Georgia Central’s roster include a single locomotive from CSX, No. 1004 that was built in 1973 for Louisville & Nashville. Locomotive No. 1004 is the only low nose U23B on the roster. The remaining 12 U23Bs are former Norfolk Southern units, originally constructed for Southern Railway between 1973 and 1977. All retain their high-short hood and control stands setup for long hood forward operation. Road numbers of the remaining former Norfolk Southern locomotives are 3910, 3911, 3912, 3917, 3928, 3938, 3946, 3950, 3956, 3959, 3965, and 3968.
The railroad plans to replace the aging GEs with first generation, four-axle EMD locomotives. The first G&W-painted locomotive lettered for Georgia Central is GP10 No. 1706, mated with MT4 slug No. 1006. The pair have been assigned to Georgia Central for some time now, wearing G&W orange paint and lettered for Rail Link.
In March, shop forces at Lyons lettered the pair for Georgia Central.
I've watched quite a few videos of these units, since they run in the area where I grew up, and enjoy hearing them chug along. Hope someone saves a couple of the highnoses.
Please, save at least one of these, that ex-CSX low-nose unit in particular. Let's learn from what happened to all of the Dash Sevens…
While I might like to see one or two perserved, It will be nice to see some fresh paint in the central Georgia area. I have been watching thses boys fade for most of their life. While someone is saving these GEs, maybe they can take a couple of steps back and save the Central of Georgia 509 just outside there office door in Macon.
There is nothing quite like watch a high hood long hood forward GE coming at you with those unique GE engines just "a-talkin" only thing better might be a long hood forward SD-45 doing the same. I agree that several museums need to come to central Georgia and save several of these beasts.
My vote is to save one high and one low hood.
It stinks that nobody likes used GE's
Hate to see the old U-boats go, but they weren't the most reliable locos around, Old EMD's run like the proverbial Ever Ready Bunnies.
Any and all museums must call Georgia Central to get one of the U23Bs for display or operation.
Lets hope these get sold to another shortline or are preserved. It will be sad to see these locomotives retired from GC service.