ACL E3 (or as ACL always listed it in later years, E6) 501 arrived in Raleigh, NC May 25 for its new owner, the NC Dept. of Transportation. The engine was purchased from the Glenn Monhart estate in Wisconsin for $200,000, of which NC DOT paid $180,000 (using ISTEA and other state/federal funds) and the NC Transportation History Museum at Spencer paid $20,000.

For additional details come to the related ACL 501 news article at the ACL and SAL Railroads Historical Society Web site.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), May 28, 1999

Answers

Larry, I was at Spencer all day Saturday, and would be happy to send you some information on 501. What exactly would you like? I also took plenty of pictures, some of which are back from the developer. They're in slide format - would LS be interested in any?

-- Craig Dooley (morgul@att.net), June 12, 1999.

Marc, or anyone who was there - we need a few paragraphs for Lines South about 501's exploits at the Spencer Rail Days last weekend. Hope all went well then. Thanks Larry Goolsby

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), June 12, 1999.

501 was sold due to the death of its owner Glenn Monhart who was employed by EMD. When he bought the locomotive back in the late 70's , Director of the NC Transportation Museum Allan Paul was also trying to purchase it for the museum. Monhart's bid was there a few days earlier, but he promised Paul the first opportunity to bid if he ever sold it. His estate honored the promise. Allan Paul now is Assistant Director for Operations at NCDOT's Rail Division. The locomotive will reside at the NC Transportation Museum at the old Southern Railroad Spencer Shops near Salisbury NC. Keep an eye on Lines South for the full story. Marc

-- Marc L. Hamel (gigsup@aol.com), June 06, 1999.

Great news about ACL 501!! Now there are two slant nose E units on the east coast(B&O EA# 51 in Baltimore is the other one). What was the reason for the 501 being sold?

-- David Witty (david_witty@hotmail.com), June 03, 1999.

WOW! Great news about ACL 501. It saves me a trip to the Land of Cheese. Too bad Rail Days at Spencer take place the same time as the Birmingham meet. But at least it coincides with the upcomming release of the Proto 2000 E6's, in HO scale. Although, for some unknown reason, it is being offered initially in ACL's black & gold scheme. But it's a definite must-buy nonetheless. Thanks for the info, Larry.

-- Bob Venditti (bobvend@bellsouth.net), May 28, 1999.