Re: (erielack) ERIE #25 and B25, plus

[Hhaines_@_aol.com]

Folks,
This didn't make it to the list the first time sent, so I'm trying  again. My 
apologies if this has been answered.

In answer to Bob, Erie #25 and sister #21 and #22 were converted to boosters 
(B for booster, or slug) probably because they had weight for the traction 
effort at slow speeds, and their variable speed engines were probably worn 
out.  From what I could find, these pioneering diesel engines from 
Ingersoll-Rand and GE's Seymour and MacIntyre (#25) were made without set 
notches or speeds with which to generate electric power.  I have summarized 
where they operated below, as best as I could find.

Purchases of boxcab diesel locomotives, like #25, were Erie Railroad's answer 
to steam locomotives to comply with smoke abatement laws in New York and 
Chicago.

Boxcab Class M-1 Erie #20 (1926, 65 tons) and #19 (1928, 66 tons) were 300 hp 
60 ton (nominal) locomotives operating at Erie's 28th Street New York City 
Terminal.  They were made by Alco with GE electrical gear and a direct 
injection (DI) variable speed Ingersoll-Rand diesel engine (Alco-GE-IR).  
Erie #20 was assigned to the 28th Street Terminal in Manhattan, and Erie #20 
was assigned to the Harlem River terminal near Yankee Stadium around 145th 
Street (on the Bronx side, Crist 1993 page 159).  Erie #19 survived into the 
EL merger, working around the New York area and carfloats. 

Erie purchased two Class M-2 100-ton 600 hp Alco-GE-IR locomotives in 1927 
numbered #20 and #21 (112 tons) after a successful test with an express train 
between Hornell, NY, and Meadville, PA.  These locomotives started work 
pulling commuter runs and passenger trains in select areas.  Traction effort 
at 5 mph was 27,050 pounds and the engines were started with an air 
compressor.  These were converted to slugs at Hornell, N. Y, in 1951 and 1952.

Erie went back for a final boxcab in 1931 known as Erie #25, Class M-3 
100-ton 800 hp. The unit was 3,000 pounds lighter than Class M-2, but had a 
traction effort of 55,250 pounds.  This locomotive was started with electric 
motors.    It was originally operated in express commuter service, and then 
shuffling cars on and off the carfloats in the New York area.  It was 
converted to a booster (slug) at Hornell, NY, in December 1950, given the 
number B25, and served as a slug into the EL merger well into 1965.

Boxcabs were not Erie's first diesels. The first oil-electrics, or really 
diesel electrics, on Erie were Erie #10, a May 1916 125 hp unit built by 
Baldwin, that operated at the Erie Street Station carfloat, Chicago.  This 
was followed by #9 in July 1817, and #8 in August 1917, operating at the 
Warren Street Station carfloat in Chicago. 
Erie #9 was made a shop goat carrying #09 and was last photographed in 1949. 
Erie #10 was scrapped in 1938 and #9 in 1939.

Photo references
 Erie #19, a 300hp unit, was pictured in Jersey City June 22, 1958, and 600hp 
# 21 was pictured at Akron, Ohio in September 1938.  Carleton, 1988, page 
145, and Carleton 1974 page 236.

Erie #19, Jersey City, June 29, 1958, page 11, Sweetland, (in color).

Erie #20 was caught by Bob Collins at the 28th Street Manhattan Yard, NYC, 
December 5, 1936, Crist, 1993, page 159.

Erie #B21 (in color) at Marrion, OH, coupled to specially equipped S-2 #513 
on July 13, 1962, Sweetland, page 115.

EL #B25, still labeled for Erie, caught at Marion, Ohio, in February 1965, 
Carleton, 1988, page 152, and Carleton 1974, page 237, and in color on page 8 
of Larry DeYoung's ERIE LACKAWANNA IN COLOR Volume 4, the Early Years.  

Erie #302 (an HH660, and a boxcab #19 caught June 22, 1958, at Jersey City, 
New Jersey, Carleton, 1988, page 146.  Photo does not clearly show the boxcab 
number, but 21, 22, and 25 were converted to slugs and working in Marion, OH, 
at the time, and #20 and 1974 p 236   

References:
Erie Power, Staufer and Westing, 1970, pages 374 -5.
Erie Railroad in Color, David Sweetland, 1991, pages 5, 11 and 115. 
The Erie Lackawanna Story, Carleton, 1974 pages 236, 274.
The Erie Railroad Story, Carleton, 1988, pages 145, 223. 
Erie Memories, Crist, pages 23 and 159.
Erie Lackawanna in Color, Volume 4, The Early Years, Larry DeYoung, 1997, 
page 8.

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