470 RAILROAD CLUB NEWLY PURCHASED GP9 #72
The 72 is currently located at the Pan Am Railways Waterville Maine Shop. The 72 was originally part of a 50-unit order from EMD of GP9s (1700-1749) for the Boston and Maine. The 1741 (serial number 23239) was built in July of 1957 and served the Boston and Maine for many years in road and yard service all over New England. After GTI (Guilford Transportation Industries) purchased the Boston and Maine in the 1980s, the 1741 was renumbered to the “72” which hasn’t changed to this day.
This locomotive is powered by a 567C block engine with a D12 main Generator. Properly maintained this locomotive is capable of producing 1750 HP. At some point in 72’s life, it was rewired to a GP18 standard, however it was not renumbered into the 1800 series like many of the other GP9s were. At this point in time 72 is one of only four remaining B&M GP9s. The Heber Valley Railroad acquired the 52 (formerly B&M 1726) and 77 (formerly B&M 1738) from Pan am along with the 72 back in 2017. The 52 and 77 power tourist trains in Heber City, Utah. The only other surviving B&M GP9 is the 1732 which resides at the Railroad Museum of New England in Connecticut and is undergoing restoration after a mechanical failure.
The 72 was last operated sometime in 2017. Its last run was on WA-1 the Waterville switcher. On its daily assignment, 72 was headed to Oakland, Maine to switch a scrap dealer when it encountered an electrical fire. The #3 traction motor leads started on fire behind the generator due to poor insulation and being soaked in oil. Oakland fire officials promptly extinguished the fire, however at the time Pan Am made the decision to retire the locomotive rather than perform the repairs it needed to operate again.
At this time, we are aware that in order for 72 to operate
again, the #3 traction motor leads should be replaced, the main generator
should have insulated paint reapplied to the AC windings, and we must replace
the traction motors that Pan Am had removed prior to selling the locomotive to
the Heber Valley Railroad. The stacks have been properly covered and the motor
is free of water and easily bars over. With a little care at the North Conway
shops there is no reason why we can’t see the 72 operational again in the
future.
The
Board of Trustees of the 470 Railroad Club would like to thank you for your
interest in our efforts to purchase, preserve and eventually restore former
Boston and Maine GP-9 1741. Any contributions you’d like to make in our
efforts to restore this unit or any of our other ongoing preservation efforts,
please send your donations to the Club at PO Box 641, Portland, ME 04104.
Any contributions are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible as we are a
501(c)(3) organization. Thank you from the Board of Trustees.”
Article
Submitted by Cory Fothergill
