I have been doing some research on this particular locomotive
for my "surviving
Lehigh Valley locomotives" page.
This locomotive is currently (2003) operating out of Wellsboro, PA on the Wellsboro & Corning Railroad, as W&C #800.
There was initially some confusion as to the heritage
of WC #800, because in an article about the WC (February 2002)
Railpace magazine indicated WC 800 was former "Conrail
8676 - LVRR 252"
well one of those numbers has to be wrong, either the
CR number or the LV number,
because LV 252 became CR 8666
and LV 262 became CR 8676.
Which means (based only on the railpace article) WC #800
could be either LV 252 or 262.
Fortunately there is an easy way to determine which LV engine became WC800!
LV 252 was a "traditional" SW8..meaning she was not dynamic
brake equipped,
and she had the traditional SW notch in front of the
cab, like this:
However, LV 262 was one of the famous "pups" that operated
on the LV's Hazelton branch.
These SW8's were classified as "SW8m" and they had dynamic
brakes and MU capability.
The dynamic brakes resulted in a very distinctive hood..an
enlarged "dynamic brake blister"
or hump in the hood in front of the cab. This "hump"
is unmistakable..
Here is LV 262 back in the day..
Photo by Bill Navari
Based on this distinct difference between LV 252 and 262,
it is obvious WC 800 must be LV 262,
because she has the hump. The dynamic brakes are gone,
the louvers and fan have been removed,
but the hump remains.
I travelled to Wellsboro PA on 2/14/2003 to visit with LV262! She is doing fine.
Scot Lawrence
February 2003