M&NTCo Cumberland Shops Locomotive Works.

[ES44AH]

Other things on display:
One of our new boxcars.

MNTCo Boxcar by C39-8, on Flickr



MNTCo Caboose by C39-8, on Flickr

Crew-change van.

MNTCo Crew van by C39-8, on Flickr

[ES44AH]

Tomorrow night, we are running a special night railfanning excursion to Sand Patch, PA. This can be an opportunity to see steam at its finest, big articulateds straining up the steep grades. Also, the heritage units will haul their first trains tomorrow afternoon. A heritage locator will be on the M&NTCo thread.

[ES44AH]

Order of 65 roadrailers for intermodal service between Baltimore and Pittsburg.

PM 1223 is back in shops for final inspection.

NGS-1D #90 is officially on the M&N roster. Its expected to pull its first train tomorrow.

[ES44AH]

Shop updates:

CF-1 #51, and #52 to shops for testing. These will be used for testing MU equippment to lashup multiple steamers, but only use one crew. This will but 2 of the 3 Cab-forwards offline for a few months. #53 will still be on her own, but #57 and #66 will substitute for helper service.

Heritage unit #750 is back in the shops for reverse gear problems.

Y6b #50 will be sent to shops for new tires.

#2400 will be painted back as B&O 2400.

#17 to shops for firebox maintainence.

#64 to shops for new tubing.

[ES44AH]

Locomotives added to roster:
Ex-PRR 4-4-2 #22
Ex-GTW 2-6-0 #30
Ex-ATSF 4-8-4 #31
Ex-CNJ 4-6-0c #32
Ex-B&M 2-8-4 #33
Ex-N&W 2-6-6-4 #34 and #35.

LCD displays have been installed on CF-1 #51. #52 is still have lCD's installed. These displays will be part of the MU system.
For repairs:
GG1 #4800 has been sidelined after a her traction motors have burned out.
2-8-0 #9 is in shops for new firebox grates.
4-8-2 #46 in shops for tire replacement.
4-6-6-4 #64 in shops for new superheater tubes.

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To any N&W fans reading this, we are pulling 2 more Y-classes (both Y6B), another J-class (unshrouded), and 2 more A-classes. The Y's are 2197 and 2156. The J is 606. The A's are 1211 and 1222. The Ys are expected to be operating by May, the J August, and the As june. The Ys will join the already running Y6 and Y3s in heavy freight and coal service on the Allegheny division. The J and the A's will operate on the Baltimore and washington divisions.

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Shop switcher #1 to pickup GG1 #4800 and move it to the AW interchange. Locomotive #20 to pull CLW 5, CLW6, CLW 11, CLW 14, and CLW 20 from backlot to Hall C for inspections.

[Saturnalia]

Looks like the PC is ready to accept 1223 & assoc. consist

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Unfortunately, our X-class 2-10-10-8-4 will be scrapped. #80 was the most powerful steamer rated for 9800hp. But, those 9800 horses did not gallop together. Troubles with the 3rd set of drivers meant that more often than not, #80 stalled out. In her place, the Cumberland shops will produce another high-horsepower, compound mallet. We will be reproducing N&W's famous Y-class. But, we are going to start off with a Y6C. The new Y7a will be based off of the Y6c. The Y6c will be rated for 6500hp, while the Y7a will be rated for 8800hp.

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Shop switcher #1 to take #80 to hall C for dsmanteling. Locomotive #2 to pull N&W 2197 (Y6b) to shops for conversion to Y6c. This will become M&N #81.

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#2197 is being fitted with modifications to be rebuilt as a Y6c. The Y6c will have new steam injectors, water injectors, larger grate surface, and will have higher boiler pressure. these will still remain compounds, but they will also be 5 tons heavier. When complete, the Y6c will have a start Hp of 8000hp, and a continous hp of 7500hp. The Y7a, which will be based off the Y6c, will be heavier, by about 10 tons. The Y7a will have a starting hp of 9500hp, and a continous hp of 8800 hp. These will unfortunately relieve to Y3's from mainline to helper/extra locomotives. 2197 will conduct its first test run in August. The first Y7a, #101, will be built by late October early November.


The MU equipped CF-1s #51 and#52 will conduct test next week.

We are considering to aquire 2 steamers from Germany, they are both class BR52 2-10-0. As of now, there are no confirmations on these engines, a museum in Germany is also trying get them too, but if they cant get the funds to buy them, we can get the engines. The museum will contact us in a few weeks about the BR52s.

[ES44AH]

Y6b #2156 will also be upgraded to Y6c. 2197 and 2156 will be the only 2 Y6c's. They will be renumbered 100 and 101. The first Y7a will be changed to 102.

Another NGS-1D has been built. It will be joining the roster as MNTC #91. #92-95 will be NGS-1Ds. #96 and 97 will be NGS-P, and #98 and 99 will be NGS-1W. The NGS-x locomotives will have traction motors to act as boosters. These will also be connected to a dynamic brake grid. These are the first steamers to use both reciprocating drive rods and Traction motors, as well as a dynamic braking system.

[ES44AH]

Shop switcher #1 to pull 2 SD35s from backlot. These will be cleaned up, and have its paint touched up. Also to perfrom primemover inspections, oil change, and other maintenance tasks. These will be going to Pittsburg as these SD35s have been purchased by the Delphos & Eastern railroad. The Sd35s are to remain in WM circus scheme.

[ES44AH]

The SD35s have had the turbos repaired. The cylinders have not arrived yet. Both have been sent to the paint booth. they are being painted in their original Red, white, and black circus scheme. However, they wont be numbered, owner of the SD35s will renumber. They will retain the WM name on the hood and WM style lettering. This will be shipped to Pittsburg on Saturday on train BPS-1.

In other news: 2197 upgrade to Y6c is almost complete. The air intakes and firebox circulators are in place and work perfectly. The intakes draw more air and make a bigger fire, more heat for higher steam pressure. The circulators will make the fire burn evenly. More details will come later.

[ES44AH]

CLWX SD35s are ready to go north. Switcher #1 to take them to the holding track. They will be added on to BPS-1. WM Challengers #64 and #65 to Engine Ready tracks. #65 needs more sand and top off water tank. #64 just needs more coal.

[ES44AH]

Switcher #1 to pull CLWX 16 from backlot. The 16 is a streamlined 4-6-2 built for the B&O. It pulled the Royal Blue between New York City and Washington DC. This will return to service as a passenger engine.

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We are adding 2 diesels to the reserve roster. They are heavily rebuilt E-8s. The E-8s however will have the hoods from 2 GP9s, and will be redesignated CE-8. The CE-8 are MNTX 15 and MNTX 16. They will wear the basic MN black with yellow trim. These units are also about 50 tons heavier than the standard E8. The first CE-8 (MNTX 15) will roll out of the shops in July. These will work as additional helpers when the CF-1 and CF-2s are in the shops or during high traffic volumes.

Due to the upcoming increase in traffic, more steam locomotives are being pulled from the backlot and are being put into service. Among these are ex-PRR I-1s, ex-N&W X-1s, ex-B&O EL-3s, and ex-UP FEFs.

the second of 5 NGS-1Ds has been completed, it will be added to roster as #92. there are now 2 NGS-1Ds on the roster (not counting #90).

[ES44AH]

Shop Switcher to pull CLWX 20 from backlot. CLWX 20 is an experimental locomotive. It never got recognition because of mechanical problems. It will be restored under Project Big Cat. Project Big Cat is named for CLWX 20s heritage, the C&O. the locomotive will be expected to run by October.

[ES44AH]

#53 is in shops to recieve MU equipment and GPS systems. #50 is also in shops for a GPS system reset. CLWX 20 is in the inspection hall. A turbine intake fan is being made for CLWX 20.

[ES44AH]

Update on CLWX 20: A new fan has been made. The boiler doesnt need much work, but the condenser needs new piping. Aftercoolers from one of our parts engines will used in place of the original.

If anyone knows what CLWX 20 is, you can post it. The locomotive will be revealed in a press release in 2 weeks. The press release will be on the M&N thread.