After an abbreviated version of checking e-mail and the like, Elizabeth and I went to Waffle House for breakfast then drove to the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City, Tennessee. We boarded the motor coach for the first of three events today, a behind-the-scenes tour of Knoxville Locomotive Works.
KLW was originally established by Gulf & Ohio Railways, Incorporated in 1998 to serve as a maintenance company for the G&O family of railroads using contracted railroad employees to perform the services. During the 2000’s, KLW’s focus turned to performing work on primarily Class 1 locomotives. In the last decade, KLW has again evolved into a remanufacturer of ‘green’ locomotives also providing maintenance services to its locomotive customers. This most recent transition has allowed KLW to make significant investments in its manufacturing facility and inventory while hiring employees from non-railroad backgrounds to institute necessary process flows for operations. KLW also utilizes contract labour when needed for locomotive repower projects.
In 2017, KLW attained EPA Tier 4 Certification for switch and line-haul locomotives. The next year they attained California Air Resources Board Tier 4 Verification. Since 2015, KLW has manufactured and delivered more than fifty Tier 4 locomotives across the United States.
Knoxville & Holston River Railroad NZESE15BDET4L 8304 rebuilt from an unknown locomotive.
Knoxville & Holston River Railroad NZESE15BDET4L 8208 rebuilt from an unknown locomotive.
Knoxville and Holston River emblem.
Gulf and Ohio GP38-2 9561, ex. lllinois Central 9561, nee Gulf, Mobile and Ohio 741, built by Electro Motive Division in 1972.
Builder's plate for a Knoxville Locomotive Works locomotive.
CSX ultra low emissions diesel genset switcher 3GS21B 1307 built by National Railway Equipment in 2008 then retired and sent to Knoxville Locomotive Works.
Knoxville Locomotive Works 25 ton switcher 151, nee Laurinburg & Southern 151, built by General Electric in 1943. We were then led on a walking tour inside one of the shop buildings but it had been requested that no photographs nor video be taken so as to respect the wishes of KLW's clients.
Knoxville Locomotive Works SD40-2 6167, ex. Norfolk Southern 6167, nee Norfolk and Western 6167, built by Electro Motive Division in 1978.
Knoxville Locomotive Works SD60 6002, ex. General American Marks Company 6002, exx. Progress Rail 6002, nee Norfolk Southern 6662. built by Electro Motive Division in 1988.
The frame of a locomotive being rebuilt.
Southern SW-1 1007, ex Southern 404, Atlantic East Carolina 9, built by Electro Motive Division in 1947 and acts as the shop switcher.
The frame of Union Pacific SD70M 4338 built by Electro Motive Division in 2001.
Norfolk Southern SD40-2 6091, nee Norfolk and Western built by Electro Motive Division 1975.
Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad 4-4-0 "Texas II" 1962, ex. Gulf Sand and Gravel (Louisiana Eastern) 1 1961, exx. Gulf Sand and Gravel (Louisiana Eastern 2 1954), exxx. Texas and New Orleans Railroad Company 260 1950, exxxx. Texas and New Orleans Railroad Company 220 1934, exxxxx. leased to Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway Company 1925, nee San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railway Company 60 built by Baldwin in 1922. It is here for eventual restoration.
Yadkin Valley Railroad SD70MAC 9540, ex. BNSF 9540, nee Burlington Northern 9540, built by Electro Motive Division in 1995.
California Steel Industries battery-electric locomotive Q16-2.4 32-013 and 32-014.
California Steel Industries battery-electric locomotive Q16-2.4 32-013.
California Steel Industries battery-electric locomotive Q16-2.4 32-014.
Knoxville Locomotive Works AC44C 6852, ex. Norfolk Southern 8946, nee Norfolk Southern 8520, built by General Electric in 1996.
Knoxville Locomotive Works Tier 4 9530, ex. BNSF SD70MAC 9530, nee Burlington Northern 9530 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1995.
Knoxville Locomotive Works sign on their re-power shop.
We reboarded the bus and from the window, saw frame of a BNSF locomotive.
National Railway Equipment 3GS21B 1301 built by National Railway Equipment in 2007.
Canadian National Q19-2.4H battery-diesel hybrid unit 7101, history unknown. The motor coach then took the conference attendees to the Three River Ramblers station in downtown Knoxville for the second adventure of the day.
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