The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society is set to welcome a notable addition to the locomotive roster of New York’s Adirondack Railroad: former Louisville & Nashville FA-2 No. 309. The unit will soon depart SMS Rail Services in New Jersey for Utica, N.Y., where it will eventually enter service on the railroad’s seasonal excursions over the former New York Central Adirondack Division. The railroad operates one of the longest tourist routes in the nation, covering 108 miles between Utica and Tupper Lake.

FA-2 No. 309 has a winding history. Although not a New York Central original, the locomotive is well-known to Northeast railfans from its long career on the Long Island Rail Road, where it served as cab-control car and HEP generator LIRR 602. After retirement, it was acquired by a private owner and moved to New Jersey, where the team at SMS, ALDAC Controls, and dedicated volunteers undertook extensive mechanical work that brought its Alco 244 prime mover back to life.

Adirondack Railroad plans to complete the remaining restoration tasks and return the FA-2 to active service by late 2026. When it debuts, the locomotive is expected to appear in a fresh version of the railroad’s gray-and-green paint scheme.

The acquisition further strengthens the Adirondack’s already deep collection of classic Alco and MLW power, including C-424s, RS-18us, two former New York Central RS-3s, and three New York Central C-430s.

—Otto M. Vondrak