| Built by then-new EMD (formed by the merger of General Motors' EMC and part of Winton Engine on January 1, 1941) in December 1941, Amtrak SW1 737 is still alive and well 73 years later! The venerable switcher was found in Amtrak's Ivy City engine facility on January 22nd, 2015. Built as New York Central 653, the NYC later renumbered it 703, and then 8499. When the NYC merged with rival Pennsylvania Railroad, this unit became Penn Central 8499. The PC sold it to Amtrak, who numbered it 250 before renumbering it to 737. Note the small turntable in the floor, used by Ivy City's workers to turn car and locomotive trucks (by turning them 180º), and also to move them from one track to another (by turning it 90º) and rolling them along the perpendicular track. (Photographed on railroad property with permission and full PPE.) |