I have tears of joy In my eyes the most beautiful sound you’ll ever hear and the most beautiful diesel locomotive ever built I’m still crying so beautiful so special and the Hancock air whistle is the icing on the cake
At Darien on Tokeneke Road was a bar called Ernie's. When the evening commuter trains would leave the nearby Darien Station, those FL-9's in all their glory with the Hancock chiming away, the bar would swing their RR lanterns in the window and the patrons would stand outside toasting their drinks in salute. Being the engineer is subject to Rule G he could not do same so he gave a looooooooooong 14-L heading east. That bar is still there but it's not the same with M-8's.
Very good video!! Always loved those FL9 diesels. I first saw those diesels back in 1958 when I was a little kid .The droning chant of those EMD 567 V16s is wonderful! And those Hancock chime whistles are like music to the ears!! I just wish that those whistles could have been louder.I remember that the NHRR GP-9s,H16-44s, and RS-11s were also equipped with these whistles. They were such a beautiful sound in the middle of the night.
Thank you so much for posting this video!!! It is awesome!!! This has to be one of my absolute favorite videos ever on UA-cam. What great memories of Metro-North as well as the FL-9's!!! Thanks again from a railroader who this video means a lot to!!!
Thank you for posting this. I have been running this line for the last 5 years. Was cool seeing how it used to be along with harmon yard. Unfortunately they recently tore down the old shop. Great video !
2:48- Beacon, NY running South 3:21- Old NH connection from Danbury, CT to right, crossover bridge in distance 4:40- Storm King Mountain on right 5:20- Breakneck Tunnels, NYC pumping Station on right 6:42- Garrison, NY station. West Point Military Academy across the river. 7:33- Bear Mtn Bridge 8:05- Iona Island, across the river 9:48- Peekskill, NY station 12:44- Harmon Shops 17:48- Hopewell Junction 20:01- Bannerman's Island just in case anyone was curious some of the places they were.
I was on this fan trip that toured Harmon Shops. Traveling over the Maybrook Line through Danbury to Hopewell Junction we traversed the Beacon Branch to Beacon, NY. There we changed ends and then went south on the scenic Hudson line. We pulled into Croton-Harmon and entered the lead track to the shops. Getting off the train next to the shops, a couple of ladies that sat in the seat in front of me asked me where the stores were. I said that there were no stores. This is a repair and maintenance shop for the railroad. The ladies thought this was an outlet or shopping mall. The trip flyer did say “Tour the Harmon Shops”. The ladies were dejected upon my answer. I was going to say that they had a clearance sale on third rail shoes, spike mauls, and DC motor armatures but I thought the better of it and didn’t. So I want on my way and we had the better part of an hour at this facility to view the equipment and displays. Getting back on the train we headed back to Danbury. Those ladies did do a little shopping after all. They were sporting New York Central baseball caps and they were chipper, enjoying the train ride. So fun was had by all.
That was terrific! I lived in Cold Spring and commuted into NYC pulled by FL9s for 10 years. I took a tour of the Harmon Shops with my son and another boy. Good times!
Growing up within walking distance of the NYC Harlem line in the fifties and sixties I vividly recall being in bed and hearing the FL9 Hancock whistle through my open bedroom windows…I’ll never forget that sound!
This really brings back the memories of my days working for Metro North. Worked in the Old Harmon Shop, Brewster yard and shop, North White Plains, Wassaic, and good old Grand Central. Those were the days. Where did the time go?
FMNUT! Thank you for the cab ride in the FL9. Now you can see one of these in Superman The Movie in the underground tracks beneath Grand Central Station. It’s the scene where the police detective is following Lex Luther’s henchman Otis. You can see the New Haven FL9 in the background. Well the police detective is killed when Lex Luther’s hydraulic door shoves him onto the tracks in front of an oncoming FL9. Just an idea that struck me when I saw the locomotive. Again thank you man.
I use to deliver traction sand to all the yards.. New Haven, Beacon, Stamford.. Liked seeing what locos were in the shop or yard. I use to go into New Haven yard & take pics, no one ever bothered you. (I lived in West Haven) Now it's all locked up.
i lived in danbury for 13 years. used to see these old beasties all the time. when i was there they were still running freights to beacon from new haven and bringing in coal cars to fuel the cos cob power plant that supplied electricity to the shore line. i would have loved to see some footage from new haven to danbury up the housatonic valley line along with the hudson river footage.
One of these New Haven FL9's was at the "Streamliners at Spencer" event in 2014. I was fortunate enough to attend the event and ride behind one of the short excursions on the NC Transportation Museum's property that was being pulled by the FL9 with the CB&Q E5 on the other the end for the return journey.
Dichroic Sounds I saw that exact unit you’re talking about when it crossed the CT river bridge in Holyoke MA on its way to Spencer. It looked like it was brand new !
This rates as one of your best, and against the many others of yours which are very good. My Dad and I noticed his unit never seems to make transition. You would think he would have had it on 79mph almost at once with the train he has. They were working with the reverser at beginning while stopped, I now wonder if their trailing unit wouldn't load up. Thanks for the great Water Level Route trip with the thoughtful inclusion of the crews human element which I will no doubt watch many times.
I could be mistaken, but it sounds as though she makes transition at about 3:35 in the footage. The issue with the take off might have been as easy as not having the generator field switch energized. You can operate the reverser, release the brakes, and notch up all day and she won't go anywhere, unless she's on a grade. I've made that mistake a couple of times myself. That's not to say that there might have been another issue, but I've experienced similar results as I see here by forgetting that simple switch. I currently run 2019 at the RMNE in Thomaston, CT. 2002, the oldest surviving FL9 and the power in this footage, is in our collection, but is not operating at this time. She will need a good deal of work to get back into service, especially as scrappers cut all the leads to the traction motors to harvest the heavy gauged wire. 2033 is the third FL9 in the collection and is the very last F unit built. She is also the most unmolested of the survivors. 2033 is slated as a long-term restoration project.
Listening to the video, kind of sounds like someone forgot to throw the reverser before taking off. Could be wrong. And If I remember correctly, the Fs transition (somewhat hard sometimes) around 25mph or thereabouts.
Fabulous - not a lot out there seen from the cab on the Water Level Route. I wonder if they burned a hole in the side of the F unit seen wayside to get the main generator out quickly, or a fire, or both. Paint loss suggests some kind of fire.Two thumbs way up.
It's the the electrical cynical end so guess major electrical fire..... ........I'm guessing this us pretty old video looking at the stations and stuff...... and the fact they refer to 2002 on the scrap line (which seems to be in old Conrail/DOT blue) which was later rebuilt for ConnDOT.
If you want more cab views from EMD covered wagons, see the CP Canadian film I just posted. Lots of in cab footage there. Also some cab shots from an E8 in my Conrail OCS On Board video.
@@fmnut Cool...thanks. In my childhood years I once got to ride in the cab of an EMD GP30 many years ago in my hometown's rail yard as they were doing switching operations.
If anyone out there can shed some light on these questions, what were the differences between the FL-9’s and the F-3’s and F-7’s. Thank you. And by the way, another EXCELLENT video by fmnut. Thank you.
There aren't really any differences between the F3 and F7 as far as visuals are concerned; ones that stand out though are the higher roof cooling fans on the F7 and the F3s had "Chicken Wire" side grills instead of the stainless ones. As for the FL9, they were a bit longer and had a 6-wheel truck at the rear as opposed to a traditional 4-wheel truck, which was all to accommodate 3rd-rail electric equipment. The FL9s were also the only F units to be delivered equipped with Hancock air whistles to my knowledge, but I could be wrong; many were later fitted with traditional Nathan K5LA/P5A air horns.
2:00 This looks like the time when Daisy The Green Diesel Railcar shaked and rocked violently when she refused to pull the milk tankcar, whenever I see the leading locomotive move and rock
So, what was the exact route this excursion took? Obviously it terminated at the CH shops but where did it originate, Danbury? Trying to trace how it would have gotten to Beacon NY on Hudson Line from Danbury without going through GC via the New Haven line.
Originated at New Haven. NEC to Devon. Danbury branch to Danbury, then ex NH Maybrook freight line to Hopewell Jct. Then ex NH Beacon branch to Hudson Line. Due to connection configuration entered Hudson Line northward. Ran around train to go south to CH. Return via reverse route.
On 5:25 looks like Henry The Green Engine's tunnel where he stayed shut up and refused to get out of the tunnel, because of the heavy rain on the Island of Sodor.
Jim Sharp at the throttle, Jack Swanberg also in the cab. This info supplied by recent comments. Yes, EMD cab units were loud in the cab. Not sure what route 8 was as current timetables don't have route numbers.
FL9 is a very different locomotive to an F3. F3 is a diesel electric with two, two axle trucks. FL9 is a Dual Mode Diesel Electric with one 3 axle truck, one two axle truck and a steam generator.
Not strictly true. While there are some transit systems that are fully automated, remotely operated trains are still controlled by humans, not robots. But they're coming.
That's the air whistle on the cab signal. When the whistle sounds it calls the engineer's attention to the signal changing to a more restrictive indication, requiring action by the engineer to comply or a penalty brake application will be applied.
I have tears of joy In my eyes the most beautiful sound you’ll ever hear and the most beautiful diesel locomotive ever built I’m still crying so beautiful so special and the Hancock air whistle is the icing on the cake
At Darien on Tokeneke Road was a bar called Ernie's. When the evening commuter trains would leave the nearby Darien Station, those FL-9's in all their glory with the Hancock chiming away, the bar would swing their RR lanterns in the window and the patrons would stand outside toasting their drinks in salute. Being the engineer is subject to Rule G he could not do same so he gave a looooooooooong 14-L heading east.
That bar is still there but it's not the same with M-8's.
567 song, and Hancock air whistles. It doesn't get much better. Thanks for uploading this great footage.
Very good video!! Always loved those FL9 diesels. I first saw those diesels back in 1958 when I was a little kid
.The droning chant of those EMD 567 V16s is wonderful! And those Hancock chime whistles are like music to the ears!! I just wish that those whistles could have been louder.I remember that the NHRR GP-9s,H16-44s, and RS-11s were also equipped with these whistles. They were such a beautiful sound in the middle of the night.
Thank you so much for posting this video!!! It is awesome!!! This has to be one of my absolute favorite videos ever on UA-cam. What great memories of Metro-North as well as the FL-9's!!! Thanks again from a railroader who this video means a lot to!!!
Great cab ride looking out through those classic F unit windows. Love that whistle. Thanks for sharing.
Clearly one if the greatest cab rides on Facebook.
Such a gold mine in this video. So many things that are no longer. The cab ride brings back memories for sure. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for s great video. I always liked the FL9s with their Hancock air whistles. Remember hearing them as they passed by where I lived.
Thank you for posting this. I have been running this line for the last 5 years. Was cool seeing how it used to be along with harmon yard. Unfortunately they recently tore down the old shop. Great video !
it's too easy forgetting just how magnificent the dales in and around NYC breathtakingly are 🍸
The most beautiful sound ever the motor of a FL9 and the Hancock air whistle
2:48- Beacon, NY running South
3:21- Old NH connection from Danbury, CT to right, crossover bridge in distance
4:40- Storm King Mountain on right
5:20- Breakneck Tunnels, NYC pumping Station on right
6:42- Garrison, NY station. West Point Military Academy across the river.
7:33- Bear Mtn Bridge
8:05- Iona Island, across the river
9:48- Peekskill, NY station
12:44- Harmon Shops
17:48- Hopewell Junction
20:01- Bannerman's Island
just in case anyone was curious some of the places they were.
Thanks for the timeline.
So cool! Dream of being able to ride in the FL9 cab...
I was on this fan trip that toured Harmon Shops. Traveling over the Maybrook Line through Danbury to Hopewell Junction we traversed the Beacon Branch to Beacon, NY. There we changed ends and then went south on the scenic Hudson line. We pulled into Croton-Harmon and entered the lead track to the shops. Getting off the train next to the shops, a couple of ladies that sat in the seat in front of me asked me where the stores were. I said that there were no stores. This is a repair and maintenance shop for the railroad. The ladies thought this was an outlet or shopping mall. The trip flyer did say “Tour the Harmon Shops”. The ladies were dejected upon my answer. I was going to say that they had a clearance sale on third rail shoes, spike mauls, and DC motor armatures but I thought the better of it and didn’t. So I want on my way and we had the better part of an hour at this facility to view the equipment and displays. Getting back on the train we headed back to Danbury. Those ladies did do a little shopping after all. They were sporting New York Central baseball caps and they were chipper, enjoying the train ride. So fun was had by all.
That was terrific! I lived in Cold Spring and commuted into NYC pulled by FL9s for 10 years. I took a tour of the Harmon Shops with my son and another boy. Good times!
The shops are now gone
@@jamesa6272 Do you have a photo? So hard to believe a major Diesel and electric shop is gone!
@@redbarnz I do actually. Yeah it’s all gone. I work in harmon.
Growing up within walking distance of the NYC Harlem line in the fifties and sixties I vividly recall being in bed and hearing the FL9 Hancock whistle through my open bedroom windows…I’ll never forget that sound!
I was like 5 years old when these trains went out of service and still remember them! I really miss them...
This really brings back the memories of my days working for Metro North. Worked in the Old Harmon Shop, Brewster yard and shop, North White Plains, Wassaic, and good old Grand Central. Those were the days. Where did the time go?
2:00 This leading locomotive is moving and rocking
It was nice to see them running down park avenue to grand central when I was young 😊
FMNUT! Thank you for the cab ride in the FL9. Now you can see one of these in Superman The Movie in the underground tracks beneath Grand Central Station. It’s the scene where the police detective is following Lex Luther’s henchman Otis. You can see the New Haven FL9 in the background. Well the police detective is killed when Lex Luther’s hydraulic door shoves him onto the tracks in front of an oncoming FL9. Just an idea that struck me when I saw the locomotive. Again thank you man.
The sound is great!
Awesome footage thanks for sharing
Awesome.. I was on that trip...thanks for the memories.. Seems like yesterday
You gotta love those Starships.....
I use to deliver traction sand to all the yards.. New Haven, Beacon, Stamford.. Liked seeing what locos were in the shop or yard. I use to go into New Haven yard & take pics, no one ever bothered you. (I lived in West Haven) Now it's all locked up.
That was an awesome video. I wish I was part of the excursion.
I USED TO HEAR THEM BACK HOME ON THE MINNEAPOLIS NORTHFIELD& SOUTHERN THOSE JOHN HANCOCK WHISTLES!
Fantastic video fmnut thank you for sharing..
Those A units have a bit of Harmonic Rock. How I miss those days of working the engine house.
i lived in danbury for 13 years. used to see these old beasties all the time. when i was there they were still running freights to beacon from new haven and bringing in coal cars to fuel the cos cob power plant that supplied electricity to the shore line.
i would have loved to see some footage from new haven to danbury up the housatonic valley line along with the hudson river footage.
One of these New Haven FL9's was at the "Streamliners at Spencer" event in 2014. I was fortunate enough to attend the event and ride behind one of the short excursions on the NC Transportation Museum's property that was being pulled by the FL9 with the CB&Q E5 on the other the end for the return journey.
Dichroic Sounds I saw that exact unit you’re talking about when it crossed the CT river bridge in Holyoke MA on its way to Spencer. It looked like it was brand new !
The unit you speak of is #2019. Appears in this same vid at 0:32 ! Parked at Danbury.
This rates as one of your best, and against the many others of yours which are very good. My Dad and I noticed his unit never seems to make transition. You would think he would have had it on 79mph almost at once with the train he has. They were working with the reverser at beginning while stopped, I now wonder if their trailing unit wouldn't load up. Thanks for the great Water Level Route trip with the thoughtful inclusion of the crews human element which I will no doubt watch many times.
I could be mistaken, but it sounds as though she makes transition at about 3:35 in the footage. The issue with the take off might have been as easy as not having the generator field switch energized. You can operate the reverser, release the brakes, and notch up all day and she won't go anywhere, unless she's on a grade. I've made that mistake a couple of times myself. That's not to say that there might have been another issue, but I've experienced similar results as I see here by forgetting that simple switch. I currently run 2019 at the RMNE in Thomaston, CT. 2002, the oldest surviving FL9 and the power in this footage, is in our collection, but is not operating at this time. She will need a good deal of work to get back into service, especially as scrappers cut all the leads to the traction motors to harvest the heavy gauged wire. 2033 is the third FL9 in the collection and is the very last F unit built. She is also the most unmolested of the survivors. 2033 is slated as a long-term restoration project.
Listening to the video, kind of sounds like someone forgot to throw the reverser before taking off. Could be wrong. And If I remember correctly, the Fs transition (somewhat hard sometimes) around 25mph or thereabouts.
Fabulous - not a lot out there seen from the cab on the Water Level Route. I wonder if they burned a hole in the side of the F unit seen wayside to get the main generator out quickly, or a fire, or both. Paint loss suggests some kind of fire.Two thumbs way up.
FL9s had a bit of a habit of catching fire.
It's the the electrical cynical end so guess major electrical fire.....
........I'm guessing this us pretty old video looking at the stations and stuff...... and the fact they refer to 2002 on the scrap line (which seems to be in old Conrail/DOT blue) which was later rebuilt for ConnDOT.
Oh wow this is cool...cab view from an EMD F unit...never saw this one before.
If you want more cab views from EMD covered wagons, see the CP Canadian film I just posted. Lots of in cab footage there. Also some cab shots from an E8 in my Conrail OCS On Board video.
@@fmnut Cool...thanks. In my childhood years I once got to ride in the cab of an EMD GP30 many years ago in my hometown's rail yard as they were doing switching operations.
Looked like Jack Swanberg riding in the cab of the front FL-9 locomotive.
This has to be the late 80's. General Road Foreman Jim Sharp at the helm. Squawking noise is the front truck bolster moving back and forth.
Great video. West Bend wi was frvr. CN would be running there
yes
Wow look at all those air whistles!
The two diesels going backwards! YIKES!!!!
If anyone out there can shed some light on these questions, what were the differences between the FL-9’s and the F-3’s and F-7’s. Thank you. And by the way, another EXCELLENT video by fmnut. Thank you.
There aren't really any differences between the F3 and F7 as far as visuals are concerned; ones that stand out though are the higher roof cooling fans on the F7 and the F3s had "Chicken Wire" side grills instead of the stainless ones.
As for the FL9, they were a bit longer and had a 6-wheel truck at the rear as opposed to a traditional 4-wheel truck, which was all to accommodate 3rd-rail electric equipment. The FL9s were also the only F units to be delivered equipped with Hancock air whistles to my knowledge, but I could be wrong; many were later fitted with traditional Nathan K5LA/P5A air horns.
The good ole days.
Weird to see some FL9s with GE Dash 7 cast iron bells 🙃
Wish they still ran these excursions.
2:00 This looks like the time when Daisy The Green Diesel Railcar shaked and rocked violently when she refused to pull the milk tankcar, whenever I see the leading locomotive move and rock
So, what was the exact route this excursion took? Obviously it terminated at the CH shops but where did it originate, Danbury? Trying to trace how it would have gotten to Beacon NY on Hudson Line from Danbury without going through GC via the New Haven line.
Originated at New Haven. NEC to Devon. Danbury branch to Danbury, then ex NH Maybrook freight line to Hopewell Jct. Then ex NH Beacon branch to Hudson Line. Due to connection configuration entered Hudson Line northward. Ran around train to go south to CH. Return via reverse route.
Those locomotives are awesome
If OnLy I cOuLd SeE OnE In PeRsOn.
I see them running on a daily basis at this point
2:46 Looks like a computer game of Train Simulator
On 5:25 looks like Henry The Green Engine's tunnel where he stayed shut up and refused to get out of the tunnel, because of the heavy rain on the Island of Sodor.
That's what we call F3 AA New Haven Diesel Sets
Great video !!! Can you ID the trainmen?? Were the FL always so loud?? Is this the Route 8 trackage? Thanks, Greg
Jim Sharp at the throttle, Jack Swanberg also in the cab. This info supplied by recent comments. Yes, EMD cab units were loud in the cab. Not sure what route 8 was as current timetables don't have route numbers.
so cool!
Top o video muito Show
That's what we call the F3 AA Diesel Sets!!!!
FL9 is a very different locomotive to an F3. F3 is a diesel electric with two, two axle trucks. FL9 is a Dual Mode Diesel Electric with one 3 axle truck, one two axle truck and a steam generator.
The red metro North is the Connecticut train.
They have robots that drive the trains now, especially in the yards.
Not strictly true. While there are some transit systems that are fully automated, remotely operated trains are still controlled by humans, not robots. But they're coming.
Where would this be occurring?
Why does their FL9 used Hancock whistles?
Ian Mp The New Haven used them as system standard on most of their first generation diesels and the electric loco fleet.
almost perfect D#6/11sus or d# G# c
What is all that squaking noise?
pdglock19. not sure which sound you mean. Give me a time.
I'm gonna guess he means the whistle at a few places in the video, such as 11:12.
That's the air whistle on the cab signal. When the whistle sounds it calls the engineer's attention to the signal changing to a more restrictive indication, requiring action by the engineer to comply or a penalty brake application will be applied.
Unless he is talking about the general body squeaking that is present throughout the cab scenes.
This looks like a train simulator computer game.
weird horn but awesome antique film
The Amazing World of Andrew it’s a whistle
11:25 the hell happened to that ACMU? 0_o
Probably an electrical fire
9:43 This thrilling noise sounds like Percy The Small Engine's whistle on Thomas and Friends
On 1:50 it sounds like a steam engine
I see NH 2033 who’s watching this in 2023?
They pretty much all looked the same.
What a shame NH had to use those stupid imitation "whistles"....