F40PH Preservation Society .inc

MCH765 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2023 2:57 pm

PMC wrote:

WMSR had one from Larry's they were leasing a few years back, but I believe they sent it back and substituted a GE Dash 8 hood unit. Not sure what the leases cost, but what they gain in fuel costs they likely will lose in replacement parts costs.

The 450 is still on the property in Ridgeley.

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

A little historical note: EMD had F40PH tie tacks made up for sales promotion handouts at the time the units were being delivered. They are one of the comparatively rare EMD giveaway items.

PC

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Nov 02, 2023 10:44 pm

MEANWHILE, an update from the REAL "F40PH preservation society" of one man, Chris Fussell:

https://www.facebook.com/christophersea ... TFnqe2BhNl

Quote:

Work progresses on locomotive #231. Today, one side of the fuel tank got a coat of paint, as did one truck and the front end behind the plow. Progress! As work goes on, bear with me while I go through a slump here-- why am I doing this?

I've put in 363 volunteer hours so far this year, which equates to 45 full time work days, on which I've spent my weekends and PTO... and put in over $8,500 of my own cash this year alone. Locomotive 231 has run out of fuel as part of the ongoing restorative efforts and testing to return it to operating condition- fuel is expensive these days. Do I spend another $1000 on fuel, or do I continue working toward the paint job, which runs around $250/gal in addition to supplies? The paint work is at the mercy of weather, and I'm hoping to get the rest of the undercarriage done before wind and cool temps arrive next week.

#231 has been invited to participate in an event at NSRM in 2026-- Total number of donations DynaRail has received so far this year: $25. I'm grateful for the volunteers who have helped with the paint prep, mechanical work, electrical work, and moral support. I'm also grateful for that $25 donation. Will this current momentum achieve goals set for 2026? I'm not so sure.

F40PHR231 · **Joined:** Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:54 pm **Posts:** 72

Thanks for sharing, Alexander. The dynarail.org website is overdue for an update since a lot of paint and mechanical work has been done.

YouTube Video of #231 fired up a couple months ago

Regarding earlier posts-- NSRM has been great; they helped work through red tape to renew the ability to continue work at the state museum, and invitation to their 2026 event. Since it's a state museum, they have to generate their own revenue, so there's no revenue sharing (ergo excursions, engineer 4 hour, etc.)

The F40 is now in that spot between the initial "must save it from scrap or it's gone forever" donations, and "it's not historic enough to qualify for grants like locomotives from the 40s and 50s", understandably so, as there are still over a hundred F40s in service today.

Now to figure out how to get a tank of fuel, and new traction motor cables to make 231 operable again without going insane-- We're talking $15,000!!

RCD · **Posted:** Mon Nov 06, 2023 10:14 am

F40PHR231 wrote:

Now to figure out how to get a tank of fuel, and new traction motor cables to make 231 operable again without going insane-- We're talking $15,000!!

That is over half of what you paid for 231. That being said even though F40PH is my favorite locomotive I would be more focused on getting 644 restore to the condition it was in when running on Amtrak. For those who don't know Amtrak's first new locomotive order was for the SDP40F, The F40PH was only ordered later on as a commuter locomotive for service such as New Haven Hartford Springfield (One of the reasons one should be saved up in the North East). The SDP40F were involved in derailments And although it wasn't proven many pointed the finger to the six axle design. Many others say it wasn't the six axle design per se but the fact that there was a top heavy water boiler located directly over the rear truck. Regardless Amtrak soured on the idea of six axle locomotives and traded their SDP40F to be rebuilt into more F40PH locomotives.