A few more: A cut of ballast hoppers with W&P reporting marks on a siding just north of Adair Village, on the Westside line. WPRR log flats, with loaded center-beam flats behind them. PNWR yard, Albany. Northbound PNWR freight continuing its run to Albany after switching cars for the paper mill at American. Both are GP39-2s, and both are ex-Santa Fe. Kinda interestting- there's a sign at the American Rd. crossing north of here that warns SB trains that remote control locomotives may be in operation here. This leads me to think the plant has its own locomotive that it'll use for in-plant switching, and it's operated by a ground man with a belt pack. I didn't see it anywhere near the PNWR mainline, though. Meanwhile back in Albany...........I had just returned from a run to Eugune (a/k/a Duckburg for you UofO folks), and was passed like I was sitting still (I was running 60 per on 99E) by the northbound Coast Starlight. I snooped around the AERC interchange, and right around the frozen food plant south of town I found this in a spur: A rail grinding train (used to be Pandrol Jackson, unsure who has it now). Power is a much-converted ex-Amtrak F40PH, followed by a couple of converted pass.cars and the cars with the grinding apparatus. I've never seen one in action, but from what I've read it's smoky, noisy, dirty........hey Mike Rowe, found another Dirty Job for ya....
What is the status of the Maersk F45. Is it owned by P & W or a lease job? Does anyone know how long it has been there and how long it might stick around? Cheers, Wes
Hi Wes, and welcome aboard! I'm not sure who actually owns the Maersk unit but it has been at the Brooklyn (Portland, OR) roundhouse pretty much since they did the publicity thing in Los Angeles. It is operational, and has been leased at times to the Portland and Western, as has "Nickel Plate" RS-3? owned by Doyle McCormack. :teeth:
DLMX SF40C 644, built as an SDP40F for Amtrak in the early 1970s and later sold to Santa Fe & rebuilt as an SF40C, used in freight service. Went to BNSF, painted later in light blue/silver scheme for Maersk. IIRC, it is owned by Doyle McCormack (hence the DLMX lettering). It's still in service, and seen quite often on PNWR freights. The PNWR group on Yahoo keeps tabs on 644's whereabouts. I've seen it on trains 663/664 on the OE line, but it's also been used some on the Westside line and out west of Portland.
I've never seen the RSD4 on the PNWR, but I have seen the GN F-unit (another McCormack diesel) at the Albany "squarehouse". Gotta have a way to raise money to keep 4449 and 700 in operation, plus continue in the restoration of the PA he's working on.
Thanks for all the replies - that at least puts things in perspective. Just toying with the idea of a possible trip to the US towards the end of the year to see some of the more exotic species still roaming the rails. Looks like it could be a bit hit and miss with the Maersk baby. Thanks again, Wes
Yoho, I had heard that, too, and also the Maersk unit. Obviously untrue for both of them, as they have been out and about. Here's 274 last May in Lake Oswego, and she was definitely running. :teeth:
It may have at one point, but no, it's in service- it even lugged a water car or two out to that tunnel fire PNWR had to deal with. IIRC, the PA now has a prime mover, albeit a 251 from a Century. Sorry Fitz, never got the chance to peek inside the Brooklyn roundhouse......dangit. However, I'm hoping to hear about the PA running soon, and also that the $$ has been raised for a new home for the steamers. I never saw the RDS4 run, but I've been told it's been used from time to time.
From a wrecked BC Rail M420B. Not the same as its original prime mover, but I believe that's the type that was installed by MK when it was first rebuilt in 1975.
The 251 was generally considered a better unit then the 244 anyway right? I knew the PA had gotten it PM, but I know I read on here a year or 2 a go that the F-unit was lacking one. Of course, finding an EMD PM is quite a bit easier. Why would they borrow the F-unit to get water out there? Couldn't they use their own units. They generally have a few somewhere between linton and Astoria and I remember typically seeing between 2-4 in Beaverton. They shouldn't have had any problems getting at both sides.
There were some problems with the 244 prime mover which were rectified by the introduction of the 251, but they were bad enough to have some roads re-engine their Alco RS2s and RS3s and FA/FBs with EMD prime movers. Also, the problems did very little to make Alco a popular choice for motive power.
Great Photos you got there of the Portland & Western. The P&W logos really stand out on the Gray of the former KCS unit. Thanks
Thanks! Speaking of KCS, I hope to catch some KCS power in action this Friday on their original north-south mainline, weather, time and family permitting.
