Post by URR566 on Dec 20, 2012 6:24:37 GMT -5
This is a Union Railroad “Buffalo”, a Baldwin DRS 6-6-1500 which was repowered with EMD components. Before I go any further, I cannot take credit for building this unusual creature, a friend built it and several others about 8 years ago.
The Union Railroad rostered 12 of these hybrids. Starting in 1959, they began sending their Baldwins to EMD where they were rebuilt with new power assemblies, new long hood (from either a GP9 or GP18), MU capabilities, and full length handrails. The locos were then operated in road service from anywhere to 1-4 units. Starting in 1968, they were overhauled with chop noses which made them even more unique. These were regular visitors at the B&LE interchange at North Bessemer throughout the 1960‘s and 70‘s. In the late 1970’s, the URR began retiring them with the last one being removed from service in 1980.
Some day I will build one of these myself, and if I’m fortunate enough to put together several of them, I may just do one in the Union Railroads new safety yellow scheme, that would be quite a sight. This particular unit, number 617, was a URR pioneer back in the day, it was the first DRS to be rebuilt, the loco that gave the rest their names, the first ever apple green locomotive, and may have also been the first ever blue and white loco (edit:619 was the first blue loco). It was also the only Buffalo with the bell mounted off of the cab. I may post one or two more photos of 617 within the next few days, in better lighting.
Here are two links which relate to the Buffaloes:
A link to another HO scale Buffalo (it’s a sister unit to mine):
(link removed due to site being updated)
A very thorough article written about the real life locos, it gives plenty of info, even tells the story of how they earned their nicknames:
(link removed due to site being updated)
The Union Railroad rostered 12 of these hybrids. Starting in 1959, they began sending their Baldwins to EMD where they were rebuilt with new power assemblies, new long hood (from either a GP9 or GP18), MU capabilities, and full length handrails. The locos were then operated in road service from anywhere to 1-4 units. Starting in 1968, they were overhauled with chop noses which made them even more unique. These were regular visitors at the B&LE interchange at North Bessemer throughout the 1960‘s and 70‘s. In the late 1970’s, the URR began retiring them with the last one being removed from service in 1980.
Some day I will build one of these myself, and if I’m fortunate enough to put together several of them, I may just do one in the Union Railroads new safety yellow scheme, that would be quite a sight. This particular unit, number 617, was a URR pioneer back in the day, it was the first DRS to be rebuilt, the loco that gave the rest their names, the first ever apple green locomotive, and may have also been the first ever blue and white loco (edit:619 was the first blue loco). It was also the only Buffalo with the bell mounted off of the cab. I may post one or two more photos of 617 within the next few days, in better lighting.
Here are two links which relate to the Buffaloes:
A link to another HO scale Buffalo (it’s a sister unit to mine):
(link removed due to site being updated)
A very thorough article written about the real life locos, it gives plenty of info, even tells the story of how they earned their nicknames:
(link removed due to site being updated)
