Western Maryland chop nose GP's

I was going to say late '59 or early '60. My folks and I would catch the Congo to Washington about three/ four times a year.  These guys were always running around Baltimore station.  I was majorly bent when they got chopped. A beautiful EMD GEEP in an outstanding paint job...ruined !  Yuck-O !  Not to worry, we still had plenty of DL&Ws on the M&E line, and they never got touched !

The Spring,2007 issue of the BLUE MOUNTAIN EXPRESS, the magazine of the Western Maryland Railway Hist. Society; covered WM's GP-7s and GP-9s in detail, including this info.
Feb., 1962 saw GP-9 #25 become the 1st unit with a low-hood conversion,it had a  2-piece windshield, the others had 1-piece windshields. All of the WM GP-9s were done by 1/1967, but GP-7 #23 was the last to be done in Feb.,1971. #25 and #30 (the 2nd conversion in 10/1962) had upper and lower headlights, but crews did not like the upper lights and they were removed.

Photo from my collection

Wow, great info, I am going to join the WMRHS- I guess then #23 was in black speed up until then?

thanks

Scott

Yes, #23 was still in black w/ speed-lettering, but was painted in red-white-black after shopping.

Do you know when the Gp's Started getting the Circus paint?

Western Maryland Scenic GP 30

Hi, Scott.

A website you may find helpful is the "Western Maryland Railway in N Scale." Although it is geared toward N scale as indicated by the title, it contains much useful prototype information and has a page which discusses the WM GP7 and 9 units in detail. I believe you'll find it very useful. Here's the link to that specific page:

http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/loc_geeps.php

There are also available several books with superb coverage of WM diesel operations. Three I recommend highly are "The Western Maryland Railway in the Diesel Era" by Stephen J. Salamon and William E. Hopkins, "Western Maryland Diesel Locomotives" by Patrick H. and Patrick E. Stakem and "Western Maryland Diesels" by Richard W. Jahn and John D.L. Johnson. All three titles offer great information and photos.   

Good luck,

Bob

SD-40s received in July,1969 were the 1st WM diesels in red-white-black (aka "circus colors") The 1st GP apparently painted in this new scheme was GP7 #21, in 10/1969, followed by #20 and #23.
9 GP-9s were also repainted before Chessie System exerted full control over WM's diesel fleet.
As mentioned, #25 has been preserved and restored by the Georges Creek Rwy. at Luke ,MD. This engine ran as #6400 in Chessie System colors and was also a TV star, appearing in several episodes of the 1988-1995 series "In the Heat of the Night" filmed around Covington,GA.

It should be noted that the WMSR GP-30s are not original WMRWY diesels (x-Conrail) and are not related to this discussion. They were both originally painted in Baltimore Orioles and Washington Redskins colors when obtained by WMSR. 

I concur with the modeling info via that link, the 3 books mentioned, and would also recommend "Western Maryland Trackside" by George Leilich and Jeremy Plant. Mr. Leilich was 1 of the WM's top execs in WM's last quarter century of independent operation and his photography and viewpoints are unique in this Morning Sun volume.

The original chop nosed WM GP9 lives! As a matter of fact, it is parked about a mile from my home on old Cumberland and Potomac track, on what might be the George's

Creek Railroad someday. The Geep was purchased by Gerald Altizer, a Western Maryland RR fan, and the ceo of the George's Creek.

He found it down south somewhere, in Chessie paint, working for a small RR. He

bought it, and had it shipped to the Western Maryland Scenic, who reworked the

sheet metal and painted it back in Western Maryland colors.

Here are some photos, when it was back in WM colors, the Western Maryland Scenic

had it on a special run. Bill Price, the noted B&O and WM photographer was

honored at the same time, and the unit is named after Bill.

The last photo is of the 39, another original chop nose (with the single front window) Gerald bought. It is to be finished in the "Circus" colors, and is at the Scenic shop for painting, I believe.

Ed

Good pics, this restoration story appeared in the 10/2008 issue of Railpace.

The old C&P is the Cumberland & Pennsylvania, not Cumberland & Potomac.

The Shortline in Georgia was the Great Walton RR; ?(SEE MY PREVIOUS POST)

The 39 was an x-Gettysburg RR /Knox and Kane unit; damaged in the K&K's engine house fire a few years ago.

I presume you live in the Barton area?

Yes I live in the Barton area. However, I was born and lived in Piedmont, WVA, just

six miles from here and at the bottom of the famous B&O's 17 mile grade. Saw lots of B&O steam back in those days, and a lot of WM H9's too.

Yep, I don't know why I said Cumberland and Potomac. Typing too fast, I suppose.

I'd forgotten that Gerald got the 39 from the Knox and Kane.

I'll post some more photos later in the day that may interest you.

Gotta get some lunch then get ready and go out for a bit.

So where do you live and how did you come to have such and interest in the WM?

Ed

And speaking of the WMSR Gp 30's, they came to Conrail from the Reading, that would be the 502 and the 501 is former Pennsy.

Ed

Thanks Ed, an e-mail is enroute to you.

When Mr. Altizer purchased two more ex WM engines, he held a dedication

ceremony at the Western Maryland Scenic's Depot in Cumberland.

Here are a few photos.

Ed