Massachusetts Central Railroad

Southern Railway #2100 was one of only 13 NW5 units constructed by Electro Motive Division, and spent its entire career working the light industrial trackage of the former Louisiana Southern in New Orleans. Retired by the Southern in 1979, the unit was sold and stored at Tennessee Valley Railway Museum. Later that year it was purchased by the Massachusetts Central and placed in service on its branchline. In the mid 1980s, the unit was stored out of service for five years during which time the prime mover was replaced with a 567B engine from an ex Boston & Maine SW9 switcher. By 2001 the locomotive had been changed to short-hood forward, made MU compatible, converted to 26L brakes, and had a snow plow added to the pilot. Rare #2100 is still in service today, often in lashup with MCER #960 -- an ex Milwaukee GP9M.