Locomotives
Reading Company, EMD GP39-2, #3412
Background & History
In the ramp up to the Conrail takeover in the early 1970s it was apparent that several railroads entering the merger of Northeast freight carriers, new motive power was required. In the case of the Reading Company, 60 units were ordered in two groups of 30. The GP39-2s came with ten MP15 locomotives in early 1974. By this time the Reading adopted the builder’s class (model) as their own and the units were numbered 3400-3419. The GP39-2 produced 2,300 horse power using a 12-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine making it an economical engine to operate. Weighing in at 256,000 pounds, they had a starting tractive effort of 65,379 lbs and had a continuous tractive effort rating of 54,700 lbs.
GP39-2 #3412 at the R&N Leesport Yard.
(Photo Courtesy RailPictures.net)
Former CSX GP39-2 4317 at Hamburg, PA, awaits repainting into RDG 3412.
The GP39-2’s were assigned to general pool service all over the Reading system. As the start-up of Conrail loomed, a concern over service to freight customers was expressed with the solution being expanding the Delaware & Hudson Railroad’s reach by granting trackage rights to interchange at distant points with other railroads than Conrail. Consequently, a demand for additional D&H motive power was immediately realized. The D&H had just acquired GP39-2s of their own and a logical move was to shift the Reading’s 20 units over to the D&H.
The D&H was acquired by the Guilford Industries Group to consolidate rail service in the New England area. Labor contracts were maintained and the D&H fell into bankruptcy and was released from Guilford to be operated independently by a designated operator – the small New York & Susquehanna and Western Railroad. The Canadian Pacific Railroad acquired the D&H in 1991; the CSX Railroad picked up the lease on the GP39-2s and integrated them into their fleet as 4300-4319.
In the Spring 2019, several GP39-2s were being stored in Cumberland Yard. Negotiations between the RCT&HS and CSX began and soon, arrangements were made to have CSX donate GP39-2 4317. After 43 years, the former Reading GP39-2 3412 was headed home. The 3412 arrived on the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum property in September 2019. It was tagged as being out of service due to an engine issue and smoked excessively. The RCT&HS crew discovered excess fuel in the crankcase which was drained down to the proper level. The fuel tank was checked and found to be nearly full. After charging the batteries and doing final check, the engine was started successfully. The 3412 remains in active service at the museum, awaiting repainting in to its Reading colors. It has become the primary engine used to shuttle cars at the museum.
EMD GP39-2 #3412 Specifications
(As Built)
Builder:
Electro-Motive Division
General Motors
LaGrange, IL
Date Built:
Fall 1974
Builder’s #:
74640-12
Engine:
Model 645E3C
2-stroke diesel
12 cylinder
Horsepower:
2300
Top Speed:
65 mph
Weight:
261,515 lbs.
Continuous Tractive Effort:
54,700 lbs. @11.1 mph
Length:
59’2″
Fuel:
2,600 gallons
Lube Oil:
285 gallons
Water:
200 gallons
Aspiration:
Turbocharged
Bore x Stroke:
9.08″ x 10″
Displacement:
10,846 c.i.
Idle Speed:
250 rpm
Max Speed:
900 rpm
Transmission:
DC generator, DC traction motor
Brake System:
Westinghouse 24RL
Air and dynamic