Delaware and Hudson "Sharknose" RF16 1216 resting at Binghamton NY July 1975. The 1216 was built in January 1952 as New York Central 3816, later renumbered to NYC 1216. In 1967 the 1216 and 8 other RF16s were purchased by the Monongahela Railway where they worked hauling coal until 1972. All nine were sold for scrap with the only two operable units being the 1216 and 1205. In 1974 the D&H traded $12,000 worth of scrap boxcars in exchange for the 1216 and 1205. These two units worked for the D&H, mostly between Sayre, PA and Binghamton, until 1978 when they were sold to the Castolite Corp. Castolite in turn leased them to the Michigan Northern where the 1205 suffered a crankshaft failure in 1979. The 1216 lasted until 1982. Both units were sold to Escanaba and Lake Superior where they remain stored under lock and key and out of view to the public. E&LS owner John Larkin recently revealed that upon his death these units will be donated and preserved in a yet to be determined museum. Michael A. Tedesco Photo from my Collection.
