Heritage of 2302 and 2304

[scottychaos]

Im still having trouble nailing down the exact heritage of these two units..
what we know:

Two Conrail U23B's, CR 2794 and CR 2796,
Became P&W 2207 and 2208.

What we dont know:
which is which!

is it:

CR 2794 - PW 2207
CR 2796 - PW 2208

or..

CR 2794 - PW 2208
CR 2796 - PW 2207

These two were sold by NYSW in December 2008, and are about to become the first two Lehigh Railway units.

Here is what I currently have for these units:

nee CR 2794
to PW 2208
to BDLX 2208
to NYSW 2302
Current LRWY 2302

nee CR 2796
to PW 2207
(was this unit ever BDLX 2207? or did it go straight from P&W to NYSW?)
to NYSW 2304
Current LRWY 2304

Im pretty sure the PW to NYSW to LRWY sequence is correct:

PW 2208 to BDLX 2208 to NYSW 2302 to LRWY 2302
PW 2207 to BDLX 2207? to NYSW 2304 to LRWY 2304

The question arises in the Conrail to P&W transition..
on-line rosters are conflicting..most say:

CR 2794 to PW 2208 to BDLX 2208. to NYSW 2302 to LRWY 2302
CR 2796 to PW 2207 to BDLX 2207? to NYSW 2304 to LRWY 2304

I believe this is correct..
however some on-line sources, such as here:

http://thecrhs.org/?q=node/3831

imply the CR to P&W transition should be reversed, and CR 2796 became P&W 2208:

CR 2796 to PW 2208 to BDLX 2208. to NYSW 2302 to LRWY 2302
CR 2794 to PW 2207 to BDLX 2207? to NYSW 2304 to LRWY 2304

Where the CR to P&W numbers are reversed..

so, can anyone clarify, with certainty, which CR unit became which P&W unit?
Does either one still have a builders plate? or have they been stolen?

thanks!
Scot

[Mark Wengert]

hi Scot!
Not sure how to help but would like to let you know that one of the units was out side of the utica shops with a fresh coat of Leigh railway dupont on it. My dad inspects the fire extiguishers for the RR and called to tell me about it, but he did not remember with one it was. There was also two sd40-2's there. best of luck.
Mark

[lvrr325]

If someone could supply a frame number or builder's number off one of the units, that should solve the problem, it should be possible to look up via X2200 South or some other source what original Conrail number belongs to the builder's number.

Alternately, one could look through Railpace back issues from the 1990-1995 period and see if it tells in what order the units were sold off. I believe these units replaced the M420W units on the P&W, part of this group of Conrail units went to the Reading & Northern as well.

[Zog]

I came across a photo of the 2302 painted in Lehigh Railway colors and have a couple of questions.
1. What trackage does this Lehigh Railway operate?
2. Why are the two U23B's painted sublettered for NYSW?

Thanks in advance
Zog

[RichM]

NYSW lettering to facilitate movement.

[lvrr325]

Long 6+ page thread on the New York State Railfan board telling all about the Lehigh Railway. The obviously temporary NYS&W markings are covered in other posts on this board.