Chesapeake & Indiana No. 6321 was running outside the one stall engine house testing new high voltage wiring on Tuesday.
Resplendent in a Southern Railway-inspired paint scheme, with a change to “victory blue,” a nod to the Chesapeake & Ohio heritage of the line it will operate over, No. 6321 will join former NS GP38-2 No. 5115 and former Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range SDM No. 815, based out of the railroad’s Lacrosse, Ind., headquarters.
The No. 6321 is former Louisville & Nashville SD40 No. 1245, the first of the three to see attention from the four-person shop force at Olin, just over the Indiana border from Illinois and along former Conrail, and former Peoria & Eastern Railway trackage.
Locomotive work began Aug. 1, it had been stripped of copper wiring during 8321’s storage in Huntington, W.Va.
The prime mover required two new power assemblies along with a new turbocharger. The 645E3B engine had blown up prior to being stored by CSX.
“Internally, the diesel engine from front to back, looked like a hand grenade had gone off,” said Billy Carlton, trainmaster and shop superintendent.
New traction motor leads were installed, since copper thieves had climbed beneath the stored locomotive and cut all the wires from the six motors.
“New batteries are coming today, we are finishing up the cab and painting the interior,” said Carlton.
At one point, the locomotive received “40-2” electrical upgrades, but unlike a standard SD40-2, the unit lacks the long front and rear “porches,” a spotting feature of other 40-2s.
Jim Montgerard says the next six-axle locomotive to see attention will be former Conrail SD40-2 No. 8810, which will become the railroad’s No. 6386.
The other six-axle unit is SD38 No. 2461, originally a Penn Central unit ordered in 1970.
Bradley, they fired/let go most of their special agents.
Very nice!
Am I the only one in shock of CSXs apparent lack of security when storing locomotives on a deadline. I would think a yard would have enough security measures in place to deter thieves.
Nice. My only hope is that Steve did not over foam when he saw her for the first time. 😉