I am the owner of Fairbanks Morse H12-44 Locomotive #1845

[railroadcarmover]

This is a copy of a post i made in a fairbanks morse yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairbanksMorse/


I am the owner of Fairbanks Morse H12-44 Locomotive #1845.
12L669 built january 1953. This unit is a phase 2 unit and does not have the cab overhang. I purchased it December 2003.

This unit was purchased new in 1953 by the US Army for use in the
Radford VA Ordinance Center. It was numbered #1845.
In March 1972 it was purchased by US Steel Fairless Works (for
$7,258). It was renumbered #27. A Vectran remote control system was
installed in 1973.
This unit was COMPLETELY rebuilt in 1983 by Fairless Works
locomotive shop. ( rebuilt main gen, water pump, aux gen, fan gen,
prime mover rebuild (except the vertical shaft was never changed),
and the list goes on. This unit was also upgraded to all EMD
switchgear. Again in 1988 the prime mover was rebuilt.
In 1989 Fairless Works took all its non EMD locomotives off the
roster in an effort to standardize their fleet. Many of these units
were scrapped.
Locomotive Troubleshooters Inc. purchased the #27 since it was in
such good condition. They performed some additional work on it,
including rebuilt radiator sections (the radiator was modified into
individual sections, for ease of replacement). It was sandblasted,
primed and painted a bright blue color with white handrails. It
received an 240v electric heater, to allow for cold weather
shutdown. It was also renumbered back to #1845. It then went out on
lease to a few companies not far from Fairless Hills PA. This
includes AE Staley, Rohman Has and Novalog. While at Rohman Has LTS
swapped out the trucks and installed EMD trucks with brand new
wheels. From here it went on rent to Novalog ( back inside the
Fairless Works plant ). It was in service for a few years until it
developed a "timing problem" where it would "spit fuel out the
exhaust". This problem was due to a slightly twisted "verticle
connecting shaft". The twist in the shaft was due to years of normal
use of the engine which would stress the shaft. The timing of the
top and bottom crank was be altered as a result. The locomotive was
then taken out of service and moved back up on the active side of
the mill property for storage.
5 years later I purchased #1845 from LTS Inc. Included in the deal
was a spare rebuilt 38D8 prime mover which was removed from scrapped
H12-44 #11 (purchased by Tube City for scrap). This prime mover had
previously been rebuilt but used the wrong liners resulting in the
engine passing oil.
I also received in the deal 5000 pounds of spare parts. Basically
everything that was stocked by Fairless Works for the entire
Fairbanks fleet is now in my possession.
This includes RTO's, unused reconditioned parts, core parts, and
brand new old stock.
The spare parts consist of 2 governors, 1 auxilary generator, 1 fan
generator, 1 traction motor blower, 2 fan motors, cases of brushes
for all the rotary components, oil pump spring kits, load regulator
parts, radiator headers, engine oil cap assembly, water pumps, 2
verticle drive shafts, spare remote control panels, one spare remote
control transmitter, spare air brake transducers ( remote ), spare
airbrake panels, 2 brand new FRA windows for rear of cab, 6 new
frame steps, cutting levers, 1 engine blower, sand covers ( brand
new with tags still attached ), and many other parts.
I also received from LTS Inc., engine manuals, operator manuals,
parts catalogs, and original sales and spec order paperwork from the
US Army in 1953.
I then purchased from the head of the Fairless Works Locomotive
Shop, his entire collection of books, paperwork, manuals,
blueprints, engine books for all the locomotives at the mill. I have
mint condition manuals for the Fairbanks Morse locomotives as well
as 1953 photos taken by FM showing 38D8 prime movers being assembled
in their shop.

The unit at this point has brand new wheels, EMD rollerbearing
trucks and EMD traction motors, EMD air intake filters, a 240 vac
electric heater, and uses antifreeze for the cooling system. She
transistions really well with the present setup and will be an
excellent runner when repaired.
For now the unit will remain in storage at the mill. Presently i
have to replace some brake rigging before i can move the unit from
the mill. My plans are to move it to my mechanics indoor shop at
some point ( about a year from now ). We will remove the top
crankshaft in order to pull out the verticle drive shaft. I plan on
taking the verticle drive shaft out of my spare 38D8 prime mover,
since this one has an upgraded "spring coupling", which eliminates
the flex problem in the shaft itself, and installing it into my
#1845. The crank will be reinstalled and the correct timing will be
reestablished. I also need to install new batteries into the #1845,
as well as a full PM. I will install the top fireman window which
was plated over previously. I will evaluate the remote system and
install the remote lamp indicators with new lenses. I will also
powerwash #1845 and then have it available for rent. Eventual plans
call for repainting unit in the early 1980's Fairless Works scheme.
(light blue with red, white, and blue stripes and red frame stripes)
I will retain the #1845 number.

By the way, the unit is off limits to the public. Access to the mill is not allowed. It is also not visible from the perimeter.

I own this unit as well as a former P&W U23B (#2209) and 7
trackmobiles. I provide equipment rentals and contract switching. I
am based in Woodbridge/ Edison NJ. My contact email is
railroadcarmover@aol.com

Sinceres,
Pete DeFillipo

"If it has flanges, I will move it"

[pjb]

Does anyone know if this loco has been made
operable ?
I assume it is no longer at site of
former USS Fairless Works , whether
working or otherwise. Is that correct?
If restored, has anyone seen it in
operation?
Or does anyone have information,
regardless of state of loco, at present?
Thank You, PJB

[railroadcarmover]

I am the owner of the FM.
#1845 is still in storage at USS Fairless Works. It is not operable as its in need of the work, that i previously listed on this thread.
Some required work to allow for it to be transported off the property has been completed with the balance to follow.
At this stage I need to arrange for its shipment out of USS. The holdup for me has been a lack of time as i have been backed up working on some of my Trackmobile fleet.
I should have something in place within a few months.

Plan is to ship it to my mechanics shop in PA to so they can make it operable.
Once its operable, i will have it available for rental.
Update will follow as i have more news to share on this project.

Please note that the unit is not accessible to the public and entry to the mill is not allowed.

cheers and thanks for your inquiry.

[pablo]

Thanks for the update, and good luck on your endeavor.

Dave Becker

[Broadway]

PJB, here is a link to some pictures I took of the 1845 while working on site of USS Steel building a power plant.


http://yardlimit.railfan.net/gallery/sf/index.html

[u25b]

I just read that this loco is at a rail museum and they tried to do a deal to sell it to another museum and it fell through. The end result is the loco may go to scrap. Say it aint so!!!!!!!

Wes

[railroadcarmover]

Hi Wes. Fear not.

Not #1845. Its not at a museum.

I plan on having #1845 operable by the end of 2007.

[jnugent56]

We have one of 1845's sister locomotives at the R&GVRR Museum, number 1843.



Locomotive information:
http://www.rgvrrm.org/about/railroad/usa1843/index.htm

Our locomotive throws oil... most likely the result of bad blower seals. At least the oil prevents rust! We hope to repair this problem sometime in the future.

-Joe

[Luther Brefo]

Are there any status updates on the 1845?

[locobill]

I worked on the railroad at Fairless Works for 23 years and ran pretty much all of their locomotives in manual and remote control operation. I remember the Loco 27. It was an Army locomotive and was repainted for USS. I was one of the engineers that gathered up approx. 15 locomotives to go to their outbound track for later auction. I also worked in Delaware where a couple of Fairless locomotives ended up. I'm now retired and still miss my days on the railroad.

[nessman]

Still alive according to the Facebook Group "LOCOMOTIVE AND RAILROAD CAR SCRAP YARDS"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/480717605401152

[pablo]

I did not see something there that showed it was still with us. If I may, where did you see it on that site?

Dave Becker

[nessman]

Gotta scroll down and look for it - but this was posted by the locomotive's owner a couple of weeks ago...

Pete DeFillipo I own that Fairbanks locomotive. It has been out of service since 1998. I have been working on it since 2010 to restore it for service. I have done extensive work on the locomotive such as rebuilding the entire fuel and injection pump system along with other things. I have to put a few hundred more hours into it before I will be ready to start it up.
Right now I am waiting to have it moved back inside to another part of the complex. I have a large inventory of spare parts for the locomotive and also own a spare OP engine and a blower which I am trying to sell as cores.
Just a heads up about the location where it is parked now. That entire area is private property and is monitored 24/7 by security cameras. It ties into Fairless Works security along with the RR and local police. They will be dispatched out there if anyone goes on the property. Your best bet is to take photos from the main road.
Like · Reply · 4 · May 2 at 1:27am

[pablo]

Thank you!

Dave Becker

[Nasadowsk]

Ok - is that the blue unit I saw over there a few weeks ago? I wasn't paying stupid close attention, but it noticed it cause it was old as heck and looked kinda weird