Q: In Kurt Reisweber's Virginian Rails book, on page 99, there is a photo dated September 7, 1958, identified as having been taken at Mullens that shows an EL-C (VGN 130) with a FM Train Master truck under the cab. Did the reverse ever ocur? Did a Train Master ever have EL-C trucks?
Answer 1 -
The current understanding is that the EL-C units were built specifically so that their trucks could be freely interchanged with the TM trucks if needed. And operated that way, not just as shop trucks. Electrical, cooling air, support pads, the whole bit. I wish I could quote from hard documentation, such as a trade journal article, but I can't put my finger on one at the moment. -Marty Swartz
Answer 2 -
I was looking at the EL-Cs yesterday and noted that the VGN specified to GE that the EL-Cs be able to use the FM trucks. Reason is that they had a spare set of FM trucks and wanted to use them under the EL-C while the GE trucks were being repaired etc. - Craig Zeni
Answer 3 -
I have seen a C630 with Train Master trucks under it in Norfolk, but never the reverse. Never saw a Train Master with anything but FM trucks. The EL-C trucks are the same as those on the GE U-25C. These trucks are the same wheelbase as the Alco tri-mounts, the major difference being the deeper sideframes on the GE trucks. A future project of mine is to modify the excellent Kato Alco trucks into trucks for a U25c. The AHM trucks have a longer wheelbase to accomodate the overly large wheel flanges. The Virginian EL-C's were built in 1956-57 and U25c's were built in 1963-65. I always suspected GE used the truck design from the EL-Cc for the U25c. -S.A. McCall