Janesville & Southeastern #52, a BL2, on display at the National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, WI in 2004.

The EMD BL2 is a four-axle B-B road switcher built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD). Often considered the "Ugly Duckling" of diesel offerings from EMD, the BL2 set the stage for the company's widely successful GP series of locomotives. Download high resolution version (1024x768, 248 KB)Janesville & Southeastern #52 on display at the National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, WI, April 26, 2004. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 248 KB)Janesville & Southeastern #52 on display at the National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, WI, April 26, 2004. ... Chinese-built 2-8-0 on display at the National Railroad Museum on April 26, 2004. ... Green Bay is the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The AAR wheel arrangement system is a method of classifying locomotive (or unit) wheel arrangements that was developed by the Association of American Railroads. ... A road switcher is a type of railroad locomotive used for delivering or picking up cars outside of a railroad yard. ... Electro-Motive Diesels, Inc. ... The Ugly Duckling (Danish: Den grimme ælling) is a classic-contemporary story by Hans Christian Andersen about a duckling, notably larger, clumsier and uglier than the other ducklings in his brood. ...

History

EMD's diesel program was well underway in the late 1940s and early 1950s, thanks to the success of the company's FT demonstrations across the country. While the F-units in production were great for moving trains over the railroad, their full-width carbody made it difficult for locomotive crews to see to the rear of the locomotive. The F-units also lacked anywhere for a brakeman or switchman to stand and ride short distances while performing switching duties. The F-units did have grab irons and stirrup steps, but these features didn't do any good in tight clearances. // Events and trends World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... // Events and trends This map shows two essential global spheres during the Cold War in 1959. ... EMD FT - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... EMD F-units were a line of diesel locomotives produced between November 1939 and November 1960 by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. ...

Since the engine inside the locomotive's hood didn't take up the full carbody width, it seemed only logical that the hood could be "cut away" a bit to allow the crew to see and ride safely. This wasn't an entirely new idea either, as the Pennsylvania Railroad's GG1 fleet, which featured large cutout sections in its hoods, had been in service since 1934. 1911 map The Pennsylvania Railroad (AAR reporting mark PRR) was an American railroad existing 1846–1968, after which it merged into Penn Central Transportation. ... PRR GG1 number 4890 on display at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, WI. The Pennsylvania Railroads GG1 class of electric locomotives were built between 1934 to 1943, with a total of 139 units constructed. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Another problem facing EMD was that ALCO was making inroads into a market that EMD would have liked to keep to themselves; ALCO's RS series switchers were starting to take over many of the tasks that EMD wanted to fulfill with their own locomotives. The American Locomotive Company, shortened to ALCo was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States. ...

EMD's designers and engineers set to work and came up with the carbody reminiscent of the GG1 with mechanics that contained the technical knowledge they had learned with the company's F-unit series. Starting from an F3, the product of their efforts became the BL1 demonstrator. The BL in the locomotive's model name officially stood for "Branch Line", indicating that EMD felt the locomotive was best suited for light traffic and frequent switching chores. Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad F3 #120, a 4-unit ABBA set built in 1947, hauling a 51 car freight in 1950. ...

The BL1 and BL2 differed only in mechanical details, and only one BL1 was built. 58 more BL2s were built and sold to a few railroads, primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States.

This model of locomotive was sold for both freight and passenger service and the locomotive's intended purpose could be easily identified by the presence or absence of an exhaust stack between the two windshield panes. This exhaust stack was for the steam generator on passenger service units.

Limiting the locomotives success were several mechanical and ergonomic features. The mechanical components within the engine compartment were difficult to access and maintain, reducing its appeal among railroad shop crews. The locomotive's carbody lacked the full-length walkways of subsequent GP diesels, making it difficult for the brakeman or switchman to move from one point on the locomotive to another during switching operations. Finally, although the industrial designers at EMD tried to build a carbody that evoked high-class passenger trains while retaining the utilitarianism of railroad work, the visual design never quite caught on. However, even though the BL2 didn't succeed very well, EMD's engineers learned quite a bit from the endeavor and incorporated all of the good ideas from it into the company's widely successful GP series of locomotives.

Roster

The initial purchasers of the BL2 were these railroads (in serial number order):

¹ The C&O locomotives were actually ordered by the Pere Marquette Railroad (PM), but weren't delivered until the PM became a part of the C&O.

² C&EI 1602 was previously EMD BL1 demonstator number 499.

The Monon Railroad (AAR reporting marks CIL, MON), also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway from 1897-1956, operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana. ... The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from many smaller railroads begun in the 19th century. ... 1898 map The Boston and Maine Railroad (AAR reporting mark BM), also known by the abbreviation B&M, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century. ... Missouri Pacific (MoPac; AAR reporting mark MP) was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. ... The Florida East Coast Railway (AAR reporting mark FEC) is a Class II railroad operating in the US state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad. ... The Western Maryland Railway ( AAR reporting mark WM) was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. ... The Chicago and Eastern Illinois (AAR reporting mark CEI) was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago to southern Illinois, St. ... The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark RI) was a Class I railroad in the United States. ... The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad or BAR is a defunct United States railroad company, that formerly operated lines in northern Maine. ... The Pere Marquette Railroad (AAR reporting mark: PM) was a railroad that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States. ...

Preservation

The following BL2s have been preserved:

• s/n 4451; Monon #32; Kentucky Railway Museum [1].
• s/n 5921; Western Maryland Railroad #81; Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum [2], Baltimore, Maryland.
• s/n 5922; Western Maryland Railroad #82; West Virginia Central [3].
• s/n 8163; Janesville & Southeastern #52, ex-Bangor and Aroostook #52; nee-Bangor and Aroostook #552 National Railroad Museum [4], Green Bay, Wisconsin.
• s/n 8165; Bangor and Aroostook #54; Lackawaxen and Stourbridge Railroad [5], Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
• s/n 8616; Bangor and Aroostook #56; Janesville, Wisconsin.
• s/n 8617; Bangor and Aroostook #57; Cole Transportation Museum [6], Bangor, Maine.

The Monon Railroad (AAR reporting marks CIL, MON), also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway from 1897-1956, operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana. ... The Kentucky Railway Museum, located in New Haven, Kentucky, is a non-profit heritage railway and museum for the purpose of education of the public regarding the history and heritage of Kentuckys railroads and the people who built them. ... The Western Maryland Railway (AAR reporting mark WM) was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. ... Mt Clare Roundhouse Opened in Baltimore on 2 July 1953, the B&O Railroad Museum is located at the historic site of the B&O Railroads Mt. ... Baltimore skyline at dusk Motto: The Greatest City in America (formerly The City That Reads; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Nickname: Charm City Mob Town B-more Location in Maryland Founded 30 July 1729 Incorporated 1797 County Independent city Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor... The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad or BAR is a defunct United States railroad company, that formerly operated lines in northern Maine. ... Chinese-built 2-8-0 on display at the National Railroad Museum on April 26, 2004. ... County Brown Mayor Jim Schmitt, (R) Congressional Rep. ... Honesdale is located in an area known as the lake region of the Poconos. The surrounding area provides many recreational opportunities including: boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, skiing, biking, and rafting. ... Photo of downtown Janesville looking south on Main Street Janesville is a city located in Rock County, Wisconsin. ... Downtown Bangor Bangor is a city located in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. ...

Specifications

References

• Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide, Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
• Holt, Brent. The BL2: EMD's Ugly Duckling?

External links

• BL2 email list

4-axle general purpose diesel locomotives built by GM-EMD
BL2, GP7, GP9, GP15-1, GP15AC, GP15T, GP18, GP20, GP20D, GP28, GP30, GP35, GP38, GP38AC, GP38-2, GP39, GP39DC, GP39X, GP39-2, GP40, GP40P, GP40P-2, GP40TC, GP40X, GP40-2, GP49, GP50, GP59, GP60
(See also: List of GM-EMD locomotives)