No. 3170 rests outside the paint shop at Debutts Yard in Chattanooga, Tenn., prior to its return to service.
Norfolk Southern
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Norfolk Southern has unveiled a new addition to its vaunted heritage fleet: Southern Railway SD40 No. 3170. The locomotive was recently saved from the back lot; rebuilt into operating condition at NS’s Juniata Shop in Altoona, Pa.; and repainted into its original Southern colors at the railroad’s paint shop at Debutts Yard in Chattanooga.
No. 3170 will go back into revenue service, primarily assigned to yard and local service along the Piedmont Division.
Electro-Motive Division built the 3,000 hp No. 3170 in 1971, and the locomotive was used throughout the Southern Railway’s 10,000-mile system. The locomotive carries the Southern Railway’s trademark high short hood.
The repaint marks a milestone for the preservation of second generation diesels, which Trains Magazine covers in the April 2015 issue Preservation column. EMD built the SD40 from 1966 to 1972 with a total production of 1,298 units for American, Canadian, and export.
I wish all railroads would do this, and I wish they'd make it more pervasive, not just a handful of locomotives. There's an amazing and rich history behind the dozens of mergers and/or breakups that formed each of the current railroads, be they short lines or Class A's. It makes for great public relations to bring that history alive, but it also brings a sense of continuity to the communities along the tracks, and makes people feel like they haven't been forgotten.
I don't mean restoring older locomotives, per-se, but heritage paint schemes on new locomotives. It's just not that hard to do, and the engines have to be painted, anyway. Give us back the Missouri Pacific, Texas & Pacific, Frisco, Santa Fe, Rock Island, IC, C&EI, WP, SP, Cotton Belt, Milwaukee, C&NW, GN, NP, GM&O, the various terminal belts, and myriad other paint schemes. Let people know and see their history. Issue trading cards for kids to collect.
Well, maybe I'm living in the past, but if future kids (who become future CEOs, vice presidents, and shipping managers) are going to understand their transportation system, they need to see and know something about the railroads, and not just the spectacular tank car bonfires they see on the news.
Older people who don't follow the railroads are going to see that new paint and get all confused
I notice 3170 is the class leader of ex-SOU units. NS still has the class leader of the N&W units (1580). I think it would be cool to also have an original bluebird in the fleet.
When I heard that the last few High Hood SD40-2s were being sent to Altoona to be rebuilt with low hood Admiral cabs I emailed Mr. Moorman asking to save at least one unit and repaint it into the old Southern Tuxedo scheme. He emailed me back and even though an SD40-2 didn't get saved at least an SD40 did. I don't know if my request had anything to do with it but I sure will miss Mr Moorman when he is gone. Not only does he appreciate Railroad History he values the men and women that work for the company.
Tim G
NS Locomotive Engineer
Piedmont Division
Mr. Beckett Jr. excellent idea!!!. Hopefully someone high up in NS or someone with some pull in the company will read your post and seriously consider it.
Of the various paint schemes that were mostly black, Southern's was by far the most elegant, and they have done a marvelous job with this retro unit. It shows they have a keen sense of their past and where they came from. Since there are still a few SD 40 types on NS, how about expanding the program?? Perhaps a maroon NW unit, with the gold "NW"; a CNJ "red baron" SD 40; a Pennsy unit with the Keystone herald, though that's admittedly not one of the more attractive schemes, but it would go perfectly on trains out of Altoona, and perhaps could be used as a helper over Horseshoe. Other types could be worked in as well: an LV GP 38-2, preferably working out of Allentown; A Reading GP 40 in the apple green scheme-how about that working at the new intermodal yard at Rutherford??; an Illinois Terminal SD 38, if they still have any; and since there are still a couple knocking around north Jersey, an EL SD45-2.
I know I'm dreaming here, and all of this costs money-and special attention in the paint booth-but it's a thought. Perhaps this could be not so much a "heritage" program as a "retro" program, since the engines painted would be types originally rostered by the roads they are painted for, in schemes they wore at the time. They could complement the heritage units, since the paint on these units will represent schemes not used in the heritage fleet, and in the case of the EL unit, one not used at all.
Just a thought.
P.S., KUDOS TO NS for a very classy tribute to their heritage!
@Peter M. Benham, I HEAR YOU, and i say DITTO with BNSF! It's been said that they chose the initials "BNSF" over "SFBN" so they could say "BIG, NEW SHINY FRISCO!" (Showing my prejudice) or "BIG, NEW SANTA FE!" versus "SAME FLEABAG BURLINGTON NORTHERN", It's like CSX and BNSF are saying "WE have NO PRIDE in our heritage."!
Heartwarming to see SOUTHERN on anything that rolls on the tracks. Thanks NS for restoring this engine to service.
Long live the high hood. Outstanding job NS. Somebody in this company is so in tune with the Heritage angle. NS gives you a reason to go out and watch thier trains. You have twenty four chances to see something very special.
Interesting how times have changed with times passing to bring about nostalgia for older motive power.
Since I live close to the old Danville line in Lexington I will get lucky enough to get a few pics of this beauty!
Having started with Southern Railway as a management trainee in September, 1973, I am thankful that NS saved this unit and painted it in Southern colors to include the computer check letter. I retired in November, 2003 from NS and I am proud to have begun my career with Southern and into NS. Thank you Wick Moorman.
I remember seeing these in run-through service Cincinnati to Toledo on the B&O back in the 70s and early 80s on a train called the Dixie. Always thought that they looked classy and still do!
One of our favorites has returned-and in it's original tux! Cannot wait to see pulling tonnage for revenue! Thanks!
Beautiful. The article doesn't say if they upgraded the electricals to Dash 2 specs, but she looks great.
Outstanding! An original cigar band returns to the ranks, and NS gets to protect the copyright.
Wonder if it will team up with any of the southern steam locomotives if there in the area.
I like that. Union Pacific has older units running around in "classic" Armour yellow and grey that, aside from the slogan on the cab or hood, likely would have had the same appearance back as far as the time they were built. I can't tell if it has a classic loud, melodious horn (Chime?) is still on it. I don't see CSX painting an SD40 Black with yellow striping and wearing Clinchfield on its side, or it's dull blue with C&O or B&O on the hood. CSX is what it is, thanks Norfolk Southern.