Found this picture on Railpictures...super cool but yet so sad...http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=330098&nseq=23

Interesting to see an ex-Chicago E-unit in the line. Where was it used last? Visually, it looks in decent conditon (which, of course, is no guarentee that it is).

Hey, Big Bad 2-6-6-6, how is the work on the 1225? Do you still like steam after this experience?

Do I still like steam? YES! =] Being that today was the first day I started helping, I can’t really say how it’s coming along. She has all her flues and super heaters out and will be having the estimate for the ultrasounds around Wednesday.

Online sources say 9925 (and at least two other ex-BN/Metra M-K rebuilds at LTE) were acquired by the Nashville & Eastern for the Music City commuter service in Nashville, but set aside when ex-Amtrak F40PH's were acquired instead. I suspect there was one of these inter-agency transfers involved, similar to how MARC ended up with a couple of these BN E's for a spell.

There are at last count 7 E9's at LTE, all ex CB&Q/BN including the two former NYS&W E9's. BN 9925 and the 2 NYS&W units are to be kept, but the others face a questionable future.

One would hate to see four E-units scrapped at this point in time, but I'm not sure how likely the chances are of seeing them saved. I'm sure there must be a few groups out there that would like an E-unit, even it were just a shell for display.

Rob P

The cold-hearted reality is that there is a glut of operable passenger power out there, even streamlined E units. Purchase of these locos is certainly warranted if, for example, you were running a weekly tour train to and from a ski resort over a main line, or a dinner train that needed HEP. I think anyone here could recite a long litany of reasons why an E9 or two would be a horrible idea for your typical, average short line excursion down a scenic, curving track.

The two advantages such locomotives have, however: they have two engines and can theoretically operate on either one engine as the equivalent of an SW1200 or SW1500 or, if one has need, on two engines at higher speeds; and the engines are somewhat overpowered and underutilized compared with those on the likes of an F40PH, reducing wear somewhat.

Several owners of British main line locomotives in preservation exploit the dual-engine syndrome to their advantage, using both engines all-out on the rare main-line junket or trundling on heritage lines with only one engine running at a time to save fuel.

For anyone interested in getting into Larry's (LTEX), it's one of the tours that are part of the Conrail Historical Society's convention in Cleveland next month.

http://thecrhs.org/events/2010-Convention-Cleveland-OH