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4/19/2024
 
 
 
 
 
Owner: Seaboard Air Line
Model:BLW DR-6-4-1500Built As:SAL 2700 (DR-6-4-1500)
Serial Number:73396Order No:
Frame Number:Built:11/1947
Notes:built in 1947, retired in 1964
Other locos with this serial:  SAL 2700(DR-6-4-1500)
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SAL 2700
Title:  SAL 2700
Description: 
Photo Date:  9/14/1963  Upload Date: 8/17/2005 2:33:13 PM
Location:  Wildwood, FL
Author:  Warren Calloway
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  SAL 2700(DR-6-4-1500)
Views:  2292   Comments: 0
SAL DR-6-4-1500 2700
Title:  SAL DR-6-4-1500 2700
Description:  Seaboard Air Line DR-6-4-1500 #2700 at LaGrange, Illinois on November 15, 1964, photo by Chuck Zeiler. Number 2700 was built by Baldwin in November 1947 (c/n 73396).

This photo was taken across the IHB main line from EMD, this locomotive is awaiting its date with Pielet Brothers Scrap Metal. This is not the appearance it had when it left Baldwin. The SAL purchased three cab units (#'s 2700-2702) known by the nickname "Babyface", and placed this unit in service November 23, 1947 at Tampa, Florida. Numbers 2701-2702 were placed in service January 1948 at Hamlet, North Carolina. When delivered, the nose door was flush with the cab front, no MU was visible, and the headlight was a single bulb with a refector. The only other railroad to purchase this model was the NYC, and those units had different style numberboards and a cast pilot with retractable couplers. Within a year of delivery, the NYC changed out the trucks in an attempt to improve riding qualities. The NYC units were stored by 1958, in spite of re-powering with EMD 567's in 1955, and off the roster by 1960. The SAL units operated mostly on secondary runs in Florida, lasting 17 years until traded to EMD for SDP35's in 1964.

Photo Date:  11/15/1964  Upload Date: 1/28/2011 9:07:16 PM
Location:  La Grange, IL
Author:  Chuck Zeiler
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  SAL 2700(DR-6-4-1500)
Views:  2115   Comments: 0
SAL DR-6-4-1500 2700
Title:  SAL DR-6-4-1500 2700
Description:  Seaboard Air Line DR-6-4-1500 2700 at LaGrange, Illinois on November 15, 1964, photo by Chuck Zeiler. The SAL ordered this locomotive from Baldwin in September 1946 (c/n 73396), and placed it in service November 23, 1947 at Tampa, Florida. The DR-5-4-1500 model designation translates as: Diesel Road - 6 axles - 4 traction motors (the center axles were unpowered) - 1500 horsepower.

Only nine of this model were built, four A units and two B units for the NYC, and three A units for SAL. The SAL units remained essentially unchanged (except for headlight, front door, and MU connections), but the NYC replaced the GSC Commonwealth trucks with drop equalizer trucks in attempt to minimize the rough ride, and in the process, had to shorten the fuel tanks to accommodate the truck change. During the mid-1950's, the NYC sent all their DR-6-4-1500's to EMD and replaced the Baldwin 608SC prime movers with 567's, retaining the Westinghouse electrical gear, but replacing Baldwin's electro-pneumatic throttle and MU equipment with EMD's. Even that was not good enough, the NYC units were stored by 1958, and off the roster by December 1960. Behind 2700 in this photo are some B&O Sharknoses, and all are awaiting scrapping, traded to EMD for new power.

Photo Date:  11/15/1964  Upload Date: 2/6/2011 11:56:01 AM
Location:  La Grange, IL
Author:  Chuck Zeiler
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  SAL 2700(DR-6-4-1500)
Views:  1351   Comments: 0


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