EMD BL2

[nickelplate759]

The first runs (the ones with the plasic floor) are easy to put a decoder in. 5 wires to solder (if you're using the headlight).

Yes, but the headlight bulb is in the middle of the long hood with light pipes to both ends.   When I converted mine I  put an LED in each end instead.  That also made it easier to carve out the long hood weight to fit the decoder (DZ126).

[GimpLizard]

Yeah, Janesville is Janesville Wisconsin.  I don’t really know anything about the Janesville and Southeastern RR but I assume it was one of the many short lines that existed in Southern WI and eventually became part of Wisconsin & Southern.

I really like the paint scheme. It makes a kind of ugly loco look good!

Tom L
Wellington CO

The Janesville & Southeastern was never an actual operating railroad. BL2 #52 (ex-BAR) was privately owned by Glen Monhart along with ex-Milwaukee Road F7A, also in Janesville & Southeastern paint and numbered 106. They were operated on the former Wisconsin and Calumet RR (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_and_Calumet_Railroad), which ran from Janesville to Madison and Janesville to Fox Lake IL, beginning in 1989. The Janesville/Fox Lake line runs a couple of miles south of my home and I had the chance to catch the #52 on that line a couple of times. The Wisconsin & Southern purchased the Wisconsin and Calumet in 1992, though the WICT continued to run as a subsidiary until 1997. The J&S BL2 & F7A were, around 2006-2009, stored at the National Rail Museum in Green Bay. I don't know if they're still there.

[Tom L]

The Janesville & Southeastern was never an actual operating railroad. BL2 #52 (ex-BAR) was privately owned by Glen Monhart along with ex-Milwaukee Road F7A, also in Janesville & Southeastern paint and numbered 106. They were operated on the former Wisconsin and Calumet RR (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_and_Calumet_Railroad), which ran from Janesville to Madison and Janesville to Fox Lake IL, beginning in 1989. The Janesville/Fox Lake line runs a couple of miles south of my home and I had the chance to catch the #52 on that line a couple of times. The Wisconsin & Southern purchased the Wisconsin and Calumet in 1992, though the WICT continued to run as a subsidiary until 1997. The J&S BL2 & F7A were, around 2006-2009, stored at the National Rail Museum in Green Bay. I don't know if they're still there.

Thanks for the info, I was googling info and was having trouble figuring out what the story was/is. From what I can gather, there were 2 BL2s at the museum. One Or both went to a tourist railroad that shut down in 2018 (the Saratoga and North Creek RR?),.

I didn’t see anything about them on the NRM website.

Thanks again for the info

Tom L

[sd45elect2000]

Yeah, Janesville is Janesville Wisconsin.  I don’t really know anything about the Janesville and Southeastern RR but I assume it was one of the many short lines that existed in Southern WI and eventually became part of Wisconsin & Southern.

I really like the paint scheme. It makes a kind of ugly loco look good!

Tom L
Wellington CO

The locomotive was owned by Glen Monhart. The Janesville Southeastern was his name. The locomotive was leased by the Wisconsin and Calumet. Wisconsin Southern did not renew the lease. When Glen passed his engines were dispersed.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Ok a few things to point out here:

LL started producing their plastic frame engines in 87. This started with the GP38-2 and F7 and F40PH. All three used engineering research from LL's 1970's era HO scale models. I don't believe the HO F-something ever made it to market. The GP38-2 was a bit crude but the F40PH was a fairly decent model. In fact, the F40PH shell can hold it's own against Kato with upgrades to the pilot, windows, fans and radiators.

All the engines after these, starting around 1992 with the BL2 were based on contemporary Proto 2000 engineering and research. This is why the GP18 and BL@ had scale width hoods and scale trucks. While mechanism construction was similar until the SW1200, the designs that went into them were VERY different.

The BL2 was in fact very, very close to the prototype as was the HO model. The next model would be the FA2 and then GP18. All three would later receive retooled pilots and split frame mechanisms.

Really, the only think these would need is a new sound-equipped chassis and maybe retooled flush fitting windows (though they were not bad by any means). Maybe you could tool slightly thinner handrails like they did in the GP18? But the shell has very good bones.

I really hope Atlas does roll these out again. They are one of my favorite engines. I could see the F40PH become another "Trainman" engine with better windows, and a filled in pilot with new chassis. We already know the FAs are coming.

Personally, I would like to see Atlas adopt the LL SD7/9 tooling over the Kato. These were scale width and very modular which was good for painting. They would need the handrails addressed (they were molded into the walkway on the ends and the pilot steps were missing a stanchion. But these could easily be fixed and would cost a lot less than tooling a new scale width hood from scratch.

[wm3798]

What Daniel said.  The BL2 was really the first Life Liker that was beyond toy quality.  I've had several of both versions over the years... on the WM models, the first run had 81 in Fireball and 82 in speed lettering, the split frame came with 81 in speed and 82 in Fireball... with the coupler conversion, the shells were virtually interchangeable, although the old lead sled had the center mounted light bulb...  I eventually had two split frame drives, so all I had to do was a little surgery on the light tube, and I had both speedlettered, factory numbered, and split frame drives.  I cut a notch at the back of the split frame to make room for my decoder, otherwise, it was pretty simple to wire.  A new frame would only need to have a few notches and channels created for decoder and sound.  There will still be a ton of weight over the drivers even with that.
I used to run them back to back and pull upwards of 50 cars without an effort up and down the grades of my layout.  Smooth as glass.
I still have one of the decoderized ones from the original fleet, but I've picked up two lead sleds to run on the retro layout.  Still among the smoothest and most powerful engines I have, and if you hunt them carefully on the eBays, you can get one dirt cheap that might need the feed wire re-soldered.

[Sharky_McSharknose]

I would love for Atlas to re-release the BL2. I know it's not usually their thing, but it would be nice if they also added a couple of prototype-specific features like the different front and rear handrails/stanchions, steam generator, and winterization hatch. I'd still be fine with a generic BL2 in B&M livery to go with my Life-Like example.

I was lucky to find my split-frame B&M BL2 at a show (Remember those? Good times...) for $40 considering it would likely go for double or more on the Bay. It's a superb runner. I added a TCS CN-GP decoder to it since I had one on hand and it will take a ton of milling to make it LokSound compatible. Maybe in the future I'll get around to a sound conversion. I do need to cut a slot in the top of the frame for the wires, though. With the wires laid flat on top of the frame the shell barely fits, and the loco runs a little noisier. I'm guessing that's because the wires are transmitting physical vibrations to the shell. It's nice and silent when the shell is off, just like it was before DCC conversion.

[DeltaBravo]

I would love for Atlas to re-release the BL2 in Western Maryland paint again. Sound or not just make it DCC with low profile wheels. I'll take one of each road number please.