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The Sayre Historical Society is no stranger to unique, unusual and sometimes heavy items of Sayre's history received from many generous donors. However, the latest contribution takes the prize. It's a 131-ton General Electric diesel locomotive.
Operation LifesaverThe locomotive is one of 12 GE U23B diesel electric locomotives built in 1974 for the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Upon inclusion into Conrail in 1976, the "U-Boats", as they were fondly known, were painted blue, renumbered and reassigned to various portions of Conrail's far-flung system. Upon retirement from Conrail, many were scrapped and the remaining few were sold to private companies in need of motive power.
In 2000, one of the last remaining U23B's was delivered to a motive power supplier and repair center for further distribution.
Greg Deibler, Sayre Historical Society Board member, became aware of this locomotive through numerous contacts. Aware that none of the original Lehigh Valley steam fleet remained and only one of the diesel fleet was preserved, Deibler contacted the present owner of the locomotive and over a period of several weeks, consulted with that owner regarding a possible donation of the locomotive to the society. It would then be restored to its original colors and displayed in Sayre at the future Sayre Museum.
This donation came with a very large condition, that the Society transfer it. The current plan for movement is to attach the locomotive to an active locomotive to move it from its current location to Mehoopany. When it reaches Mehoopany, it will then be attached to a train and sent up to GE Rail in Sayre. There it will wait until funds can be raised to construction of a display track on the Sayre passenger platform that extends from the south end of the Sayre station to just above the Packer Avenue. Appropriate funds must be raised to defray the substantial costs to the Society to contract the move and to hoist the locomotive into place. Funds may also be necessary to repaint the locomotive to its original Lehigh Valley colors.
If you would like to contribute funds to this project, please send check to U23B Project C/O Sayre Historical Society P.O Box 311, Sayre, PA 18840.
Contributors' names will be placed in a displayed record visible to all who visit the museum. The society is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit, significant contributions are tax deductible.
If you would like to contribute funds to this project, please send check to U23B Project C/O Sayre Historical Society P.O Box 311, Sayre, PA 18840.
If you have any questions, please send an email to the project manager, Greg Deibler at
[email protected] and use "U23B" in the subject line"