BL2's to Arizona Eastern Railway

[raider409]

The two BL2's that were at the National Railway Museum in Green Bay Wisconcin are now enroute to the Arizona Eastern Railway in Arizona.  Has any one herd of or know their fate?

[az2rail]

More than likely they will be hauling copper from Globe to The U.P. mainline at Bowie.

Bruce

[RAM]

I think thay are going to be used to haul passenger trains.

[pdlethbridge]

I don't think the BL-2 (Branch Line) was designed for pulling heavy loads. Frame was not up to standard, it was fixed in the GP series.

[jward]

bl2s were used as passenger locomotives. c&o's had steam generators for train heat, possibly others did as well.

in this day and age, i doubt any surviving bl2s would be used to haul copper. their weak truss type frame wouldn't stand the stress. but as a draw for an excursion train< wow!!!

[az2rail]

The reason I say copper, is because the Arizona Eastern is a copper mine line. That's not to say that someone's not wanting to put in a tour train. I will have to ask the local train shop. Tim seems to know everything that going on in Az [railroad wise].

Plus, the fact that they are going to the Az. Eastern does not mean they will stay there. There has been some talk about puttin a scenic train to the  south by Bisbee.

Bruce

[Nathan]

The Western Maryland BL2's did see freight service.

[az2rail]

I talk to the train shop today, this is what I was told.

First of all, you guys were right about being used for passenger service. The engines were headed to Globe Arizona to be used on the Casino train. [That is a short tourist train from Globe to one of the local casino's]. One engine was to be used, and the other was to be used for parts. The engines made it to St. Louis where something happened and the U.P. refused to move them until they were fixed.

It is not known if the engines are still in St. Louis, or were returned , but that is as close to Arizona as they got.

Bruce

[pipefitter]

... One engine was to be used, and the other was to be used for parts. The engines made it to St. Louis where something happened and the U.P. refused to move them until they were fixed ...

That doesn't sound too good Seized bearings, leaking brake lines? I'm sure a casino would not be that interested in historic concerns.

Robert

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8854749@N03/2730244965/

[Stephen D. Richards]

Nathan
That isn't exactely correct.  I guess maybe during their tenure with the WM they primarly pulled passenger.  Not real sure!  But I do know that since they have been working for the West Virginia Central RR, they do pull or assist with the freight services John Smith offers.  They do a fair amount of switching here in Elkins as well.  Also since WVC has aquired their FP7's, ABA consist, (67, 415, & 243) the BL2 doesn't pull as much frieght as they did.  They have a GP9 that does a good bit of that now.   The GP9 and the BL2 have mostly been assigned to the Salamander passenger train.  The GP9 is painted in the B&O Black with limited stripping, numbered 6614.  Stephen

[jward]

on the western maryland, they were used on the williamsport helper at an early date, and by the early 1960s they were yard engines at hagerstown, md, paired up with slugs. in both services, they would not be under alot of strain. on most other railroads, they were gone by the early 1960s.

the one other railroad that used them into the 1970s, bangor and aroostook, did use them in general freight service.

[Guilford Guy]

BL2s had weak frames. B&M ran them exclusively in light commuter service before trading them in for GP18s. BAR on the other hand ran them in freight service into the 80s.