LSRC 2003 and 371

[SD80MAC]

During my recent trips to Bay City and Saginaw, I haven't seen either of these two GP38M's. Are they still in use, hiding up north perhaps, or are they both in the shops for work at Saginaw? It didn't look like either of them were with all the Alcos stored around the turntable when I was last there, but you can only see so well from the pedestrian bridge. Also, when did 2052 get painted?

[GTW6401]

371 and 2003 are being stored in Saginaw.
2052 was painted a good year or so ago.

[LSRC]

From what I've heard, the 371 failed (I can't remember what went wrong) but it looks like the unit won't run again. The 2003 "couldn't pull worth a (darn)" once it came back from its rebuild. I'm pretty sure this is out-of-service in Saginaw. I think the railroad had enough of it.

The 2052 seems to be doing quite well from what I can gather.

[AARR]

The 2003 "couldn't pull worth a (darn)" once it came back from its rebuild. I'm pretty sure this is out-of-service in Saginaw. I think the railroad had enough of it.

That stinks. SBS probably spent good money on the rebuild and then it does not pull like it is supposed to. I wonder if it became a point of contention when it was time to pay the bill for the rebuild

[SD80MAC]

That's too bad, but with all the ex FURX GP40M-3's, plus the 3? GP40's and the GP40X they got, they seem to be making do.

[AARR]

That's too bad, but with all the ex FURX GP40M-3's, plus the 3? GP40's and the GP40X they got, they seem to be making do.

True that. At one time they had over 20 active engines on the combined LSRS/SBS roster. They are probably able to get by on around 12-15 now.

[SD80MAC]

From what I can gather, here's the active LSRC roster.

GP40 #800
GP40 #801
GP40 #805
GP40M-3 #1162
GP40M-3 #1164
GP40M-3 #1166
GP40M-3 #1169
GP40M-3 #1171
GP40M-3 #1174
GP40M-3 #1177
GP40M-3 #1178
GP40M-3 #1179
GP38M #2052
GP40X #4300
GP40 #4301
GP40 #4302
SD40 #5921

So that's 17 active units currently, plus or minus 2003 if they get it running again.

[AARR]

Thanks for the research CRJon. I will update my notes which did not show the three 800 series units.

[John Ryan]

Notice how often the number "40" appears in that roster. It's smart business sense to stock only one line of parts. Those 38 rebuilds were some sort of bastardization that didn't produce a "true" 38, just something that had close to 2000 horespower but still burned a ton of fuel. I would not be surprised at all if anything with a "38" in it vanished.

[LSRC]

Just a few corrections: my notes say that the 800 and 4300 series 40s are GP40-2s, not GP40s. If I'm not mistaken, the 4300 has the inner workings of a straight GP40-2 (it just looks way more bada$$).

I do hope that the railroad starts to paint more of these units. I'd like to see all the 1100s in blue, as I can't stand that grey paint.

[GTW6401]

Well the engines that are painted in LSRC colors are the ones that dont perform well, go figure.

1164, 1171, and 1177 are the only former FURX painted units I believe still.

[LSRC]

1164, 1171, and 1177 are the only former FURX painted units I believe still.

Are you counting the ones in storage? Because then I would agree with you. But from what I've heard, the crews generally like the FURX units, with the exception of one (I'm inclined to say that it's the 1179).

If I remember right, the crews say that the 2052 pulls decent.

I know the railroad had problems with the 5921, but I'm not sure if they're still having issues.

[GTW6401]

I meant only the 1100 series engines being painted. The 371 and 2003 are also in LSRC paint, along with 2052.

Most of the problems with the 5921 were when it was setup to run A-1-A.

[SD80MAC]

Just a few corrections: my notes say that the 800 and 4300 series 40s are GP40-2s, not GP40s. If I'm not mistaken, the 4300 has the inner workings of a straight GP40-2 (it just looks way more bada$$).

I do hope that the railroad starts to paint more of these units. I'd like to see all the 1100s in blue, as I can't stand that grey paint.

You could be right Jim, I know when the 800's (ex HATX) were retired from CSX, they were straight GP40's. It's very possible they got rebuilt to Dash 2 specs. I'm sure 4300 is probably just a 40-2 internally, GP40X just sounds way cooler though. Although when the GP40X's were built, they carried a lot of technology that was eventually used on the 50 series, so it might be more similar to a GP50, unless it's been rebuilt and derated.

[sd70accsxt700]

All actave units except the 2052 & 5921, are rebuilt to 40-2 status.

[SousaKerry]

What was the eventual fate of the 371? Was it sold or scrapped or traded in for the frame? I spent many hours in the cab of that loco when it was Indiana Hi-Rail 371 based in Tiffin Oh.

[Saturnalia]

What was the eventual fate of the 371? Was it sold or scrapped or traded in for the frame? I spent many hours in the cab of that loco when it was Indiana Hi-Rail 371 based in Tiffin Oh.

371 was recently converted to road slug #303, paired with the 4303.

[SousaKerry]

371 was recently converted to road slug #303, paired with the 4303.

Well that's too bad it got neutered but at least it did not get made into razor blades.