The EMD FL9
In a series of posts, let's look a this unique unit, designed specifically for Grand Central Terminal and the tunnels leading to it (under Park Avenue from 97th all the way down to 42nd Street).
In this first post, we see a northbound Metro North Hudson River commuter train just north of Peekskill, New York on the former New York Central. That's the Parkway Plaza in the background up on the hillside; the Hudson River is off to the right of the frame.
Number 2006 was built for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad in September of 1957. While it most likely later wore an all black or blue and yellow scheme during the Penn Central years, it had been put back in it's original, fabulous New Haven scheme (designed by Herbert Matter) by the time of this photograph. Amtrak also used these units at this time, as you'll see in subsequent posts.
As mentioned above, this locomotive was bespoke for the New Haven due to all the underground running it was to do—it had a diesel prime mover but also a shoe to pick up electricity from the third rail (and it was able to over-run or under-run the rail, could do both). The whole idea was that the FL9 could use diesel out in the countryside but third rail while in the tunnels leading to and within Grand Central Terminal.
Lastly, something to add to this unit's charisma—the FL9 had a B-A1A wheel arrangement, fairly unusual. (Thanks to @alco-luvr for some information on this.)
Two images by Richard Koenig; taken most likely in 1990 or 1991.
