New Jersey commuter locomotive to operate again
U34CH was at the roots of today’s Jersey-style commuter trains
ERIE LACKAWANNA GE U34CH NO. 3372
is part of a pioneering group of locomotives. Now it is the last of its kind and will be restored to operation by the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey and FMW Solutions.
The U34CH represents a passenger train landmark. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, as passenger trains declined, the challenges of old equipment reached Erie Lackawanna commuter trains. The railroad was dealing with fleet of coaches and MU’s dating to the late teens and 1920s.
While the EL was the largest commuter line in New Jersey, it was short on cash to modernize its fleet. By the 1970s, the state of New Jersey had committed $90 million to updating the commuter service on several foundering railroads. Rather than refurbishing old equipment, the state opted for newly designed coaches and locomotives.
The result was an order of PullmanStandard “Comet I” coaches, and 32 GE U34CH locomotives. This was the first time in the evolution of modern passenger equipment that locomotives and cars were ordered together to work in tandem. The new coaches would be powered by electricity delivered from a new type of generator in the U34CH. The drive shaft from the locomotive’s 16-cylinder motor would go through its main generator, which powered its six traction motors, and continue into a generator used exclusively for powering the train. This meant, to power the cars, the engine always ran at 960 rpm, or full power, making a locomotive that was not only powerful and efficient, but distinctive, with a consistent roar both stopped and at speed.
NJ Transit inherited the U34CH fleet in 1983 and ran it until 1994. All units, except No. 3372, were scrapped or exported to South America; those are presumed to be scrapped too. NJ Transit donated No. 3372 to URHS after the URHS-sponsored farewell excursion. After its retirement, No. 3372 was leased to New York & Greenwood Lake Railway in Passaic, N.J. During this time, vandals damaged the traction motors and high-voltage wiring. In 2014, URHS raised funds to move the unit to Boonton, N.J. There, volunteers stabilized the unit and stored it awaiting restoration.
Now URHS, working with FMW Solutions, has begun the restoration with a $10,000 matching donation from Tri-State Railway Historical Society.
“There are so few preserved locomotives that are uniquely Jersey, and this is one of them,” says Kevin Phalon, URHS president. “There are thousands of people who still remember riding behind, working on, and running these locomotives. No. 3372 holds a lot of meaning for a whole lot of people, so it was imperative that we start this project off right — with funding and professional experience.”
During the summer of 2022, URHS contracted FMW Solutions, a railroad consulting and restoration firm, to perform an evaluation of the locomotive. That inspection indicated the prime mover shows signs of wear, but is otherwise in good condition. Overall, the locomotive’s main components show nothing that would rule out operation. There is extensive damage to portions of the wiring due to vandalism and weather, all of which can be repaired.
“URHS has a great vision for preserving New Jersey’s railroad industry and our diesel-electric experts are looking forward to being a part of it,” says Shane Meador, FMW Solutions vice president-mechanical. “Our inspection of 3372 was promising, and it shows that locomotives from this era can make good candidates for restoration.”
If you would like to help with the restoration or view the locomotive’s mechanical assessment, please visit the URHS website: URHS.org — Trains staff