RE: (erielack) EL Motive power arrangements

["Tupaczewski, Paul R (Paul)" <paultup_@_lucent.com>]

Gary Kazin wrote:

> The U34CH locomotives were bought by NJDoT for commuter 
> service with the
> intention of being available to the EL for weekend freight 
> service.  They
> came back late several times and that was the end of freight service.

That's true - I have a photo in my collection of a trio of U34CH's storming west out of Binghamton on a Saturday morning. And they expected these units to get back to NJ in time for the morning rush???

The truth is, of the various bids for passenger units the EL entertained (EMD submitted an FP45 and two other similar units), the GE was the most easily switched over for freight service, which (in addition to a better deal price-wise) was the reason the EL nudged the NJDoT into purchasing them.

Though the U34CH's tenure in freight service on the EL was brief, they did return to freight service shortly after Conrail to alleviate the new road's motive power crunch. I wonder how they convinced NJDoT to let them do it THIS time?

	- Paul

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