So, it looks like NS has created another Heritage Unit. This one's a little different, as they took one of the ex-Southern SD40 locomotives and restored it back to its original colors. In the words of NS, "A new addition to Norfolk Southern's "heritage fleet". Southern Railway SD40 #3170 was built in April of 1971 and served for Southern and Norfolk Southern until being retired in 2008. It was recently saved from the back lot and rebuilt into operating condition at NS's Juniata Shop in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and repainted into its original Southern colors at NS's paint shop at Debutts Yard in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 3170 will go back into revenue service, primarily assigned to yard and local service along the Piedmont Division."
Working for Professional Transportation Inc. has its perks, witness my video of Southern 3170 moving around the diesel shop...... [video=youtube;FXUKEJ_RikY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXUKEJ_RikY&list=UUzilDH4EPG4RKQnshNR-fCg[/video]
OK. Thanks. Next question- Were any of these units set up with dual control stands, to operate either direction?
Couple things... this IS the first SD40 ever made! It is also the first SD40 that Southern got. Also, the first SD40 that N&W ever got is also stored in the dead line at Altoona, PA. Rumor mill has it that it will be rebuild and painted in N&W and put back into service. Not sure, but, I believe the N&W unit has dual control stands still!!! JMS
I saw this unit the other week headed south in Thomasville NC. I thought it looked different than the original heritage unit, so I looked it up and it was.:question: Thanks for the info. Harold
Southern and Norfolk and Western were two of the last railroads to change over from running long hood forward. Even after the merger they had units that were still set up to run long hood forward. Its my understanding that some were converted and that some were even set up to run with controls on both sides. I hope what I read in the thread above is correct and that NS will restore the other SD40 into its original NW colors. That would be pretty neat!