT is what I call a dramatic paint scheme and with the primary colour being black, it won't show the dirt as much . . although I bet the crew will keep her in pristine condition

Craig
mcmrailvideos.com

gcm Wrote:
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> Great catch and shots of 4005.
> In picture 1, I can't get over how different it
> looks around the old Quaker Oats factory.
> Congrats on IOTD.
> Thanks for the post.
> Gary

Thanks Gary ! Attached is a February 1988 photo just to compare recent history of this area. The former EL right of way, just gravel remaining in '88, is off to the left. The drive in the top photo is partially covering the old EL in the current view.

Roger Durfee
Akron, OH

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