| D&H PA1 17 at Albany, New York, on April 6 1975, photo by John Eagan, Chuck Zeiler collection, note the Bicentennial flags on the locomotive. This locomotive was originally AT&SF #60L, built October 1948 (c/n 76537), retired and sold to the D&H December 17, 1967. Before retirement, the grills had been modified by the Santa Fe to match their PA2's, so it lost its Alco characteristic drip strip behind the cab door, and the grills do not match the other three PA4's on D&H's roster. By 1975, only three of the four D&H PA1's were operable, and the railroad took steps to make them more reliable. The 16 cylinder Model 244 prime mover in 17 had effectively been destroyed in an accident at the Colonie Shops, so it was replaced with a spare. Meanwhile, PA1's 16 and 19 were stripped of their prime movers and sent to Morrison-Knudsen in Idaho for installation of 12 cylinder Model 251F prime movers from Bombardier, which had purchased Montreal Locomotive Works earlier in 1975. The GT566 main generator was re-used, and the electrical system was upgraded to allow 2400 horespower in full parallel. In addition, the inadequate cab heat in winter problem was addressed. It was found that the cab was de-pressurized by the auxiliary equipment pulling in air, which was cured by additional ducting to supply the auxiliaries and a cab heater of higher capacity. When the first two PA4's (as the re-built units were designated) were returned to the D&H, the second two (17 and 18) were cycled through the re-building program. By November 8, 1975, 17 had been returned to the D&H, but the intended assignment, the New York-Montreal "Adirondack", was short-lived, and by 1977, Amtrak introduced their Turboliners, which had the added advantage of being able to operate over third-rail territory and into Grand Central Terminal, avoiding a locomotive change. The PA4's were briefly leased to the MBTA in Boston, but by 1979 they were sold to Diesels International, and then re-sold to FNM in Mexico. While at Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico (FNM), it acquired train indicator number boards and a SP inspired Daylight paint scheme. This locomotive is presently on display at the Museo de la Comisin Federal de Electricidad, Mxico. |