| D&H PA4u 18, Rensselaer, NY, July 24, 1976, photo by J. H. Nixon, Chuck Zeiler collection. Built in December 1948 as AT&SF PA1 #62L (c/n 76541), it was sold to the D&H in December 1967. While on the D&H, it and three other ex-Santa Fe PA1's (D&H #'s 16, 17, and 19) were assigned to the New York - Montreal Laurentian and Montreal Limited trains. This service lasted until the advent of Amtrak on May 1, 1971. Two PA1's (#'s 17 and 19) were traded to GE, and 16 and 18 were retained for special trains, and later conveyed to a private operator for excursion service. During the Summer of 1972 the D&H was under Norfolk & Western management, and a new president, C. Bruce Sterzing, reacquired the two PA1's sent to GE. Also at this time, the State of New York was seeking restoration of the New York - Mortreal train service, and the D&H managed to convince the state to use D&H equipment for that service. Funded 2/3 by the state and 1/3 by Amtrak, the parties reached an agreement in the Spring of 1974. Now the D&H was in need of reliable locomotives. Stripped of their prime movers, the PA1's were sent to Morrison-Knudsen in Boise, Idaho, where M-K installed new Alco (actually MLW, later Bombardier) Model 251 12-cylinder prime movers rated at 2400 hp. Returned to the D&H, the now-designated PA4's worked the new Adirondack train until Amtrak introduced the Turboliners in New York State service. The PA4's were briefly leased to Boston's MBTA commuter service, but by January 1979, the D&H sold the PA4's to Diesels International. They were leased and eventually sold to Mexico's FNM Railroad, where all the PA4's deteriorated and were retired. The 17 and 19 were placed on display in Mexico. The 16 and 18 were returned to the USA. Number 16 was cosmetically restored for display at the Smithsonian, and 18 is in the process of being restored for possible operation as Nickel Plate 190. |