EBT Locomotive Roster
M-5

M-5a and M-5b, along with and identical pair of cow-calf plymouth diesels, were brought to the property in April 1986 from Kovalchick Salvage's acquisition of a Bethlehem Steel plant. They were built by Plymouth Locomotive Works and appear to be of the MDT family. They exhibit the deeply notched L shaped front windows, rear deck, and large fireman side cowling bulge indicative of outside frame MDTs. It has also been stated that they are TMDTA and TMDTB models. In a cow-calf arrangement, there are two separate units where only one has a cab (cow) but both have an engine and drivetrain. The cabless unit (calf) is controlled by the cab unit. Bethlemem steel appeared to be fond of the cow-calf arrangement as they had several sets from different makes (including GM and Baldwin) and different gauges (standard and 36" gauge.)

The two sets brought to the EBT were repaired and made trial runs in June. One pair was resold and one (made up of the best calf unit and the best cab unit) was repainted as EBT M-5A and M-5B by the 1986 Fall Spectacular. M-5 was the first diesel at the EBT able to pull more than a two or three cars. She wore dark green on the cabs and cowlings with yellow-orange lettering, tuscan red cab and cowling roofs and black frame. This scheme matched the EBT passenger cars.

Although it is not known what engines were in M-5, simlar Plymouth MDT models were equipped with Cummins NS series inline six cylinder diesels.

M-5, though useful and much more powerful than M-4 and M-6, proved to be hard on the track due to its weight. She pulled what would be M-7 and her sisters into the shop in 1993 and was sold soon after.

In December 1993 M-5B were spotted on a highway flatbed trailer heading west in Sewickley, PA. Also in December 1993 both units were spotted in an equipment yard in Ambridge, PA at the Silcott Railway Equipment Limited (G. R. Silcott) locomotive repair shop. Both units appeared to be on blocks with their wheelsets and bearings removed for a gauge conversion. It is also reported that she was rebuilt for marine use, presumably as a power plant.

Some reports indicate that the M-5A was regauged to 30", operated for many years on a private railroad, then donated to the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium Railroad in Omaha, NE in 2008. Photographs of the locomotive in Omaha are an exact match for M-5A. The locomotive was known as "Virgie" at both locations, and in private service and early zoo service had a large facial likeness of the railroad owner's wife over the radiator, which was removed in service at the zoo railroad. It was blue with red in private service and is now red with white in zoo service. This has not yet been confirmed to be M-5A based on Plymouth serial numbers, but it seems likely given the apparent regauging that occureed in Ambridge. It could also be cab unit from the M-5 twin sold in 1986, but there is nothing to indicate this is the case. Virgie entered service at the zoo in 2009. ^G1

Unconfirmed reports are that it was M-5B was the one that was converted to marine service. No photographs or records have surfaced to support this. There is no indcation of what became of the other cow-calf set.

Two units of the the same model as M-5-A operate at the Midwest Central Railroad in Mount Pleasant, IA.

General References

• G1 - Wikipedia - Omaha Zoo Railroad
• G2 - Locomotive Fandom - Omaha Zoo Railway "Virgie"