According to a Facebook post by Thomas Nanos, the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, a.k.a. the Valley RR in Connecticut, took delivery today of two ex-US Navu center-cab GE 80-tonners, USN 65-00618 and 65-00359, both acquired from Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach near San Diego, California and trucked to Connecticut.

Loading:

https://www.facebook.com/NWSSealBeach/p ... YbqdFJgSPl

Arrival:

https://www.facebook.com/tomnanos/posts ... KZvhftgo4l

Wonder why they didn't get the two from the Navy yard at Kittery, Maine? They have been sitting unused for 4 years.

Did anyone (i.e. you) tell them about them?

I think probably because they have yet to be put out as surplus.

Those appear to be the "long" 80 tonners, powered by the Cummins LI-600 engine rather than the smaller, faster running H series Cummins. Maybe that's why they went to the trouble of cross-country trucking.

[/quote]Did anyone (i.e. you) tell them about them?[/quote]

That's kind of a silly question Sandy. How am I supposed to know that they're searching for 44-tonners?
I think the true answer was given by 4449- they probably haven't yet been advertised. Otherwise they would have found them themselves.
Ned

Greetings:

David, we went after these because they were both rebuilt by Chrome Locomotive, one in 1986, the other in 1989 with new Caterpillar engines. new generators, new air compressors, AAR control stands and No. 26 air brakes. While in California, they have always been stored inside. Neither has been used in about 10 years.

One issue that the Valley has is that much of our line is laid with New Haven 78 lb. rail and our track department is concerned about keeping the axel loadings down.

Another is that although we have a large supply of Cummins LI parts, once their gone...

Be well & stay safe,

J.David

Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach is closer to Long Beach Harbor, California, than to San Diego. But it may be administered by the Navy in San Diego.

The Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach was created in 1944.