Surviving EMD TR2 calf units

crickets... I'm guessing there really isn't many left, or there isn't much love for calf units...

@skinorth posted:

crickets... I'm guessing there really isn't many left, or there isn't much love for calf units...

Well, without the "Cow" to control it, there really isn't much use for a "Calf" by itself.

Good point Hot Water. I was just curious to see if any other museum had a cow/calf set. There are plenty of TR2 cows floating around, I figured some might have gone into preservation with their calf.

I'm surprised there is even one left. Not real high on the locomotive preservation list.

I have always thought they were cool.  I especially like the C&O "herds".

Trip north of the border a few years ago.  Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Canada. 

Refuel 

@Mike CT posted:

Trip north of the border a few years ago.  Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Canada. 

That's not a "Calf", since it has no prime mover. It is a "Slug", which receives its tractive power from a "Mother unit".

 

@Hot Water posted:

Well, without the "Cow" to control it, there really isn't much use for a "Calf" by itself.

Plus, weren't Calf's usually coupled to the Cow via drawbar?

Rusty

@Rusty Traque posted:

Plus, weren't Calf's usually coupled to the Cow via drawbar?

Rusty

I'm pretty sure that is correct, especially most all the earliest "Cow & Calf" units.

Weren't most/all calves converted into full-fledged "cows" with the addition of a cab and controls?  A point of perhaps side interest, the Burlington tried a cow and calf set on their rugged Black Hills line, in an attempt to replace T2 2-6-6-2's. That was unsuccessful, as they were superceded by 4 unit F's, and ultimately SD7/9's. The 2-6-6-2's remained in service into 1951.

The CNW 1103 isn’t exactly “preserved”. It’s rather stuck out back in the weeds and not scrapped.

@mark s posted:

Weren't most/all calves converted into full-fledged "cows" with the addition of a cab and controls? 

I do recall reading somewhere that the "Q" did return most, if not all, of their TR calf B units back to EMD to be upgraded with cabs in the early '50's, a few years after their purchase.  

C&O owned two TR3 "Herds", A-B-B sets and two TR4  A-B Cow and Calf sets. None of those six B "calf" units were converted to A units or given cabs. They were transferred to B&O midway in their careers and worked there basically as built, with a few modifications, in all types of service from mainline helpers to humping cars. A few were retired in the late '70's and the remainder retired in the early '80's. 

C.J.

@Sam Jumper posted:

The CNW 1103 isn’t exactly “preserved”. It’s rather stuck out back in the weeds and not scrapped.

Where exactly is THAT, and what is the date of those photos?

@Hot Water posted:

Where exactly is THAT, and what is the date of those photos?

According the RRPicturesArchives.NET, this picture was taken by Cooper Tennerino at the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad Museum on June 23, 2018.
Sure, lots can happen in 2.5 years, but my guess is not.

The Western Maryland EMD BL2 #81 and her slug 138T survives at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD.
http://www.borail.org/WM-No81.aspx

@Rusty Traque posted:

Plus, weren't Calf's usually coupled to the Cow via drawbar?

Rusty

Yes, as true TR2A and TR2B units had a headlight only on their respective front ends.

@Bryan Smith posted:

The Western Maryland EMD BL2 #81 and her slug 138T survives at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD.
http://www.borail.org/WM-No81.aspx

Except,,,,,,,, that is NOT a "Cow & calf"!

@Hot Water posted:

Where exactly is THAT, and what is the date of those photos?

That’s at the Boone Scenic in Boone, Iowa. My pics were taken August 2020. They have a lot of interesting equipment that’s hidden “out back” in the weeds like this. Originally it was CGW. I read somewhere that some parts from this TR were removed for the other EMD end cab switcher they have, painted M & St. L. Still, I wish they would display it somehow. It’s an odd museum with a scenic train ride.