Railroad preservationist Bennett Levin’s PRR Nos. 5711 and 5809 are set to be part of the power for the 8-car “South Distribution Train,” running Saturday, Dec. 1 on Norfolk Southern trackage from Binghamton to Delanson. After this trip, the locomotives are set to be retired from mainline travel, Levin says.
“I’m not going to make the investment in [positive train control],” Levin says. He expects the engines to be put into long-term storage.
The E8s, led by an NS locomotive, will be pulling a special version of the Marine Toys for Tots train, which is making its 20th anniversary run delivering toys and clothing to Capital Region children. Amtrak announced in August that it would no longer operate the train [see “Amtrak nixes New York’s Toys for Tots Train,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 6, 2018]. Levin says he was asked by an intermediary if he could help organize a train.
Levin approached NS and offered to supply the equipment if the railroad would supply the crews. NS agreed, and Levin set about rounding up additional cars for the train. Other donors include John Webb, who provided two cars; the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad and the Morristown & Erie Railroad, which supplied an additional car; and Amtrak, which donated two baggage cars.
The train is scheduled to make these stops:
10-10:30 a.m., Binghamton Yard
11:45 a.m.-12:20 p.m., Bainbridge
1:15-1:45 p.m., Oneonta
3-3:25 Cobleskill
4-5:30 Delanson
At Delanson, the power will run around, and the train will head back to Binghamton, Levin says.
On Dec. 9, two buses, six tractor-trailers, and 20 other vehicles will make their way from Saratoga Springs to Rouses Point, to drop off gifts.
Correction to consist I previously posted: Lead unit was NS 7030, not 7630. Old eyes, faint daylight.
Maybe they can be backed down off of the Starrucca Viaduct to the Starrucca House, the Erie Rail Road Station in Susquehanna, where the Steam Town Historical site was suppose to be before a Representative named McDade got it re-located to his place of birth, Scranton. Folks here would be happy with just seeing the historic station receive some funding to keep it from crumbling to the ground.
For the record, here is the consist, Delanson, New York, December 1, 2018, eastbound: NS 7630; NS 7014; PRR (Juniata Terminal) 5711; PRR (Juniata Terminal) 5809; Babbling Brook, round-end obs., obs end east; Baggage (ATK); Baggage (ATK); Pacific Union; Alexander Hamilton; Little Juniata Rapids; Warrior Ridge; PRR 120. The rear three are Juniata Terminal; BB, AH, and PU are also privately owned. PRR 120 had a lighted keystone tail sign that said “United States Marine Corps.” A couple hundred kids were lined up for their gifts, all smiling and excited, along with mom and dad. A wonderful annual scene, almost killed by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, saved by Norfolk Southern, Bennett Levin, and friends.
“JIM NORTON
Its ironic these locomotives have overcome years of service, discarding and rebuilding. Yet, its government that will sideline them.”
Not surprised at all, any time the government intervenes into private business there’s failure and wasted money. the government can’t do anything right
Britt Reid, if they run around that may mean they will lead back. A pity this is the end, I had heard this was to be such, but now it is officially public. I do hope they get a good home, E-8s are certainly not museum playtoys, the RBMN Es had an interesting fate, they need somewhere to run (probably not Steamtown), but time shall tell. I do wish the pre-1948 ditchlights exemption could be modified to pre-1958 (60 years from now) for PTC exemptions, but now I am just dreaming.
A small correction to the story, I believe. Local newspaper coverage indicates that the road convoy aspect of the operation, from Saratoga Springs north to Rouses Point, will take place the day after the train portion, on Sunday, December 2.
Perhaps these magnificent examples of Mr. D’s Machines should go to the National Park Service operated Steamtown in Pennsylvania or the privately owned Age of Steam museum in Ohio to insure they live on in all their glory forever.
so can’t a PTC equipped unit MU with the E8’s to control them, without the need to install PTC equipment in the E8’s? thank you Mr. Levin for giving us a great memory.
Perhaps the E units can find a home on a tourist railroad or at an operating railroad museum.
During this month in 1950, the USMC 1st Division was cutoff at the Chosen Reservoir during the Korean War. Their refusal to succumb to defeat and breakout was a miraculous action.
This year, the USMC chose not to surrender its Toys for Tots program to Amtrak CEO Anderson; instead of retreating, the USMC worked with Bennett Levin/NS to rescue this program to the community.
What a very appropriate final action by those E8s; Semper Fi Bennett Levin for stepping up without hesitation when Amtrak willfully faltered.
i hope the E8’s 5711 and 5809 will find a new home and a new owner to operate them
It’s a shame that we can’t have beautifully preserved and operational diesel locomotives like this pulling Christmas Trains here in the West Coast like California for example.
So did CP decline to take the train from NS and run it on the usual route to Rouses Point for toy distribution because it was not under Amtrak’s banner (and insurance), thus the highway convoy? I could be wrong, but I live in this area, and when Binghamton–Delanson was part of CP, the CP holiday train called every year – not to distribute toys, as it seems this train will do, but to collect monetary and food donations for food banks and present the show described in the Trains feature.
Gorgeous Machines!!
Why even run if they’re not leading?
Its ironic these locomotives have overcome years of service, discarding and rebuilding. Yet, its government that will sideline them.