PC: RS-3m - Follow-up

["Robert holzweiss" <robert.holzweiss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

For those that are interested, several people responded both on and off list to my inquiry and here is what I have learned.  (Thank you to those that helped out)

9903 - CR 5248, EL 1029, ERIE 1029
9904 - CR 5229, EL 1007, ERIE 1007
9905 - CR 5266, EL 1050, DL&W 912
9906 - CR 5373, CNJ 1544, CRP 1544 
9907 - CR 5543, EL 921, ERIE 921 
9909 - CR 5371, CNJ 1541, CRP 1541 
9911 - CR 5273, EL 1057 
9913 - CR 5245, EL 1025, ERIE 1025 
9914 - CR 5398, CR 5452, PC 5452, PRR 5452, PRR 8452 
9915 - CR 5394, CNJ 1702 
9916 - CR 5325, PC 5325, NYC 5325, NYC 8325  
9917 - CR 5491, LV 219, TC 251 
9919 - CR 5232, EL 1010, ERIE 1010 
9921 - CR 5240, EL 1020, ERIE 1020 
9923 - CR 5384, CNJ 1555 
9936 - CR 5246, EL 1026, ERIE 1026 

(CRP = Central Railroad of Pennsylvania, a CNJ subsidiary)

Of course, nothing in life is simple, and there appears to be a few discrepancies in the information I received.  There are several follow up questions I have. 

[1] According to the info provided, 9906 was rebuilt from CR 5373 (CNJ 1544).  I have CR 9946 rebuilt from CR 5373 (CNJ 1544).  Which one is correct? 

[2] I have CR 9924 being rebuilt from CR 5294 and CR 9925 rebuilt from CR 5375.  Some information recently provided has these reversed.  Which is correct?

[3] The information provided to me has CR 9933 being rebuilt from CR 5337 but I have it rebuilt from CR 5332.  (I have PC 5337 retired and scrapped during 1969-1970.)  Which is correct?

In addition, I have learned some background about the RS-3m program.  It began with Penn Central during early 1972.  Many list members are familiar with the first two, "no nose" 5477 (its original PC number) later re# 9950, and chopped nose 5230 (again, original PC number) later re# 9951.  The balance of the PC and CR rebuilds appeared more or less the same with minor differences in the rebuilt long hood to cover the EMD engine.  PC 5240 (later 9952), PC 5242 (later 9953), and PC 5227 (later 9954) were released in their original numbers until PC decided to begin a unified number system starting at 9950.  After re# the first five, all future PC rebuilds were numbered upward beginning at 9955.  The project went along smoothly with most units rebuilt at Dewitt, NY (hence "Dewitt Geeps") with a few being done at Wilmington, DE.  All PC rebuilds were former PRR, NYC, or NH RS-3's.  A couple of odd things happened during the PC phase of the program.  Originally PC 5567 was selected to become 9963 but after work began they discovered the unit was in such poor condition they decided to scrap it.  Instead, PC 5257 became 9963.  When PC became Conrail work was in progress on PC 5392 to become PC 9988.  For some reason which is not clear, Conrail stopped work on the project and scrapped 5392.  Instead CR chose PC 5411 to become CR 9988. 

Conrail continued the project including EL, CNJ, and LV units in the program.  Numbering continued upward from 9988.  CR 9998 was not rebuilt by CR but was instead the prototype for an EL plan to convert 25 RS-3's to RS-3m's similar to PC's program.  CR 9998 was EL 1060, the only one completed by EL prior to inclusion in CR.  After CR 9999, Conrail continued the program by numbering downward from 9949 to 9903.  There were no RS-3m's numbered 9900-9902.  After the program was complete there were 96 total.  Most were retired and scrapped during 1985-1986.

Not surprisingly, NYC, with a large fleet of over 120 RS-3's, contributed the most units (25) to the rebuild program.  Other railroads contributed the following: (Only adds up to 95 because of conflict in original numbers for CR 9906 / 9946).

13 - PC (Former NH)
13 - PC (Former PRR)
8 - EL (former Erie)
14 - EL (Former DL&W)
1 - EL (CR 9998) 
19 - CNJ (including three former RDG units purchased by CNJ)
2 - LV (including "hammerhead" CR 9920)

Thanks again for everyones help, I hope this is informative.  

Bob Holzweiss