BOONTON, N.J. — The United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey has begun restoration of the last surviving U34CH locomotive, a project it is undertaking in partnership with contractor and consulting firm FMW Solutions.
The organization has begun the project with a $10,000 matching donation from the Tri-State Railway Historical Society. It will display the locomotive on Sunday, Sept. 25, at its annual “Railroad Museum [For a Day]” event in Boonton, N.J.
“There are so few preserved locomotives that are uniquely-Jersey, and this is one of them,” URHS President Kevin Phalon said in a press release. “There are thousands of people who still remember riding behind, working on, and running these locomotives. 3372 holds a lot of meaning for a whole lot of people, so it was imperative that we start this project off right—with funding and professional experience.”
Erie Lackawanna No. 3372 is one of 32 such locomotives built by General Electric between 1970 and 1973 as part of a commuter modernization effort that also included an order for Comet I coaches from Pullman-Standard. The U34CH fleet was inherited by NJ Transit in 1983 and retired in 1994, with the others scrapped or sold to South America. NJ Transit donated No. 3372 to the URHS.
The locomotive was originally leased to the New York & Greenwood Lake Railway in Passaic, it was moved to the URHS facility in Boonton in 2014. A full mechanical evaluation by FMW Solutions this summer determined there was nothing that precluded the locomotive from being returned to operating condition; it suffered extensive damage to its wiring because of vandalism and weather while in Passaic, but all of it can be repaired, and the prime mover is in good shape other than wear from its in-service career.
“URHS has a great vision for preserving New Jersey’s railroad industry and our diesel- electric experts are looking forward to being a part of it,” said FMW Vice President-Mechanical Shane Meador. “Our inspection of 3372 was promising, and it shows that locomotives from this era can make good candidates for restoration.”
The full mechanical report on the locomotive is available at this page on the URHS website and donations for the project can be made here. More on the “Railroad Museum [For a Day]” event is available here.
Not my photo, nor is it part of my collection – photo was taken by Tom Kelcec, also from NJ. I did not attend or photograph any of the trips 148 ran on EL at the time. Steve Hepler
Amtrak’s forgotten ugly duckling was another GE, the “Pooch” – the P30CH, the company’s first HEP-equipped locomotive if I recall. “Loud” may be enjoyable to trackside railfans. Not so much a passenger walking down the platform at Chicago Union Station.
The U34CH in this article is prettier.
Going back to the Pooch, I’m trying to remember if they were all HEP equipped or if some had steam generators. It’s OK if no one remembers. Frankly some things are best forgotten. I’m not aware that any were preserved.
Who would think a run of the mill second generation diesel, would take on historical notice.
Loved when they started to pull in the winter with a big Hep load You couldn’t mistake what was there with the loud Chug-Chug sound. And when the end of there service was near they almost looked like Alco’s Belching black smoke!
I wonder if Steve Helper realized at the time that someone, someday will be just as interested in the run of the mill commuter train he photographed while waiting for the steam special to arrive.
Some locomotives you see and/or hear. The U34s were an EXPERIENCE. There will never be anything like standing between four of them in HEP mode at rush hour in Hoboken.
One qualm: There was no such thing as a Comet I In 1970. The sets were sold as “Dieseliners” and the Comet thing came after the start of NJ Transit.