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Re: White stuff Coming out of the Malabar Switcher
Author: DCA
Date: 02-17-2011 - 21:52
Nice photos! It's very memory-inspiring to see units still working the old Harbor District. But a question or two: when I was a Santa Fe switchman-brakeman (dual senority in those days) in the early 1960's the Harbor District switching was done exclusively with 1000 hp Alco switch engines, either high-hood HH's or low-hood S-2's. The only larger engines on the Harbor were on freights going/coming from the harbor or El Segundo, as I recall. So why is it necessary today to put two units of maybe 1500-2000 hp each on a local switch job?
Of course there are no longer any switch engines like the those early Alcos but one of those Alcos could pull over 100 cars (very slowly) and easily handle 30 or 40 and so could a single GP35 or equivalent today.
The other thing I wonder about is the graffiti on those engines. Is there no secure place to spot units overnight in Hobart Yard where the vandals can't get to them? Is there still a roundhouse near the old Redondo Jct.?
Of course there are no longer any switch engines like the those early Alcos but one of those Alcos could pull over 100 cars (very slowly) and easily handle 30 or 40 and so could a single GP35 or equivalent today.
The other thing I wonder about is the graffiti on those engines. Is there no secure place to spot units overnight in Hobart Yard where the vandals can't get to them? Is there still a roundhouse near the old Redondo Jct.?
