E9B, B/N 23191, was built in May 1957 to be Illinois Central #4108. The locomotive stayed on the roster as ICG 4108 until converted to HEP power car by ICG in September 1981. Four diesel generator sets were installed to power new electrical heating and air conditioned passenger equipment.

Purchased by the Alaska Railroad in the early 80's and was lettered HEP-1 upon arrival in Alaska. P-30 carried four different paint jobs on the Alaska Railroad. The two Anchorage, Fairbanks passenger consists were sent out of Alaska to be rebuilt over a two year span.

According to Robert Krol, "The refurbished train set had the round ARR logo applied in the yellow window band. and were painted yellow and blue versus the original more gold UP yellow. The P-30 also entered service with the refurbished train set. Until the 1503 was rebuilt, the P-30 was the only source of HEP and was always in the consist with the refurbished train".

Another overhaul was reported 12/21/2000 per Robert Krol ARR bid for overhaul of P-30 Power Car.A rider reported a typical summer consist as follows: "I boarded the Glacier Discover for the trip to Whittier. The day's consist was: #2007 on the point, P-30 a converted EMD B unit for the power car, diner #300, coach #200, coach #202, and coach #210."

In March 2002 P-30 went into the Anchorage shop and the six wheel trucks were changed to 4 wheel Blombergs without traction motors. This created a rather unique looking E/9.

Alaska Railroad electrician Bob Focht reported: "I took the P-30 picture when I road the 'ski train' last month. It's a leased train for the Nordic Ski Club, and we take them down to the Grandview siding, then they get off and ski for about 5-6 hours. We sit there on the train, enjoy the view, take lots of pictures and wait for them to get back. We had the 551, 552, 553, 554, 351, 352, Tiki, six of our Vista domes, two bag cars and P-30. Our power was the 3013, 3014, and 3009."

As of February 2011 P-30 is on deadline slated for retirement.

Alaska Railroad P-30
as of 10/2010 Model by Pat Durand March 2011.

P-30 in HO scale started out a parts left over from two Proto 2000 Life like E8/9 A units. Undecorated B units are scarce. The body was modified after the skirts were removed and mounting pads were added inside each corner. These were drilled and tapped for a 0-80 screw at each corner.

The most difficult part of the model body work was removing all the batten strips except the top rail below the screens and the bottom rail. The prototypes for the P6 and P30 were all slab sided. The pressed corregations were also removed from each end and the doors modified with Details West inserts.

Converting to the four wheel Blomberg trucks was a simple job of cutting down one drive line link and some grinding on the frame. Because the gear tower on the P2K Blomberg Truck is lower than the six wheel truck, grind a dish in the top of the frame above the bolster to make room for the drive line coupling.

Mufflers on each end of the roof are the same size but the stacks on the front end come out strait and turn up. On the rear end they bend out and then up. I made these from brass tube and solid 14 gauge wire to facilitate the bends.

Unlike the prototype, my P-30 is fully powered and weighs 28 ounces. With a passenger train consist approaching 16 units the extra power is needed up front. Yes she is a "power car" with out a prime mover.

Patrick J. Durand