Part the reason why C&O had the most was because they initially ordered 8 units. At the same time, the Pere Marquette ordered 6 but the C&O absorbed the PM before the PM’s order was finished, so the PM order of BL2s ended up being delivered to the C&O.
Interesting! I grew-up in Michigan where C&O used a lot of BL2 locomotives, so as a youngster the BL2 was a familiar sight to me. The C&O had it's own, and a few they inherited from original Pere Marquette orders. The C&O also had a few BL2's configured for passenger trains. I also had relatives that worked for the C&EI in Danville, Ill.. The C&EI had some Bl2's, and I also saw Monon BL2's along the way. All when I was very young. I suppose at that age I thought everyone had BL2's in their back yard, because they were a common sight for me. I think the Alco RS series might have influenced EMD a little to go to the more practical GP design. Thanks for this.
@@ironhorsehistorian9871 Hi michael you got a nice lot there very hard to choose one andThank you very much for replying to my comment. I would love if you could take a quick look at my page and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
The WICT in Wisconsin used BL2s on their lines. They repainted one and labeled it the Janesville and Southeastern. The last time I saw them was up at the railway museum in Green Bay.
The BAR ones lasted until the late 80’s when they were eventually replaced with GP38’s. By then they had racked up several million miles, and 4 of the 8 survive to this day, all of which are in serviceable or operating condition. A few more would have survived, but they had been damaged in a wreck. One of them was rebuilt into a F3 using parts from another unit (a F3) which was destroyed in the same wreck.
The BL2, F3 and GP7 were similar mechanically. The main difference was the carbody and whether there was an optional steam generator for heating passenger cars.
The reason that this locomotive existed was because of the ALCO RS-3. Although EMD had conquered the mainline road power market, their salesmen were seeing lots of solid EMD customers buying the RS-3, for branchline service, for the reasons that you listed in your video. ALCO had taken a switcher, and made it suitable for use outside the yard limits. EMD took a mainline road engine, and made it barely suitable for branchline service with a minimum effort redesign. By the way, the difference between the BL-1 and the BL-2 is that the locomotive frame on the BL-2 is suitable for MU (multiple units operation. The BL-1 was designed to work alone, and had an air throttle, not the 8 notch throttle from the road locomotives. The B&O wanted to be able to run double units on their branchlines. The frame on the BL-1 lacked the strength to do so 😉
Love the BL2 and wish I would have had the opportunity to run one during my career as an Engineer, but I think they weighed more than the 55 thousand pounds you mentioned, but still a informative video.
Thanks for the constructive criticism. Sorry pronunciation can be a bit difficult given the way I’m wired, still thanks for the constructive criticism and Merry Christmas
Is their an engine you’d like to see in the future? Well, tell me via this comment and I’ll keep it under consideration.
love it. i was unfamiliar with the BL series. thank you. i'd love to learn more about the early disels of Alco, baldwin, FM and emd as well.
2 of those manufacturers didn’t even cross my mind originally. Thanks for the idea.
Thanks for the history. Didn't hear you mention Chicago & Eastern Illinois. My first HO scale train set had one with that road name.
nice informative video.. I always liked the odd shape of the BL-2 so, this video was of interest to me.. I subbed after watching it.
Thanks for your interesting presentation about this unique locomotive.
Part the reason why C&O had the most was because they initially ordered 8 units. At the same time, the Pere Marquette ordered 6 but the C&O absorbed the PM before the PM’s order was finished, so the PM order of BL2s ended up being delivered to the C&O.
I did not know that
I finally got around to watching it. It’s great!
Yay
Living in Norton Shores in the 50s I saw that consist many times crossing a bridge over the west end of Mona lake
Interesting! I grew-up in Michigan where C&O used a lot of BL2 locomotives, so as a youngster the BL2 was a familiar sight to me. The C&O had it's own, and a few they inherited from original Pere Marquette orders. The C&O also had a few BL2's configured for passenger trains. I also had relatives that worked for the C&EI in Danville, Ill.. The C&EI had some Bl2's, and I also saw Monon BL2's along the way. All when I was very young. I suppose at that age I thought everyone had BL2's in their back yard, because they were a common sight for me. I think the Alco RS series might have influenced EMD a little to go to the more practical GP design. Thanks for this.
Cool story and thanks for watching
Thank you for the nice video. I had my picture taken from the BL2 Monon . Merry Christmas
Thank you and merry Christmas as well
Nice video Michael lots going on.
Thank you. Is their an engine you’d like to see?
@@ironhorsehistorian9871 Hi michael you got a nice lot there very hard to choose one andThank you very much for replying to my comment. I would love if you could take a quick look at my page and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I saw one in 1986. I was at the Busch gardens amusement park near Tampa, Florida. I caught a peek at it through a fence while inside the park.
Cool
The WICT in Wisconsin used BL2s on their lines. They repainted one and labeled it the Janesville and Southeastern. The last time I saw them was up at the railway museum in Green Bay.
The BAR ones lasted until the late 80’s when they were eventually replaced with GP38’s. By then they had racked up several million miles, and 4 of the 8 survive to this day, all of which are in serviceable or operating condition. A few more would have survived, but they had been damaged in a wreck. One of them was rebuilt into a F3 using parts from another unit (a F3) which was destroyed in the same wreck.
The BL2, F3 and GP7 were similar mechanically. The main difference was the carbody and whether there was an optional steam generator for heating passenger cars.
Several were offered to the Columbus and Greenville (CAGY) in the mid 70s but the deal was never effected.
Thanks for these videos. I need my train history
Me to and thanks for watching
Love the BL2
The reason that this locomotive existed was because of the ALCO RS-3. Although EMD had conquered the mainline road power market, their salesmen were seeing lots of solid EMD customers buying the RS-3, for branchline service, for the reasons that you listed in your video. ALCO had taken a switcher, and made it suitable for use outside the yard limits. EMD took a mainline road engine, and made it barely suitable for branchline service with a minimum effort redesign. By the way, the difference between the BL-1 and the BL-2 is that the locomotive frame on the BL-2 is suitable for MU (multiple units operation. The BL-1 was designed to work alone, and had an air throttle, not the 8 notch throttle from the road locomotives. The B&O wanted to be able to run double units on their branchlines. The frame on the BL-1 lacked the strength to do so 😉
Love the BL2 and wish I would have had the opportunity to run one during my career as an Engineer, but I think they weighed more than the 55 thousand pounds you mentioned, but still a informative video.
Those and the Sharks are my favorites!
:D
Love these and they must have inspired English Electric to build the Deltic, my all time favourite diesel-electric loco.
I’ll make note of that
7181,7182(WM) ran into 1977 in Hagerstown, Md.
I know, I saw both of them.
So ugly it is fun. Love the video. Thanks for sharing.
WOWWWWWW I LOVE THis I’m gonna make a emoji of it
I guess they can be called, "EMD's Edsel?!
Now residing in North Judson,Indiana
Very cool!
Still looks better than most British diesels
1:37 Weight is 230,000 pounds, not 55,000
THESE WERE NOT THE MECHANICS DREAM WITH THE PINCHED IN CARBODY!!
GLAD I NEVER HAD TO WORK ON ONE !!
I can only imagine lol
It's A-ROO-stock.
K
It is pronoounced Ban gore and A roos took
pronounced not pronoounced
Thanks for the constructive criticism. Sorry pronunciation can be a bit difficult given the way I’m wired, still thanks for the constructive criticism and Merry Christmas
That locomotive so strange