Last N&W diesel heading to scrap

[NW Mailing List]

Here are excerpts from Rob's proposal to save the 8551:

---------------------------
      As of this writing, C39-8 8551 has been sold for scrap to 
Progress Rail Services.

      The 8551 is too valuable to not only the history of the Norfolk 
Southern (NS) and the Norfolk & Western (N&W), but also to General 
Electric Transportation Services (GETS) to it to be allowed to be scrapped.

      It is the last extant six-axle General Electric C39-8 
demonstrator (in fact, it is the only extant Dash 8 demonstrator), 
one of only two built and delivered to Norfolk Southern in early 1984 
(the first, 8550 is already scrapped).  These two demonstrators were 
also the first new locomotives delivered in Norfolk Southern paint, 
and were also the last diesels delivered to N&W specification.

    As a C39-8 demonstrator, this locomotive was built to showcase 
the 'Dash 8' technology improvements to the six-axle (C-C) line for 
General Electric.  These improvements ultimately led to the C40-8 and 
later locomotives, and propelled GETS to be the top locomotive 
builder worldwide.   There are only 8 six-axle General Electric 
diesels preserved in the United States today.  By model, there are only 5.

    When delivered to NS in late Febuary 1984, these were the first 
new locomotives NS had recieved, and as such, were also the first new 
locomotives in NS paint.  NS was the largest buyer of C39-8s, with 
111 purchased,  The only other buyer was Conrail, who purchased 22 to 
use as 'run-through' power on NS trains.  13 of these became NS after 
the 1999 merger.

      While NS purchased a few EMD SD50s and many more EMD SD60s (two 
models that look alike to the casual observer) during the 1980s, the 
C39-8s unique look and that it was almost impossible to see anywhere 
else but on Norfolk Southern led to it becoming the defining 
locomotive for the Norfolk Southern name and image for the first 
decade of NS' existance, and still today those factors have the same affect.

    When delivered to NS, the C39-8 demonstrators were delivered to 
N&W specification, making the demonstrators the last N&W diesels 
delivered.  While NS had a forthcoming GE C36-7 order that was placed 
by the N&W before the merger, this order that was held off becuase of 
the recession during the time.  When these C36-7s were eventually 
delivered after the C39-8 demonstratots in late 1984, they were 
delivered to the current Southern mechanical department 
specifications, which presumalby becuase of the gretaer operational 
flexibilty, became NS' standard, as were all later C39-8 locomotives 
(8552 and later).

     Visually, this is subtle, the N&W units having the short hood 
foward of the cab designated as the front, a single snowplow on that 
end, a a control stand that only permitted the locomotive to be 
operated short hood forward.  The Southern/NS spec
having the long hood designated as the front, snowplows on both ends 
of the locomotive, and a control stand that allowed the unit to be 
operated bi-directionally (either direction).

---------------------------

Ron Davis

At 03:31 PM 8/18/2008, you wrote:

>What is meant by the term 'Last N&W diesel'? Paint?

>Charlie Long