Idling next to a wrecked tank car that is in the Bethlehem engine terminal for unknown reasons (perhaps to be cut up), Lehigh Valley “hammerhead” RS3 #211 waits for its next assignment. The unusual high short hood accommodates the presence of a steam generator as well as dynamic brakes. This unit was purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad for helper service on Keating Summit out of Emporium, Pennsylvania, as well as to protect in the event of a locomotive failure on passenger service in the area. In 1970, PRR successor Penn Central chose the unit to be traded in to GE on a new locomotive order. PC-controlled LV had several worn-out RS2’s that had equal trade-in value, so they were sent to GE and were replaced with PC RS3’s, including the hammerhead. A total of five hammerheads were built, with the other four going to the Western Maryland, as seen HERE. LV 211 became Conrail 5487 before being chosen to be a part of Conrail’s “DeWitt geep” program, when it was re-engined with an EMD prime mover. It survives in this state today, repainted to LV colors at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum.
Not
just heritage schemes, not just commemorative schemes - this album is devoted to some of the world's most interesting paint schemes, past or present.
