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Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New Jers
https://rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=48996		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Richard Glueck [ Sun Oct 19, 2025 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New Jers
EDM message copied over from Facebook. This is critical news!

As many people know, I have been involved in the privately funded Alco cab unit restoration project in South Jersey for some time. Unfortunately, the owner of this equipment will very shortly lose the use of the siding that these units are stored on. We have been trying to market this equipment to operators of other Alcos and are trying to avoid anything being scrapped.
On top of this, the gentleman's email provider (Comcast) is having issues; he has not been able to access email for well over a week now. I have had similar issues, sending him and other Comcast users email, and having them bounce back as 'undeliverable'. Because of this I am taking over communications for the interim and will pass on all inquiries.
Units available include an A-B-A set of FA-1s (shells only), two 'parts' RS-11s, two FPB-4 shells and a steel PRR caboose There may also be an FA-2, pre-lubed and barred over recently, with renewed low voltage wiring, 26 air, and new side panels and upper grills. The running FA-2, at another location, is very safe, and has been spoken for.
Please, serious inquiries via Facebook Messenger only. I'm also on RyPN as EDM. We don't have the time, or patience, for things like horns, paint or 'what whistle will it wear'?


Serious inquiries please. The owner has done his best to get these together but the rug has been pulled out from under him. -
Author:  Meghan [ Sun Oct 19, 2025 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
Quote:
two FPB-4 shells

For you folks out in British Columbia, these are the BC Rail/PGE Radio Control Cars.
Author:  PMC [ Sun Oct 19, 2025 4:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
Here is a link to the AOTT post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AOTTORC ... 8171564336
The usual caveats apply (i.e., I'll bet the guy didn't just now find out that he needed to move his stuff from someone else's property, that he received a warning quite some time ago).

Edit: Still unable to attach photos, let's see if links work.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 849&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 849&type=3
Author:  SMS9 [ Mon Oct 20, 2025 9:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
The rug has not been pulled out from under the owner. He has known for a long time that he needed to get his locomotives out of there. Own or have a lease agreement for the track your equipment is sitting on and this stuff wouldn’t happen.
Author:  Richard Glueck [ Mon Oct 20, 2025 10:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
Proper arrangements were in place to retain the locomotives, however retirements and changes in lessors and RR administrations policies have created unforeseen time constraints. Don't blame the owner in this case. This isn't Richard Jensen.
Author:  PMC [ Mon Oct 20, 2025 4:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
Irreplaceable for sure. I'm sure many calls have already been made trying to find an unused siding nearby, but that many have the same concerns with municipal busybodies complaining about "old rusty train cars".
Author:  PrrOpCrew [ Tue Oct 21, 2025 11:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
I had heard from another of the people involved with this equipment a few months ago that the problem was the railroad they sit on is refusing to move the equipment so it couldn't "get out" even though they want to do so. It's starting to sound more like someone isn't telling the full story.

Link to the Google Street view of the equipment:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CVbu6nEkkjJu3axG7

The PRR N5 is Ex-Amtrak 14008/Penn Central 19023/PRR 479715.
Author:  SMS9 [ Tue Oct 21, 2025 12:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
PrrOpCrew wrote:
I had heard from another of the people involved with this equipment a few months ago that the problem was the railroad they sit on is refusing to move the equipment so it couldn't "get out" even though they want to do so. It's starting to sound more like someone isn't telling the full story.

Link to the Google Street view of the equipment:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CVbu6nEkkjJu3axG7

The PRR N5 is Ex-Amtrak 14008/Penn Central 19023/PRR 479715.


The railroad they currently sit on said they wouldn’t move them without them being inspected by conrail first. They didn’t want to drag them to interchange to be rejected by conrail and then have to drag them back. Did they ever get conrail in to inspect them?
Author:  PMC [ Tue Oct 21, 2025 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
PrrOpCrew wrote:
Link to the Google Street view of the equipment:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CVbu6nEkkjJu3axG7

The equipment is located on the siding of an aggregate shipper, they may be resuming shipments. Are they being paid to store the equipment? The long-established short line (well-known for shipping sand) possibly could find another siding for the equipment in the area without connecting to CR, but may just be sick of dealing with it. There are other short lines in that general area.
Author:  PMC [ Tue Oct 21, 2025 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AOTTORC ... 3817734771
"Can anyone recommend an equipment mover that can handle some full sized locomotives, possibly cross country, starting in NJ? Not for myself, but for some people I'm working with."

Edit, from yesterday: "The owner wants to sell outright, not move them. There have been a few very positive nibbles on several of the units so far." They have been offered interim storage, but the owner declined.

The OP on Facebook apparently also took offense to my comment on RyPN about waiting to the last minute, here at the last minute.
Author:  SMS9 [ Wed Oct 22, 2025 7:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
PMC wrote:

The OP on Facebook apparently also took offense to my comment on RyPN about waiting to the last minute, here at the last minute.


Truth hurts. If they don’t want to see them scrapped they should just give them away to good homes. The clock is ticking. They’re lucky the sand plant has given them this much time to find a home for them.
Author:  Richard Glueck [ Wed Oct 22, 2025 6:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
Please be careful posting "What they shoulda done was..." comments. The whole story is very similar to issues other preservationist have faced in the past. This is NOT Richard Jensen in this case.
Two restorable SP&S FA1's are a catch. The FB1's are the last in existence. Matching A-A FA2's would be a catch for drawing in Diesel fans and the general public who think the Warbonnet scheme was the only way these locomotives appeared.

Unless you've walked miles in these men's shoes, criticism is easy. A great deal has already gone into restoring these rare cab units.
Author:  PMC [ Wed Oct 22, 2025 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
Richard Glueck wrote:
Please be careful posting "What they shoulda done was..." comments. The whole story is very similar to issues other preservationist have faced in the past. This is NOT Richard Jensen in this case.
Two restorable SP&S FA1's are a catch. The FB1's are the last in existence. Matching A-A FA2's would be a catch for drawing in Diesel fans and the general public who think the Warbonnet scheme was the only way these locomotives appeared.

Unless you've walked miles in these men's shoes, criticism is easy. A great deal has already gone into restoring these rare cab units.

Are there SP&S FAs in the mix, I thought SP&S #860 in Spokane was the last one, after the Portland train ride entity cut theirs up without offering it to anyone.
Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Thu Oct 23, 2025 9:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
SMS9 wrote:
Truth hurts. If they don’t want to see them scrapped they should just give them away to good homes. The clock is ticking. They’re lucky the sand plant has given them this much time to find a home for them.


When faced with a choice between someone who makes vague promises to "do something" if you GIVE the locos to him/them, versus an insured, bonded scrapper who will be contractually obligated to "take care of your problem" by the deadline imposed upon you AND give you MONEY for your troubles............. it's easy to see why scrappers have too often won the war against us..............
Author:  Richard Glueck [ Thu Oct 23, 2025 9:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Emergency to save last of the LIRR FA's in Southern New
The two FA1 Diesels are former LIRR 611 and 614, both former SP&S ALCOs. Along with them are the Erie Mining units to be used as parts "donors". The two FA2's are ex-L&N and intact.
The FA1's, unfortunately, lost their 244's and had some carbody modifications while in LIRR service. The carbody changes are not prohibitive repairs by any stretch, just a matter of fabrication and acquisition. The interiors are open, clean, and ready for new parts. A significant amount of restoration parts and pieces are included.

Two FA1's (LIRR 611 and 614) shown and the near operable FA2 (LIRR 601).

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