By Eric Berger

Genesee Valley Transportation has acquired four more Montreal Locomotive Works M636 diesels from Western New York & Pennsylvania for use on its Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad, giving further credence to the notion that Scranton, Pa., has become the Alco capital of North America.

Fans have worried about the future of the WNYP six-axle MLWs since their duties were taken over in 2019 by a group of ex-CSX GE AC6000 units rebuilt as AC46CWs.  The newly-acquired units are expected to serve as reserve power in support of the DL’s current six-axle fleet. There are no immediate plans to paint the units or put them to work in regular service, but the purchase should quell any concern that the bastion of Alco power might be considering products from other builders anytime soon. It is the last railroad still regularly operating six-axle Alcos and MLWs.

The engines purchased by GVT are WNYP 643, 685, and 637, all of which are operable, and 638 which will serve as a parts unit. All four units once worked for the Quebec Cartier Railway and will join another QCM veteran, M-636 41, already in Scranton. That unit has been parked lately behind D-L’s Von Storch Shops in need of electrical work.