By Railfan & Railroad Staff

The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society has saved a Norfolk & Western GP9 that was once part of the fleet of diesel locomotives that replaced steam in passenger service. 

On August 18, the chapter announced it had acquired GP9 514. Built in 1958, the locomotive was part of the second batch of “Redbird” GP9s that were used in passenger service and painted maroon. Locomotive 514 was placed in service in Portsmouth, Ohio, and remained in passenger service until May 1971. After that it was used in freight service by the N&W and later Norfolk Southern into the 1980s. It was retired in 1987. The locomotive was initially sold for scrap but then ended up on the Tennessee Southern Railroad in 1992. It was used there until 2004 when it was sold to Indiana Boxcar. It was then used as a grain elevator switcher in Indiana. It eventually changed hands to Keystone Cooperative. Mechanical issues sidelined it earlier this year and it was replaced with a trackmobile. Once that happened, the Roanoke Chapter jumped at the chance to buy it. 

The locomotive is being prepared for shipment east this fall for a full restoration into its as-delivered “redbird” scheme. The locomotive is one of only two surviving un-rebuilt N&W passenger GP9s. It retains its original dual control stands, dynamic brake, and other unique features for N&W passenger service. The group intends to maintain 514 as an operating locomotive. 

“The Chapter would like to thank Keystone Cooperative and their employees for their assistance in this acquisition,” chapter officials said in a press release. “They have worked with us over the past eight years to ensure that the locomotive can continue to share the history of the Norfolk & Western and railroading in Southwest Virginia.”