GEC's roster thread

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Here is a change in the roster, though more roster posts will come soon.


Conrail E33 4610 (Formerly 4603 from the first page)

Conrail's rectifier fleet (consisting of 10 E33s, 44 E44, and 22 E44A electrics) were in fact very well maintained, and even the short lived E40s (former New Haven EP5 "jets") did recieve fresh black paint, despite retirement within a year of April 1, 1976. In fact, Electrics, such as E44 #4414 were among the first locomotives to recieve conrail blue.

Conrail's electrics also underwent several rebuilding programs, which included the E33s. Up until this point, they had contained Mercury Arc rectifiers, or "Ignitrons". These were large devices with a pool of mercury in the bottom, making them hazardous and expensive. Many were rebuilt with Silicon diode rectifiers, and all but two of the E33s recieved a fresh coat of blue paint (most would be retired looking brand new).

Though electric freight operations were coming to an end during the early 1980s, there did seem to be some indication that Conrail may have been interested in continuing operations for as long as it was reasonable. Even after conrail ended its electric operations in late 1981, it would rebuild one E44A in storage, #4453, into a special experimental unit in the mid 1980s. Though it did pull some trains, tests were short and it went back to GE where it was stored and probably scrapped.

My #4610 will eventually reflect the changes that rebuilding has brought it. The model was originaly numbered 4603, but as it turns out, 4603 never recived blue paint in its life (along with 4607). 4610 on the other hand was not only one of the first to recieve blue paint, but also one of the first to be rebuilt with the new rectifier gear. Fortuneately, the differences are minimal, the primary diffence being the addition of new vents (much like those found on the E44As), and rearranged louvers along the roof-top "box". It will also need silver "kick plates" on the grabirons around the side.

I also made the "standard" modifications: Repainted it to match prototype paint patterns, added a larger cab signal box (bachmann's box was not quite right), a sinclair antenna, and replaced the stock horn with a more accurate brass horn, relocated in the proper position (some E33s kept their original horns, others recieved the usual RSL horns found on Conrail road switchers).