Locomotives
ex Cape Cod #1455
exx Edaville #1455
exxx Edaville #100
exxxx Boston & Maine #1455
nee Boston & Maine #100
Arrived Danbury 3/22/2000
Purchased from George Bartholomew, Cape Cod, MA
Built 1907 by ALCO (American Locomotive Company) in Manchester, NH
This locomotive was one of 135 Class B-15 Moguls acquired between 1903 and 1910 by the Boston & Maine Railroad. The 2-6-0 signifies two lead wheels, six drive wheels, and zero trailing wheels. Steam engines are called out by the number of their lead, drive and trailing wheels - this particular configuration is known as a "Mogul". 1455 was the sole survivor of the B-15 class Moguls, considered the symbol of the light and backwoods branch lines of the B&M. In 1956 it still ran on commuter trains out of Boston's North Station to Clinton, MA. Thereafter it was displayed at the Edaville Railroad in South Carver, MA and then sat by itself in Hyannis and Rochester, MA before we acquired it.
ex Windsor & Hantsport #6786
exx VIA #6786
nee Canadian National #6786
Arrived Danbury 4/5/1999
Leased from Ed Bowers
Built 1959 by Montreal Locomotive Works
Canadian National #6867 - MLW FPB-4
ex Windsor & Hantsport #6867
exx VIA #6867
nee Canadian National #6867
Arrived Danbury 4/5/1999
Leased from Ed Bowers
Built 1959 by Montreal Locomotive Works
Both locomotives were built for use in passenger service, hence the “P” in their classifications. As such, they were built with steam generators to provide heat for the trains they pulled during the snowy Canadian winters. #6786 was built with one steam generator, while #6867 was built with two in the space normally occupied by the cab. In railroad terms an ‘A’ unit has a full control cab, while a ‘B’ unit does not and is usually controlled by the leading ‘A’ unit in a train. They both also feature 12 cylinder, 1800 horsepower ALCO 251 prime movers.
ex Metro-North #605
exx Metro-North #9905
exxx Conrail #9905
exxxx Conrail #5366 (assigned, not used)
exxxxx Erie Lackawanna #1050
nee Delaware, Lackawanna & Western #912
Arrived Danbury 10/12/2001
Leased from CDOT (Connecticut Department of Transportation)
Built 1952 by ALCO in Schenectady, NY
This RS-3 was originally built with a 12 cylinder, 1600 horsepower ALCO prime mover. It was rebuilt by Conrail in 1979 with an EMD 12 cylinder 567BC prime mover rated at 1200 horsepower, hence the RS-3m model designation with ‘m’ standing for modified. Metro North 605 is the only diesel electric locomotive that was not equipped with cab signals on their railroad. Toward the end of its working life 605 was used as the Harmon shop switcher.
nee New Haven #0814, Class DEY-4
Arrived Danbury 6/26/2006
Donated by Electric Boat
Built in 1945 by General Electric
Electric Boat Diane - GE 44-Tonner
ex Union Pacific #903999
nee General Electric #1399
Arrived Danbury 6/26/2006
Donated by Electric Boat
Built in 1947 by General Electric
Both locomotives are powered by two 8 cylinder, 190 horsepower Caterpillar D17000 prime movers. Each prime mover powered two traction motors in the truck beneath it. The 11.25:1 gear ratio allowed for a top speed of 35 mph.
“Carol” was originally New Haven Railroad #0814 and is equipped with extended swivel couplers which allowed for operation on the former trolley tracks in New Haven and on the Seaview Avenue line in Bridgeport, both of which were also owned by the New Haven Railroad. The railroad sold the locomotive to Electric Boat in 1959 and they used it on their private trackage till 2005.
“Diane” was originally built as GE Demonstrator #1399 after being sold to the Union Pacific it was numbered 90399, this was the second smallest locomotive, and only 44-tonner, operated by the Union Pacific. The railroad sold the locomotive to Electric boat in 1974 joining Carol to this day.
ex Penn Central 1333
nee New Haven 0428
Arrived Danbury 11/5/1999
Purchased from Scrapper in New Jersey
Built 1947 by ALCO (American Locomotive Company) in Schenectady, NY
As built by ALCO the FA-1 had a 12-cylinder, 1500 horsepower prime mover, and was one of 30 such units ordered by the New Haven Railroad. These units would commonly be seen handling freight from Maybrook Yard in New York to Cedar Hill Yard in Connecticut. When purchased by the LIRR in 1974, it was modified by GE in North Bergen, NJ and turned into a cab control car and power plant to power commuter coaches. The traction motors were removed, the generator was rewired, the ALCO prime mover was de-rated to 600 horsepower, and the unit was renumbered to 617. In 1984, the body was severely modified, the original ALCO prime mover was removed and replaced with a Detroit diesel generator set.
ex Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority #1152
exx Illinois Central Gulf #880A
nee Gulf Mobile & Ohio F3 #880A
Arrived Danbury 6/2019
Donated by Metro North Commuter Railroad 2019
Built November 1946 by EMD (Electro-Motive Division of General Motors) in LaGrange, IL
This locomotive began life as an F3 on the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, leading a very active life through the merger of the GM&O and the Illinois Central Railroad in 1972. This unit was eventually taken offline briefly in 1978 after it was purchased by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The MBTA contracted Illinois Central to rebuild the F-3 into an F-10 in their Paducah, Kentucky shops. Provisions were made for the installation of a Head-end Power plant at the rear of the unit, but instead it was delivered with a steam generator as the MBTA still required some steam heat. Metro-North bought four units from the MBTA in 1992, and repainted and renumbered them #410-413. #413 last saw revenue service in 2008, making it the oldest locomotive in North America to see regular mainline service at the time.
ex Danbury Railway Museum #400
exx Green Mountain #400
exxx Illinois Central
exxxx Gulf Mobile & Ohio #1053
exxxxx Illinois Terminal #1053
nee Illinois Terminal #753
Arrived Danbury 1/19/1996
Purchased from Green Mountain RR 12/27/1995
Built 1948 by ALCO (American Locomotive Company) in Schenectady, NY
The RS-1 was built from 1941 to 1960, this 19 year production run is the longest for any diesel locomotive built in the United States. The pioneering road switcher car body houses a 6 cylinder, 1000 horsepower prime mover. This particular locomotive spent most of its life hauling freight until it was purchased by the Green Mountain Railroad in 1976. It sat in storage till 1983 before spending several years in seasonal excursion service. Records indicate it was used in freight service as recently as December 1995. We purchased this locomotive in 1995, after we painted it New Haven, we renumbered it #0673, the last New Haven RS-1 was numbered #0671, and another organization had already created #0672.
ex Martin Marietta Co. (GA) #7589
exx Conrail #7589
exxx Penn Central #7662
nee New Haven #1402
Arrived Danbury 6/20/2001
Acquired from Martin Marietta
Built 1956 by ALCO (American Locomotive Company) in Schenectady, NY
The RS-11 is a 12 cylinder, 1800 horsepower road switching locomotive. This particular unit was one of fifteen the New Haven Railroad bought (#1400 - #1414) equipped with steam generators for use in passenger service. The steam generators proved not dependable and these locomotives were assigned to freight service in later years. When the museum was offered #1402 it had been working in a quarry in Georgia for the better part of 20 years, funds were raised and #1402 was shipped home.
ex Connecticut DOT #2006
exx Metro North #512 (assigned, not used)
exxx Penn Central #5026
nee New Haven #2026
Arrived Danbury 10/12/2001
Leased from Connecticut DOT
Built 1955 by EMD (Electro-Motive Division of General Motors) in LaGrange, IL
New York Central #2013 - EMD FL-9
ex Metro-North #2013
exx Metro-North #520 (assigned, not used)
exxx Conrail #5040
exxxx Penn Central #5040
nee New Haven #2040
Arrived Danbury 5/5/2000
Stored in Danbury by Metro-North
Built 1960 by EMD (Electro-Motive Division of General Motors) in LaGrange, IL
Both of these locomotives were two of 60 such units ordered by Patrick McGinnis, then President of the New Haven Railroad. These are among the most famous locomotives the New Haven owned. They are dual powered, meaning they had the capability of operating under diesel-electric or straight electric, all FL9s were originally equipped with pneumatically actuated third rail shoes. EMD had to extend the car body of their FP9 five feet to accommodate the extra electrical equipment and a larger steam generator. As a result the three axle rear trucks were necessary as to better spread the weight of the heavier locomotive, the ‘L’ in FL9 stands for lengthened. FL9’s were in active commuter service as recently as 2008.
2006 was in the first batch of 30 locomotives ordered by the New Haven Railroad, as built it had a 16 cylinder, 1750 horsepower GM model 567C prime mover. The first 30 units were also equipped with a small pantograph for picking up electricity from the overhead third rail in Grand Central Terminal, this was later removed in the 1960’s. At the end of its active life 2006 suffered a major fire, which destroyed some critical wiring rendering it inoperable.
2013 was in the second batch of 30 locomotives ordered by the New Haven Railroad, as built it featured a newer 16 cylinder, 1800 horsepower GM model 567D1 prime mover. It was one of two units to be painted in the New York Central ‘Lighting Stripe’ livery by Metro-North to celebrate the 150th anniversary of rail service on the New York Central Hudson Division.
nee Rock Island #838
Arrived Danbury 3/26/2002
Donated by Pfizer Inc.
Built 1953 by EMD (Electro-Motive Division of General Motors) in LaGrange, IL
EMD built 371 SW-8s between 1950 and 1954. This SW-8 was originally equipped with an 8 cylinder, 800 horsepower 567B prime mover. It was later sold to Chrome Crankshaft in Rome, Ney York, a well known used locomotive dealer and re-builder. Chrome rebuilt the unit with an 8 cylinder, 900 horsepower EMD 567BC prime mover. In 1989 Pfizer was looking to replace its aging GE 80 tonners and acquired this and one other SW-8 to switch cars at their Groton, CT facility.
ex Northern Central #1513
exx New Hope & Ivyland #1513
exxx Florida Power & Light #1102
nee Seaboard Airline #1513
Arrived Danbury 11/2002
Leased from Ed Bowers
Built 1949 by ALCO (American Locomotive Company) in Schenectady, NY
Seventy RSC-2s were produced by ALCO between October, 1946 and April, 1950. The majority were shipped to Portugal, some to Algeria, and the rest to the Milwaukee Road and the Seaboard Air Line. This locomotive employs a 12 cylinder, 1500 horsepower ALCO 244 prime mover. The A-1-A + A-1-A wheel arrangement spread the load between six axles, instead of just 4, effectively lowering the axle load for operation on light rail, as you might find on a branch line.