PITTSTON, Pa. — In response to a scrapping scheduled on January 22, a GoFundMe campaign was recently launched to save a historic SW1 diesel switcher, former Boston & Maine Railroad No. 1127. Organized by Connor Maher of the Danbury Railway Museum, $65,000 total must be raised to purchase the first-generation locomotive at $50,000 from current owner Progress Rail, followed by the additional $15,000 to fund storage fees and shipment by rail to the museum in Danbury, Conn.
“This is a true last-minute “ahead of the torch” call asking for a ‘Hail Mary,’” Maher stated on the GoFundMe page.
Built in 1954 by EMD, No. 1127 served the B&M’s light branch lines in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, notably the railroad’s famous White Mountain Branch. The switcher was sold off by successor Pan Am Railways in 1996 and was eventually rostered on the Luzerne & Susquehanna Railway in Pittston as No. 600. It currently resides there and is reported to be stored operable, indoors, and in good cosmetic condition.
According to a recent Facebook post by the Danbury Railway Museum, the current plan is to swap the locomotive’s trucks with a roller-bearing set for transport by rail. The museum states delivery of the trucks and preparation for shipment can begin shortly after the $50,000 has been raised for the initial purchase.
“In a way No. 1127 represents an era in New England railroading when light manufacturing and small industry was still dependent on the railroad,” said Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society President Rick Kfoury, whose organization supports the effort.
Donations can be made on the campaign’s GoFundMe page.
Will this unit be the only preserved SW-1? Operable or just display?
Good goin’, guys.
It is already in good operational condition and the plan is to use it as soon as possible. I’m going to guess that a return to original B&M paint is planned first, other than some test runs.
Also, no, this is not the only preserved B&M SW-1 but most of the driving force behind preserving it believes it to be the most significant one. Around 1960 the B&M took it into the shop and converted it to an MU equipped unit. This was so that it could be used on the B&M White Mountain Branch at the time so that it could lead freights out of Concord, NH and then cut off and run down the Franklin Falls Branch off of that White Mt. Branch that was weight restricted. This feature was also used elsewhere on the B&M after the Franklin Falls Branch went inactive.
Two other B&M SW-1’s are also found in New England, one at the Berkshire Scenic RR (Fully restored and operational) and the B&M’s very first SW-1 preserved at the Railroad Museum of New England (not currently running).
One more is also preserved at a museum in the southeast. There are also a couple more sold off to third parties that still run (maybe).
The audience will be amazed to know that the $50K purchase amount was raised in just 27 HOURS!!!! I was monitoring the speed at which donations were coming in and gleefully stole the last donation to push it to the $50K. The remaining $15K still needs to be met to help with the prep and transportation costs. As I type this, we are only $5500 short of the $6500 mark. I anticipate that the projected mark can be met and exceeded and that will allow more funding for everything the venerable unit will need.
It should be noted, the Danbury Railway Museum is already home to Boston & Maine #1455, a 2-6-0 Mogul (last remaining from B&M). This makes the acquiring of former B&M 1127 very notable because the EMD SW-1’s (along with Alco S-1/3 units) were direct replacements for the Moguls based on their need to be used on the light duty branch lines that formerly was home to the 2-6-0s.
This is going to go down as one of the best “Hail Mary” wins in railroad preservation history!!
Update…. As this is written, 1/20/24 @1600 hrs EST there is less than $600 to go to reach the final goal!!! Well done EVERYONE!!! Well done!!!