Indiana Welcomes A Pair Of BL-2s. On the night of June 14, 2021, the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum received former Bangors & Aroostok EMD BL-2s 52 and 56 (originally 552 and 556 for BAR). The 58 BL-2s (and 1 BL-2) built between 1947-1949 created a "Branch Line" class of locomotive intended to offer the power of a road locomotive with the visibility of a switcher. In the end, it was not a hit with ether crowd, but did pave the way for the GP series which abandoned the carbody design in favor of the full walkway around the cab and higher horsepower. Many years later using the same designator series, EMD would introduce the BL-20 (not related to the Brookville BL20) with the carboy of a GP but only 2,000hp, seeking a market for a standard cab with the power of a yard switcher, and this was also not a concept that was positively received. Of the original 58, seven are known to remain in preservation/operation as of 2024. Still painted in Saratoga, North Creek, and Hudson Railway's Delaware & Hudson Railway tribute scheme, the locomotives had made the trip from storage in Salem, New York on the Batten Kill Railroad to the Hoosier Valley, and 52 has been returned to service (with 56 listed as a future project) and they both remain there today.
A continuously growing album of photos that IMHO reveal the awesome and seldom-seen beauty of the railroad world from the dimming of day to dawn's early light! From dusk to dawn, trains roll on! (I'm still finding gems of sunset-to-sunrise surprises!)
An assortment of photos of the distinctly unique (and 'cute') little locomotive EMD ever built, the BL2! I understand it also makes a tasty sandwich..Oh, that's a BLT! (When a new BL2 photo is "ordered", it will be served fresh!)
