CR 5014 in Becket, MA. on 7/25/92. (2)

BOSE continues past MP 129 in Becket, MA. on July 25, 1992. ConRail, like it's predecessors, had a proclivity for using the B&A as a testing ground for new power. The New York Central borrowed a set of German built Krauss-Maffei diesel hydraulics from the Rio Grande back in the '50's to test on this route. The combination of tonnage, grades, and curvature proved to be more than the, relatively, delicate diesel hydraulic drive could handle. And, of course, in 1926 the world's first 2-8-4 steam loco, Lima's "Super Power" A-1 would be named after these hills in western Massachusetts. The Boston & Albany would acquire 60 of them and adopt Lima's designation as their class....A1a, A1b, and A1c.