Post by URR566 on Nov 8, 2014 20:41:11 GMT -5
The Bessemer & Lake Erie at one time owned two Alco S-4 switchers. Both were purchased in July 1952 and numbered 291 and 292. Their typical assignment was working in Erie. They were the only Alco end cab switchers ever owned by the B&LE.
Both diesels were painted in the black and yellow paint scheme when they were built. Eventually number 292 was repainted into the orange and black “Butterknife” scheme that even included wings on the front of the hood. Both units were operated until 1962 when the 291 was sold to the Youngstown & Northern (a one time USX road). Sister 292 followed the following year. They would be renumbered as Y&N 225 and 226.
Pictures of them under Bessemer ownership are scarce. There are however a couple pictures of them on the Y&N. Here is the Y&N 225, ex-B&LE 291:
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2318115
Y&N 226, ex-B&LE 292:
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2318116
As you can see from the above two photos, neither were repainted. They wore their Bessemer paint their entire lives. Amazingly the 291 was still in its factory applied black and yellow until the end. Both units were retired and scrapped by the Y&N at an unknown date.
