Cold start of a New Haven FL9 locomotive

Cold start of a New Haven FL9 locomotive. So AWESOME!!

[@user-xy1lp8jx2h]

FL9s are beautiful locomotives.

[@cawalshx2]

My favorite.

[@edithkane1978]

Music to my ears

[@edithkane1978]

Now that is beautiful music

[@tedbownas2748]

Did that to sixteen locomotives a day for a number of years, until they were replaced by P32AC-DMs.

[@cawalshx2]

That kept ya busy.

[@tedbownas2748]

@@cawalshx2 in the Put Jct Yard, many years ago, they would line up the locomotives and spot them door to door at night and shut them down. The air would bleed off pretty quick. Some comedian would often go around with a handful of rags and use them to tie the horn lanyards down to the console on all the head ends. The electrician or machinist would go around in the wee hours and hop from loco to loco, door to door, and do the startups for morning service. About the time he'd get to the fifth or sixth engine, the air on the first one or two would build up enough to make the horn blow, and they'd start to sound. The startup guy would have to race to get back to the beginning and start over, untying the horn lanyards so the noise would stop. 🤣

[@cawalshx2]

@@tedbownas2748 Wish I could have been there. What a neat piece of history. Mabe someday we could meet over coffee and you can share more of the history thats fading fast. Thanks Much

[@arizonaelevatorsandmore2778]

Did you ever start P32AC-DMs? They are also very awesome just like the FL9s.

[@PowerTrain611]

​@@tedbownas2748 That's hilarious 😂

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

Starting the last chapter of EMD Classics: FL9 “The Longest F Unit”.

[@cawalshx2]

It is great to have FL9 #2011 and #2026 come through my neighborhood still wareing original paint. Long live FL9s.

[@dungareenavy5970]

I got to "drive" one, unofficially of course.

[@cawalshx2]

Me TOO Was AWESOME

[@gandlar5489]

You're so lucky.I wish I could drive an FL9

[@albertcarello619]

This is like starting a car!

[@cawalshx2]

Almost.

[@KDill29]

Hey, I know that train, hey I know that yard. Lol

[@singularity7968]

Sounds like Quint is the engineer.

[@cawalshx2]

Nope. Tom God rest his sole.

[@arizonaelevatorsandmore2778]

Is this locomotive still able to move under its own power?

[@cawalshx2]

Its 100% on line. Run daily.

[@arizonaelevatorsandmore2778]

@@cawalshx2 Does electric third rail mode still work?

[@cawalshx2]

@@arizonaelevatorsandmore2778 Nope third rail is no more. Its an excursion loco know for Cape Cod Central RXR. Great RXR.

[@jmream2618]

Does this FL9 still have it’s hep generator

[@cawalshx2]

Yup. its got a huge Cat.

[@WhiskeyGulf71]

Anyone gonna fix that air leak ?

[@cawalshx2]

Dont know, Gotta thak a ride in the wayback machine.

[@albertcarello619]

I'd like to see this Locomotive operate in 3rd rail mode. Being a hybrid diesel.

[@cawalshx2]

Ya gotta go way back to CDOT for that.

[@albertcarello619]

@@cawalshx2 OK

[@WilliamSpoehr]

If this is one of those 3rd rail engines, fer corn's sake explain how it operates when operating electrically. I have never seen that explained. Does it have a separate controller, like a streetcar's, for 3rd rail running? Does it have resistors, thyristers or what? What provides air pressure when the diesel is shut down?

[@cawalshx2]

Ill see if I can find my info on it for ya.

[@snprout]

There was a drum switch under the control stand marked for diesel and electric. Transitioning from diesel to electric, throttle went to idle, drum switch rotated to electric. Now the throttle controlled the electric power to the traction motors and the diesel was shut down. There was an electric compressor to keep up the air supply and a block heater to keep the diesel warm while shut down. Transitioning back to diesel, throttle to idle, drum switch to diesel, engine started from the control stand then throttle ran the diesel.

[@cawalshx2]

@@snprout Thanks for the great info. Im not 100% shore but i think the 3rd rail stuff aint there any more. I dont think the control stations are original eather.