Remarkable Engines: Metro North's Leased E Units

The EMD E unit is one of the most well-known and best performing American diesel locomotives for decades with years of dedicated service to famous passenger trains of class Is, and later for commuter operations nationwide. However, these five E8s eventually found themselves briefly working for the newly-formed Metro North during a power shortage and made railroading history by being the first diesels to run in Grand Central station, before being preserved and sold to numerous heritage railroads. Hope you enjoy the interesting story of these E units and their service on the railroads they worked for.
Credit for photos used go to their original photographers from websites including flickr, railpictures.net and rrpicturearchives.net.
All music used in this video is from the KZbin Audio Library.
Credit for Photos Used Without Watermarks Stated: Dan Robie, Chuck Zeiler, Jerry Huddleston, Tomatosoup97, Hulton Archive, Otto C. Perry, Santa Fe Railroad, Reading Railroad, George Blount, Union Pacific, Juan Troncoso, kitchener.lord (EMC EZ shell), Ron Flanary, General Motors, Brenda M. Bailey, John F. Bjorklund, James R., MrTinDC, Stan Feldman, Richard Kowell, John Dziobko, Jr., Bryan Flood (Bridge over Highway), Marty Bernard, Roger Puta, Roger Durfee, John F. Bjorklund, D.W. Davidson, Dan Pope, Paul De Luca, R. Craig, Cliff West, Glen Beans, Josh Musser, Neal LeBaron, John LeBaron, Craig Zeni, Henry Butz, Jim Hebner, Alan Page, Donald Albertson, Iikka Sissalo, Steve Barry, Todd DeFeo, Lou Gerard
Credit for Photos Used With Watermarks Stated: Chuck Zeiler, Tim Darnell (TAD), Tom Nelligan, billspennsyphotos, Thomas C. Ayers, Terry Foshee, Drew Jacksich, Marty Bernard, Edward J. Ozog, Kim Piersol, Wendy Crim, George W. Hamlin, Steve Seyboth, Nate Murry, Donald Haskel, Don Oltmann, Bob Kise, GG1 tim, Bill Wilcox, Eric Larson, Tony Krslovic, Craig Zeni, NS4Ever, Tom Beckett, Wayne Koch, Fan Railer, Ralph L. Phillips, Bob Kise, D.E. Albertson, Dave Schumacher, Tom Conboy, Zach Pumphery (Pump), Christopher Bodkin, John Higginson, Mary Rae McPherson, John Matrow, Donnie Strickland, William H. Davis Jr., Charles Burgess, Robert Palmer, Andrew Koenisberg, Steve Nordhal, Shannon Sikora, Sam Botts, Sean Gulden, Jeff Kociban, Michael Tierny, Trey Holland, Carl Perelman, Jack Smith, John Wilson, Dennis A. Livesey, David Godwin, Martin K. O'Toole, Bernie Feltman, Bob Wickes, George M. Stupar
Links for Photographers with Photos Used: docs.google.com/document/d/1D...
Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the copyright act 1976: allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Sources used:
www.american-rails.com/7812.html
www.american-rails.com/6686.html
www.tcry.org/equipment/nyc_e8.htm
(PC GP7 with One Coach) Photograph by John F. Bjorklund, collection of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art, www.railphoto-art.org
Music used in order:
London Bayou - ALBIS
The Premier - The United States Marine Band
Hall of the Mountain King - Edvard Grieg / Kevin Macleod
Golden Empire - The 126ers
75 & Lower - DJ Williams
After You - Dan Lebowitz
We Ride - Reed Mathis
The Old RV - Craig MacArthur
Hall of the Mountain King by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/

[@Maunico0809]

“About a century before this video was made” -Pensyfan19

[@MrJuvefrank]

I've never seen so many beautiful injins in one video.

[@johnny5805]

The E's in their black Penn Central liveries, covered in rust and filth, were like the rail equivalent of Spielberg's 'Duel' truck ! Terrifying and beautiful !

[@CCscott]

Amazing amount of research. Sadly, I remember taking aim at these Metro North engines growing up as a naughty youth.

[@DC4260Productions]

It's nice to see that all of these particular E8s were preserved, though I'm not sure where I stand on the current state of the former PRR 5706. That display in Irondale was turned into an attraction called 'Train Escape', but I think it closed a while back. Either way, I don't like how they installed a great big door on one side of the locomotive; it reminds me of what happened to that Great Northern F45.

[@LongIslandCityLayout]

That was cool, I had no idea that MNR had leased E units back in the 80s!

[@SleepTrain456]

I knew about Amtrak 497, but I didn't know Metro-North leased _five_ E-units... or that all of these still exist! Thanks for the information!

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

4:27 PC F7A 1865 I photoed this loco in june 1977 Conway yard running, however it was "white lined" still in PC paint.

[@Pensyfan19]

Nice to hear. Captures an interesting time in railroading history. Something seems odd about an F unit built in the 50s pulling a massive N&W boxcar behind it. There's a prototypical consist fir everything I suppose.

[@roberthuron9160]

An addendum; there were two E units that operated on the Long Island,in shuttle service on the East End! In fact they were ex- Metra,exBN,ex- CB&Q,of some fame,but they worked obscure roles on the LI! I only learned of that operation,about a year ago,and I thought I knew the Long Island,fairly well! But the MTA,always has surprising developments when you least expect it! Thanks for the updates,and finding those really overlooked items,that go well below the radar! Thank you 😊!

[@Pensyfan19]

I am well aware of the two Metra E8s which were leased by the LIRR in the 90s (and that they were sadly scrapped earlier this year). I believe they were primarily brought in to run a set of C1 coaches on the Port Jefferson branch to test bilevel service on the branch.

[@linkscarlet9094]

At least you got the main reason PC failed right. Some railroad "historians" are really just incredibly bad at that. Good video :)

[@trainglen22]

Interesting I am happy to see the NYC experimental paint scheme.

[@Brianrockrailfan]

Awesome video

[@GfwTrains]

I love your remarkable engine series. Thank you so much for making them. Please count me as a new subscriber.

[@superbaddy4]

I had been seeing that 6902 numerous times while trying to search for any decent-quality photographs of the ill-fated Amtrak Surfliner Cab Car 6902 (which i'm still yet to find one)...

[@Pensyfan19]

I can see why. Same number so both versions are listed. Also, thanks for subbing to me, thus being my 145th subscriber!

[@GreenbeanProductions]

Great vid pennsy so far this is a great vid! Also what’s the song in the beginning :p

[@Pensyfan19]

London Bayou - ALBIS [see description]

[@GreenbeanProductions]

Ok then thanks man

[@MrJuvefrank]

Whoever drives the blue and yellow truck at 7:54 is lucky I don't own Conrail, for if I did, he wouldn't be driving that truck, he'd be pumping a hand-car up and down the tracks.

[@BriCastFoundry]

I'd love to finish watching the video, but the music...

[@kevinhoward9593]

what engine is the Nebraska Zephyr? E6?

[@Pensyfan19]

Close. EMD E5. One of them is preserved at the IRM with the Nevraska Zephyr trainset.

[@kevinhoward9593]

@@Pensyfan19 i love the Nebraska E5. so shining and perfect.

[@graphtonix6607]

What about Amtrak E8-A unit 4316???

[@Pensyfan19]

I've always been interested in that locomotive, but I can't seem to find any history of it after it was last documented in 1978 on rrpicturearchives.

[@graphtonix6607]

@@Pensyfan19 Lol!!! Same here.

[@graphtonix6607]

Do you have Discord???

[@Pensyfan19]

@@graphtonix6607 yes and I have a server: discord.gg/G2p4JGS2

[@SleepTrain456]

It's a noteworthy one, being the first Amtrak-labeled piece of rolling stock in it's history!

[@AlexThePatriot]

Have any units from 1937 been preserved, and restored? Also was any NYC RR electric motors locomotives preserved, and restored too? Lastly lol how many car body locomotives have been preserved, and restored?

[@Pensyfan19]

Engines from 1937 is a bit broad since so many engines are made per year, so I don't know the exact answer. NYC S motors 100, 113 and 115 are preserved as static displays, along with t motor 278. Im not sure what you mean by car body locomotives, since car body means the frame of a locomotive or railcar.

[@AlexThePatriot]

@@Pensyfan19 I guess what I'm trying to say is the first generations of diesels

[@Pensyfan19]

@AlexThePatriot There are various types of first gen diesels, ranging from switchers (SW1) to main line road freight engines (SD9, E3), so it's hard to determine an exact amount now, but not as many as second generation (GP38, SD40-2), as many second gen diesels are still in use today.

[@graphtonix6607]

Dose EX Amtrak E8-A unit 4316 still exist or was it sold for scrap??? And if it was scrapped did LTEX get it???

[@Pensyfan19]

I think it was scrapped in the late 70s when replaced by an F40.

[@graphtonix6607]

@@Pensyfan19 OK.

[@graphtonix6607]

Amtrak should bring it back for thier next birthday.

[@Pensyfan19]

@@graphtonix6607 Well, if you look at Amtrak's newest upload then...

[@graphtonix6607]

@@Pensyfan19 What upload???

[@kwadjodriscoll4839]

You forgot the P30CH

[@zachmalcolm6342]

Pensyfan19 since you metioned NGA how about you do one on the RJC FP7's which are the power for their My Old Kentucky Dinner Train

[@Pensyfan19]

I will certainly look into that.

[@zachmalcolm6342]

@@Pensyfan19 also do one on CP 3084

[@Pensyfan19]

@@zachmalcolm6342 Will do!

[@rottenroads1982]

Who here thinks that EMD should start reproduction of the E & F units? Make new Modern Streamliners for the current age. Maybe start with the E10 and the F11 (because their is already an FP10).

[@thewinonaflyer]

I think you may have forgotten NYC #4085 which had the same history as the others.

[@Pensyfan19]

Thanks for letting me know, but I don't think I can find any evidence of that engine being used on Metro North trackage.

[@Maunico0809]

A Turboliner entered Grand Central and caught fire so yeah I see why they don’t want Diesels in Grand Central.

[@mikeweston1582]

E