FL9 489
New Haven FL9 #2021
(WEBX #489)
History
Due to New York City’s strict anti-pollution laws, diesel locomotives are not allowed to be operated within the city, and Grand Central Terminal is equipped with third-rail electric power to facilitate train movements in and out of the city. However, the New Haven Railroad had several branch lines that did not have electric power, and were forced to change from diesel to electric locomotives on commuter trains heading into New York. Dissatisfied with the amount of time this procedure took, the New Haven turned to the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors (GM) for a unique solution.
Built in October of 1957, #2021 is one of sixty unique dual-powered FL9 locomotives designed and built specifically to address the New Haven’s needs. On the branch lines, the locomotive drew power from its on-board 16-cylinder 567C diesel engine, but once it reached electrified territory near New York City, it could convert to third-rail electric power for the remainder of the trip into Grand Central. This eliminated the locomotive swap and shaved precious minutes off the New Haven’s commuter schedules. The locomotive rode on a two-axle front truck and a unique three-axle rear truck that supported the extra equipment required for third-rail electric pickups.
On February 2, 1969, the New Haven became part of Penn Central, and the #2021 was renumbered to PC #5021. It would continue to serve admirably for its new owner, and was transferred to Conrail as their #5021 on April 1, 1976. The locomotive was one of 12 that were sold to Amtrak for regional dual-powered service into Grand Central Terminal along the former New York Central route between New York and Albany. The engine, originally Amtrak #240, was rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen with HEP in 1978, at which point it became Amtrak #489. This was one of the most-traveled FL9s, with Amtrak service taking it as far away as Seattle. It was retired from regular service circa 1996.
The engine was acquired by the Morristown & Erie Railway in 2002 and became their #489. The engine was quickly painted in a fictional Boston & Albany scheme for the filming of a movie (believed to be Golden Globe- and Oscar-nominated Far from Heaven, starring Dennis Quaid and Julienne Moore). Repainted in a Chesapeake & Ohio-inspired scheme, the engine saw excursion service around New Jersey until 2005, when it was repainted for the M&E’s subsidiary Maine Eastern Railroad and sent to operate in excursion service between Brunswick and Rockland, Maine. The locomotive returned to New Jersey in late 2015 and served on the Morristown & Erie until it was sold to Webb Rail in October of 2020. It is one of the few remaining FL9 locomotives that has been in constant service since it was built.
