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 Posted - July 17 2021 : 6:46:28 PM
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By early 1965, a downturn in passenger traffic on the eastern regions of the Ephrata Valley Railroad meant that some changes had to come for the EV 'Eastern Flyer' passenger service. A major economic boom in the Valley at the time also created a major freight traffic increase. Thus, EV introduced the 'Eastern Flyer Combined.' This new train would consist of one or two passenger coaches, and several freight cars hauling hot commodities. The powers that be on the EV decided a brand new locomotive wearing an attractive new scheme would really add some appeal to the new train.
Thus when EV C430 #4301 rolled off the assembly line, one of two purchased by the railway that year, it was painted in the handsome Yellowbonnet passenger scheme and set to work on the new 'Ephrata Flyer Combined.'
(Image courtesy RP Model Railroads)
This new combined train kicked off with a bang, earning double the revenue of the failing passenger only service it replaced. This success was short lived however. By early 1966, #4301 was starting to earn a reputation, and a bad one at that. The unit was plagued by constant mechanical breakdowns, to the extent of it breaking down three times in a week. The engineers of the Flyer even had a saying: "The only good engine pulling this train is the engine coming to rescue 4301." EV management was not happy, and thus #4301 was mothballed into freight service until being sold to Reading later that year. The Eastern Flyer Combined rolled through spring of 1966 behind a magnitude of ratty looking Geeps and F units.
Summer of '66 brought a major traffic boom for the EV, along with an order of 20 new GP38s. Management decided that the second unit, EV GP38 #1501, was to be painted in a slightly more refined Yellowbonnet scheme by EMD and delivered to pull the Eastern Flyer Combined.
This new unit was a massive success, running the Eastern Flyer Service without fail until 1979, when EV's passenger equipment went for their new steam excursions, and commuter service was turned over to Amtrak. #1501 would continue pulling freight well into the twenty-first century, until it was retired due to an electrical cabinet fire in 2005.
This is a GP38 I picked up for RP, and I decided to further the Yellowbonnet scheme. The results is some of my best work ever.
Edited by - A-A-RON on July 18 2021 11:52:16 AM
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 Posted - July 17 2021 : 8:58:56 PM
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Great backstory, Aaron. The EV Tycoon approves. #4301 suffered from a PowerTorque drive train, plagued with technical issues, specially designed by Tyco for some Alco C430's. 
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - July 18 2021 : 1:17:43 PM
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In 1965, Ephrata Quarry struck a high dollar gravel deposit at one of their sites. This, the company had to lease some hoppers and few locomotives from Ephrata Valley Railroad. The two locomotives, C425 #609, and F7 #413, vigorously pulled gravel out of the quarry through the summer of 65. The quarry was pulling strong revenue out of the ground, and was well on the way to the goal of digging up the entire deposit by years end.
It did come at some cost though. The rail line heading out to the quarry traveled through a valley cut through the mountains, surround by rocky hills on both sides. The quarry company usually took great care to prevent rock slides along the route, but during 1965 they didn't want to waste the time or manpower to perform such maintenance. The quarry wanted to keep their crews digging away at the money-making deposit.
As a result, the disaster that occured on August 8th, 1965, really came at no surprise. As the last train of rock was heading back down the mountain towards Schuylkill for the day, the hills broke loose. The engineer tried to get the engines out of the way, but it was too late. The rockslide came down on the engines and several freight cars. Amazingly, the cab of lead engine #609 had made it clear of the rock slide, and no injuries occured.
After the wreck was cleaned up at the quarry's expense, the two locomotives were brought up to the EV maintenance shop. The long hood and engine of #609 were destroyed. #213 somehow survived with only a destroyed cab. EV was quite resourceful with their equipment, and thus the two engines were sent in and rebuilt into one functional unit. Hence EV#401, "the Frankenalco".
As one can imagine, this unit wasn't the smoothest or quietest ride for the crew. Therefore, within a month of the rebuild, #401's windows were boarded off, and "trailing only" was stenciled on the side of the engine. Despite this, the unit ran long time after the wreck, providing power to EV trains up until the railroad retired it and several dying streamliner in 1987, after which it was parted out and finally scrapped in 1993.
Aaron Anderson
Edited by - A-A-RON on July 19 2021 9:20:31 PM
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Posted - July 19 2021 : 8:58:30 PM
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I think the history of the Ephrata Valley Railroad is in the works - well written, Aaron!
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - September 19 2021 : 10:34:04 AM
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With the United States of America's Bicentennial coming quickly, EV Management wanted to celebrate the occasion in a big way. In the fall of 1975, the designers that created the paint schemes for EV's diesels were given a special task. A task that would help Ephrata Valley celebrate USA's 200th in a big way.
Right around the time of the Bicentennial, EV was picking up some new locomotive power for the Valley. This time around it was taking the form of 10 new High Hood GP38s, numbered 1520-1528 and equipped steam generators to be able to run mixed freight and passenger units. The last of that order of Geeps, the would be 1509, was pulled into the EV paint shop after being released from EMD in April of 1976. The EV also pulled F7A #205, the last F7 purchased by the railroad and a unit the company cherished, into the paint shop to be part of the big Bicentennial plan.
By late May two shiny new engines emerged from the Paint Shop, wearing the colors of our beloved country. Each wore a unique scheme, 1776 wearing a more traditional style paint scheme, and 1976 wearing a more simplified modern paint scheme.
When July 1st rolled around, EV Management held a public unveiling ceremony, in which they got to show off their two proud new accomplishments.
When July 4, 1976, the US Bicentennial, rolled around, the two units sat before Shuylkill station for an open house. Around noon a switcher from the EV Norriton yard brought a special Bicentennial passenger train up and attached it to the back of 1776 and 1976. Around 3:00 that day, the EV Bicentennial Flyer departed with several prominent Ephrata Valley residents bound for the fireworks show in Washington D.C. The trip was a smashing success, with the EV tycoon himself taking the throttle of 1976 for the majority of the trip. Fun was had by all, and the passengers got to enjoy one of the best fireworks shows in the country!
Aaron Anderson
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Posted - September 20 2021 : 8:45:33 PM
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Simply awesome story! I will definitely have to take some photos of the bicentennial units being unveiled at Schuykill Valley Station in 1976, for my Instagram.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - September 20 2021 : 10:56:39 PM
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By 1969, Ephrata Valley's Eastern Flyer Combined was running especially well. There was only one issue. By March 1969, the EV E.F.C. had a morning run consisting of three coaches and roughly 20 fully loaded freight card. This load was getting a bit much for the EV geep to be able to handle and maintain a decent speed. By July an extra diesel was needed the E.F.C. And EV management wanted the engine to match the scheme of 1501.
Thus EV GP38-2 #1520 was equipped with a steam generator, and was repainted in the yellow and grey yellowjacket scheme...
Earlier in the year Anderson Lines also picked up a secondhand U25C from another shoreline that had suffered a catastrophic turbo failure. ALSX shops rebuilt the engine through the spring of 1969, and around the time EV #1520 was at ALSX for its steam generator install and repaint, it was restored and ready for service. EVRR was given the first choice for this mighty engine, and they were more than happy to purchase it. Thus EV #2500 came to be.
Originally when purchased this unit was intended to go into the Ephrata Valley's Gen II (the 1965-1978 paint scheme) scheme, however with EV #1520 going through paint just ahead of this engine, a slight mixup occured. Thus EVRR number #2500 wound up wearing the yellowjacket scheme through its operating career, although it was never really put to use aboard the Eastern Flyer Combined.
EV #1520 would serve a long operating career, with most of its operating career spent trailing EV #1501. It would finally be retired in 2009, after suffering a prime mover failure. However it's parts would go on to keep many other Geeps active for years to come.
EV #2500 was a different story. It quickly became plagued with issues that most GE's faced at the time. During its career on EV it would go through multiple turbos, electrical components. In 1975 it's prime mover failed, and being the only unit of its type on the roster, it was retired and sold for parts.
Aaron Anderson
Edited by - A-A-RON on September 21 2021 05:30:09 AM
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