Well even before this date, the Yreka Western already had 2 Baldwin diesel demonstrator units operating around the railroad in 1950, BLW #750 and 751. However, when one of the units hit a log truck in October of that year, they left the property not long afterward. And even earlier than this in the 1930's, the YW purchased a Plymouth switching locomotive in an attempt to cut costs during the great depression. But the unit was too light, and could barely pull a boxcar up Butcher Hill. So by 1956, diesel locomotives, while not a common site, were not exactly foreign objects either on the Yreka Western.

Additionally, according the information I have gathered from Jeff Moore's website (please correct me if I misinterpreted anything wrong Jeff), it appears that the #25 was working in the woods near Pondosa up until the summer of 1955 when it was called out to pull the special excursion for opening of the Burney Branch in July 1955. After the ceremonies were over, the 25 went back to Pondosa to work for another year until rail operations in that area were phased out. The locomotive was than retired in 1956 and stored until 1962.

So I am having a bit of a hard time believing that a locomotive that worked exclusively in the woods during the time in question went anywhere but the woods.

Matt Starman
Yreka, CA