Bob's Fort Wayne area photo of the week

[Bob Durnell]

The period around the time of the 1999 Conrail split was probably the greatest era of oddball motive power in these parts since Conrail was formed in 1976. Power short, no, make that power desperate Norfolk Southern turned to just about ANY source to rent power. Believe it or not, for a very short time four Amtrak F40PH's re-geared for freight service held down a regular turn out of East Wayne Yard. This particular F40 was one of several modified to have a front porch to make them more useful as freight power, and was painted for it's new owner?, Lessor? I can't remember the details that brought this locomotive back into the world of rent-a wrecks, but I think that railroad bellied up.

[Hotbox]

it looks like the trailing unit #232 has a doorway at the centerline over the coupler. Were these units "covered wagons" in the traditional sense?

[Bob Durnell]

The F40PHs's were cowl carbody units like the SDP40F and the FP40 and FP45s that proceeded it. The Cowl body enclosed the engine compartment and walkways from the outside, but had no structural support purpose, unlike the EMD F and E units where the carbody was part of the frame structure.

[Hotbox]

I always get a little bit confused with the term "cowl" as it pertains to locomotives. To me a cowl is like a fairing on a motorcycle, or a shield over a nose cone.....or like a front air dam on a Can-Am car.

Was it possible on the units featured in the photo to enter the crew compartment from the front platform?

[Bob Durnell]

Yes, the freight conversions included a front door.

[Hotbox]

Is it just me , or does that lead unit have one of Erie-Lackawannas paint schemes?

[hibbard]

Looks more like Canadian Pacific. All it needs is the beaver.

[Hotbox]

Looks more like Canadian Pacific. All it needs is the beaver.

My gosh, you are right! Erie was blue with a red stripe...my bad!

[Bob Durnell]

In all my years of railfanning, I have only been able to witness a SD80MAC in Allen County on two occasions, and the first time BOTH of my camera batteries were dead! This is the second time, taken in March, and though the conditions and location didn't make for very good photos, I'm still thrilled to have finally bagged one of the 20 cylinder beasts.

[Hotbox]

It's a shame that you stopped posting your photos.

[Bob Durnell]

I didn't stop, I just keep forgetting. So much going on during the warmer months. I promise I will make up for it!

3/17/16.

[Bob Durnell]

8/24/16 in the rain along Old Maumee Road in the summer rain.

[Bob Durnell]

1/8/2010. CF&E power idles in the frigid late afternoon cold at the Hump at Piqua yard.

[Hotbox]

Okay, I gotta ask...."Hump" must be the name of a junction? I ask, because I don't think they still have the retarders and all that is required for an operating hump yard...do they? I know that the underpass is the physical "hump" but they aren't humping it, are they?

[Bob Durnell]

I believe "Hump" is the control point where the Union Belt meets the Piqua Yard trackage on the east side of the yard tower. The two CF&E engines are actually sitting on another track behind that one. As far as I know, Piqua was never anything but a glorified flat switching yard where cars COULD be rolled up the hill and allowed to gravity roll into either the east or west yard. Whether they ever used riders on the cars to tie down handbrakes on the cars, or whether they simply held by the "bowl" the way East Wayne is, I can't say.