QUICK FACTS

Model: 44-ton locomotive
Built: August 1943
Builder: General Electric, Erie, PA
Past Railroad Owners: Western Maryland, U.S. Plywood, Kaiser Southern Nitrogen, Delaware & Ulster
Current Owner: TOYX, Inc.

Locomotive No. 76 was built by General Electric of Erie, Pennsylvania in August of 1943 (serial No. 17935). It features a pair of Caterpillar D-17000 diesel engines (380 combined horsepower) that power two electric generators. These power four GE-733 traction motors, giving the locomotive a top speed of 35 mph.

One of a pair of identical units originally built to serve the Western Maryland Railway’s sprawling dockside facilities at Port Covington in south Baltimore, Maryland, the No. 76 (and sister No. 75) spent their time moving everything from coal to grain through the eleven Western Maryland rail yards located at the terminal. As the size of railcars and trains grew, the 44-tonners were found to be underpowered, and both were sold in September of 1964 to U.S. Plywood in Gaylord, Michigan. While No. 75 remained in Michigan (and is now restored in Western Maryland paint and operating at the Southern Michigan Railroad Society), the No. 76 was subsequently resold to Kaiser Southern Nitrogen and used at an unknown facility.

In mid-1979, the No. 76 was resold to the small Lykens Valley Railroad, which was operating a former Conrail/Penn Central/Pennsylvania Railroad branch between Millersburg and Williamstown, Pennsylvania. Operations of this short line ceased around 1982, and the No. 76 was sold to the upstart Delaware & Ulster Railroad in 1983.

The Delaware & Ulster moved the No. 76 to Arkville, New York to become the new railroad’s first locomotive and operate some of the trains on the opening weekend. It continued in service until the early 1990s, when it was sidelined with mechanical issues. Upon the dismantling of both diesel engines, it was determined that both engines could not be repaired or rebuilt, and the locomotive was stored indefinitely.

In early 2023, the Delaware & Ulster agreed to donate this locomotive as a part source for a multi-unit restoration project, including TOYX’s Middletown & New Jersey No. 2. Additional parts of No. 76 are being used for Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad No. 700 (owned by the Tri-State Railway Historical Society) along with New Haven No. 0814 and GE Demonstrator No. 1399 (both owned by the Danbury Railway Museum). For more information on this project, visit www.44tonner.org.

On March 24-27, 2023, the No. 76 was moved by truck from the Delaware & Ulster at Roxbury, New York to Port Jervis, New York, where mechanical and electrical components are being removed by TOYX, the Tri-State Railway Historical Society, and the Danbury Railway Museum. Plans for the remaining carbody are still being developed, but it will not be scrapped.