Diesel Locomotives

Southern Railway #6900 — The locomotive was built by Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in 1951. Originally numbered 2923, the E-8 was the first of seventeen units ordered by the Southern Railway. The E-8 had two 567-B 12-cylinder prime movers, developing a total of 2,250 horsepower. The Southern used the E-8s to pull passenger trains, including the Southerner, Crescent, Tennesseean and Royal Palm. They were first painted green with imitation aluminum striping, changing to black in the late 1950s. In 1972, Southern President W. Graham Claytor had all E-8s painted green and aluminum to reflect history and pride of the railroad, and renumbered 2923 to 6900. The 6900 ended its career on the Southern pulling the Southern Crescent from Washington, DC to Atlanta, GA. After Southern Railway ceased passenger service in 1979, the 6900 was donated to the NCTHC the next year. Norfolk Southern Corporation restored the exterior of the locomotive in 1995 at Chattanooga, TN. It is now on display in the Robert Julian Roundhouse.

North Carolina Transportation Museum

Southern Railway #6133 — The locomotive was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in 1950. This FP-7, operated by the Southern Railway, was the property of the CNO&TP (Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific). The FP designation meant the locomotive could be used for passenger or freight trains, using a 567-B 16 cylinder prime mover, generating 1500 horsepower. These were F-7 freight locomotives with a steam generator placed at the rear of the locomotive, increasing body length by four feet. FP-7 locomotives were used on small branch-line passenger trains throughout the Southern Railway System. By the late 1970s, there were very few FP-7s left on the roster due to Southern eliminating many passenger trains. The 5- 8 left were used for excursion trains as part of the Steam Program begun in 1966. The 6133 was donated to the NCTHC in 1980, and restored by the volunteers to its original green/ imitation aluminum paint scheme. It is used to pull the train ride around the property when needed. Another mechanical and paint restoration was performed by the Ohio Central Railroad in 2006.

North Carolina Transportation Museum

Southern Railway #2601 — The locomotive was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in 1963. The GP-30 diesel was produced from 1961 to 1963, selling 948 units to railroads throughout the United States. All GP-30s were equipped with 567-D3 16 cylinder prime movers connected to turbochargers generating 2250 horsepower. Many railroads, including Southern, used 4-5 GP-30s together to pull fast time limited freight trains. Southern continued to use their units until the late 1980s, with most retired off the roster by 1993. Norfolk Southern Corporation donated the locomotive to NCTHC in 1992, and later took the engine to Chattanooga, TN in 1995 for an exterior cosmetic restoration to Southern Railway early 1980s paint scheme. It is used to pull the train ride around the property when needed.

North Carolina Transportation Museum

Norfolk Southern #1616 — This locomotive was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1955. The AS-416 is one of several that were ordered by the original Norfolk Southern Railway. The 1616 has electrical components supplied by General Electric. The original NS ran from Charlotte, NC through Raleigh to Norfolk, VA. Early dieselization used Baldwins and General Electric 70-tonners. Later they bought EMD GP-18s. The Southern Railway merged the NS Railway into the system in 1974, and after the N&W merger in 1982, used the name in part for the new corporation. After 1974, Southern sold all the remaining Baldwin locomotives, and the 1616 went to the Peabody Coal Company in Lentzburg, Ill. They donated the engine to the State of North Carolina in 1981, and volunteers restored the locomotive to its late 1950s early 1960s appearance. It is now on display in the Robert Julian Roundhouse.

North Carolina Transportation Museum

Norfolk & Western #620 — The locomotive was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in 1958. The Norfolk & Western Railway was one of the last Class 1 railroads to dieselize, starting in 1959. Part of their main traffic was coal from West Virginia to the Tidewater section of Virginia, and the railroad kept using steam power to show its continued usefulness. The GP-9 locomotive developed 1750 horsepower from its 567-C prime mover. The N&W used GP-9s for both freight and passenger trains, the later painted in a Tuscan Red and Gold scheme. Freight units wore basic black. The 620 continued in service, working from Roanoke, VA to Ohio until being retired in 1985, when it was donated by Norfolk Southern Corporation to the NCTHC. Volunteers, using money given by NS Corporation, painted the locomotive in the passenger scheme for use on the site train ride. It receives more use than the others, due to favoritism of the crews.

North Carolina Transportation Museum

Beaufort & Morehead #1860 — This locomotive was built by the Fairbanks Morse Company of Beloit, Wisconsin and is a model H-12-44. FM entered the locomotive business rather late, basing the power from their opposed-piston marine engines used in diesel submarines used during World War II. This locomotive was originally purchased by the US Army in the 1950s and used at the Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal before being used to switch the B&M and based in the Morehead City State Ports. The NC Transportation Museum acquired the locomotive in 2004 after disposition from the State Ports.

North Carolina Transportation Museum

Atlantic Coast Line #501 — This locomotive was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in November 1939. Beginning in the late 1930s, EMD developed a passenger diesel locomotive known as the E series. This E3 was one of the first high production models. The ACL ordered two, numbered 500 and 501, for service on The Champion between New York City and Miami, Florida. Each locomotive produces 2,000 horsepower from two 567-A 12- cylinder prime movers. The ACL chose purple and silver to decorate these locomotives, partly due to the long-time use of purple on ACL timetables. The 501 remained in service until 1970, operating over 6 million miles. This distinction made the 501 the most traveled E unit in US history! The NC DOT Rail Division purchased the 501 in 1998, and placed the locomotive on long term loan to the museum.

North Carolina Transportation Museum

AMTRAK #307 — This locomotive was built by the Electro-Motive Division of EMD in May of 1979. 200 of these F40 locomotives were designed to pull passenger trains anywhere in the US, usually in multiples of 2-3 per train. By the mid 1970s, many of the older E-unit passenger diesels were 20 plus years old and were developing several mechanical problems with the diesel engines and outdated steam generators. The new design F40, based on a freight GP40, gave AMTRAK a locomotive with more power and equipment like Head-End Power, an all- electric way to heat and air condition the cars. By the mid 1990s they were themselves the old, worn-out locomotives and AMTRAK began replacing with the P42 from General Electric. Most of the F40s were removed from service in 2000, with several being converted into baggage cars by removing their diesel engines and installing side roll-up doors. This locomotive was purchased for $1.00 and donated to the NCTMF in 2004 for eventual display in the Back Shop.

North Carolina Transportation Museum

NC Ports Authority #L3 — This locomotive was built by General Electric in 1943. The 45-ton switcher was used by the Ports Authority in Wilmington its entire career. These locomotives had only one traction motor per truck, and used side rods to turn the other axles. The Ports Authority switched freight brought into the port for shipment overseas. They also moved and loaded freight brought in by ship. State ports are located in Wilmington and Morehead City, NC. Current plans call for cosmetic restoration and display near the picnic shelters. This locomotive and the Transportation Corps 45-tonner are the oldest diesel locomotives at the museum.

North Carolina Transportation Museum