October 5, 2005
Gotta love the EMD SW1!
a classic early diesel
switcher.
nearly every American
railroad owned several.
The SW1 was first introduced
in 1939 as the EMC SW1.
(EMC is Electro Motive
Corporation, before EMC was bought by GM and became EMD, the Electro Motive
Division of GM)
There were many variations
in the SW1 over its 20 years of production.
Early models have the
curved front windows matching the curve of the roof, and the 2-part taper
of the hood.
Later models have the
retangular windows, and a one-part taper..
(there are many other
minor changes too)
I am going to model Lehigh
Valley SW1 #112.
She was bought new by
the LV in 1939, operated her entire career with the LV, and today still
exists!
and..still exists sporting
her last LV paintscheme!
unchanged since the LV
ceased to exist in 1976!
First, some history of
LV 112:
Her EMD Builder's photo! 
Photo taken April 1939.
This is the First of
Three paintschemes 112 wore during her 37 year career with the LV.
(she operated right up
to the end in 1976)
This is the "Pre War
Scheme", the scheme all LV switcers wore that were delivered prior to WWII.
Red, Yellow & Grey.
Here is a colorized photo
of an Alco S1 wearing this scheme:
The second paintscheme
112 wore is the most common LV Diesel paintscheme.
the "Cornell Red 3-stripe
scheme"
nearly every LV diesel
wore this scheme from WWII - the mid 60's
I don't know exactly
when 112 was repainted in this scheme, but it was most likely sometime
during the war years.
(if anyone knows the photographer of any of these images, please let me
know so I can give proper credit!! these are photos from my collection
I have gathered over the years..I dont know where they originated.)
Sayre, PA. date unknown.
Sayre, PA. date unknown.
Third and final paintscheme.
Tuscan red, with a single
yellow stripe.
#112 recieved this scheme
sometime between August 1970 and April 1971.
based on photos in 2
books:
"Lehigh Valley Railroad,
The Wyoming and Buffalo Divisions." By Mike Bednar
page 84.
8-19-1970.
112 is seen along the
Sayre shops, still in the Cornell 3-stripe scheme.
8 months later, April
1971, 112 is photographed wearing her new Tuscan scheme,
on page 124 of "Trackside
around Sayre-Towanda-Waverly with Lloyd Hall."
by Jeremy F. Plant and
Bill Caloroso.
and again in the Bednar
book, 112 is shown in 1972 in the Tuscan scheme.
(I remember those Christmas
lights in Sayre! :)
Here is 112 in her final
paintscheme:
Sayre, PA
So the 3 paintschemes
are well documented.
1. "Pre-war scheme" 1939
to (1944-1948) - 5 to 9 years.
2. Cornell Red 3-stripe
scheme. - (1944-1948) to 1970/71 - 25-30 years.
by far, 112 spent the
most years (with the LV) in this scheme.
3. Tuscan - 1970/71 to
the end of the LV - only 5 years with the LV,
but! 112 STILL wears
this scheme today!! 35 years since being repained last in 1970/71.
112 clearly spent a majority
of her career as a Sayre yard swicher.
nearly every photo I
have seen of her was taken in Sayre.
(which is extra-cool
for me personally, since I was born in Sayre!)
And that brings us up
to Today. the year 2005.
We know that 112 never
belonged to Conrail, she never recieved a Conrail number.
but..what exactly DID
happen to her after 1976??
we dont know...yet.
The book "Trackside
around Sayre-Towanda-Waverly with Lloyd Hall." states that 112 was
"scrapped in 1976 without making i to the Conrail roster."
clearly that is wrong.
Here
is a photo of 112 heading..somewhere!
Sandusky OH - 05/04/1977
- Michael Lippus Photo
She clearly stayed with
the LV up to, or at least near "the end" in 1976.
she wasnt transferred
to Conrail.
She was heading somewhere,
through Ohio, in 1977.
then what???
26 years go by, its 2003,
and the LV internet forums light up with reports of a LV switcher discovered
still in her LV paintscheme!!
its 112! sitting seemingly
abandoned in Rockwood, Tennessee.
AMAZING picures of 112!:
http://64.246.11.82/images/l/LV_112_SW1_18June03.jpg.12905.jpg
http://64.246.11.82/images/l/LV_112_SW1_F_18June03.jpg.59123.jpg
she has never been repainted,
no LV markings have ever been painted out.
She is the only surviving
LV locomotive that is still in her LV paint,
not repainted, and she
is also the oldest known surviving LV locomotive.
Her future is likely
(hopefully) secure, but uncertain..there are a few groups hoping to obtain
and preserve her. That process is on-going. I havent heard any updates
on any of the LV forums in a few years now..but I know a few groups are
hoping to save her.
(anyone have any updates??)
meanwhile, she still
sits in Tennessee.
On
to page 2, consruction of the model begins. 
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