DR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SP had the largest fleet of GE 70 tons, 20
> purchased new beginning in 1949 and one used that
> was the second GE demonstrator. These were used to
> retire steam on light rail branch lines in Oregon,
> on the SP's SD&AE (Coronado until abandoned, El
> Cajon until upgraded to handle SW8s) and other
> places, including a local passenger train in
> Arizona.
>
> M&ET had at least three former SP units. The
> former GE demonstrator that became SP #5114 was
> M&ET #606. It and another unit were wrecked beyond
> economical repair a few years ago when an
> inattentive crew ran them into a standing cut of
> cars. In 2005, M&ET purchased the former #5117 and
> #5119 from White City Terminal/WCTU. Because the
> #5119 was in good condition and had mu, it was put
> into service. M&ET did some upgrading to it, but
> the planned change to 26L brakes and modern
> control stands was cancelled. Since it still had
> 14EL brakes, it was restricted to operating a the
> middle unit between two that were equipped with
> 26LU brakes and were capable of operating with
> either 26L or 14EL brakes. (14EL and unmodified
> 6BL/SL/DL series cannot mu with 24RL, but some 26L
> were actually 26LU and could mu with any other
> brake.)
>
> When M&ET received their first Genset, the
> #613/SP5119 was the first to be retired. Its 14EL
> brake valves have to be replaced every year,
> compared to 3 years on most 26. When the 70 tons
> were retired, PSRMA inquired about a donation. It
> had been presumed by all that the 70 ton engine
> blocks had to be disabled since clean air money
> was used to subsidize purchase of the gensets.
> Checking with the local air board, the Museum
> discovered that there was no requirement in the
> contract to do so, but the air resources board did
> request that they be removed from their
> jurisdiction. M&ET was still not interested in
> making a donation, and put the eight operable 70
> tons up for sale at a substantial price retaining
> the #600 for historical purposes. After no one was
> interested, the eight 70 tons were sold to dealer
> Sterling Rail who then tried to resell them.
>
> After M&ET scrapped all the remaining 70 tons that
> had been wrecked or purchased as cores for parts
> or future rebuilding (including the #5117 and the
> two xSMV units from BHP Ely, NV just a few months
> ago), that left only three remaining xSP 70 tons.
> (613/5119, Shortline Sammie has the #5100 now with
> a Detroit diesel, the third is privately owned and
> stored.) 613/5119 was the last remaining SP 70 ton
> of several that had worked the SDAE, being
> assigned there the majority of its SP career.
>
> Several weeks ago, long time Pacific Southwest
> Railway museum member Larry Rose purchased the
> #613/5119 for donation to the Museum. The price
> was considerable, though Sterling did lower it
> from the asking price. Having moved locomotives by
> truck several times and a member of PSRMA, I was
> contacted to recommend a trucking company. I
> contacted Mike Porter who I had previously used
> that had done this on a regular basis (and he was
> one of the drivers that delivered the 5117/5119
> and Ely units to Modesto). Mike now works for Renn
> Transportation out of Gilroy, CA. Unfortunately
> Mike was hung up in Colorado and Texas when it
> came time to move this, so Peter Renn was the
> assigned driver (with technical assistance by Mike
> Porter on the phone and myself on site). Peter can
> now say he has moved a locomotive.
>
> The locomotive was loaded by using a large wrecker
> to winch it onto the truck at the former M&ET
> "Valley Lift" (now Transload area) on July 12th.
> M&ET was invaluable in providing additional
> assistance (donated) for the loading. The load was
> permitted on the 13th, spent the night in
> Tehachapi, and arrived in Campo around 5pm on the
> 14th. With the help of the crew that had loaded it
> and other volunteers, it was run off the truck
> under its own power touching SDAE rails again for
> the first time in 43 years.
>
> Heavy haul restrictions vary from state, and much
> of the trip was accomplished without a pilot car.
> There is a trick to safely and efficiently moving
> rail equipment this way, and some have gotten
> pretty good at it. You have to know how and where
> to load and unload, and how to fit it on the truck
> to keep the height as low as possible. For a 70
> ton, you are loading a 33-6 long loco on a 28-0
> deck, and keeping it under 17 feet tall. The
> biggest issue with routing is to avoid low or
> substandard bridges, and each state, county or
> local jurisdiction on the route has to issue a
> permit - which is thankfully handled by the
> trucking company. BTW - I have loaded the last two
> locos using a wrecker, and that is the least
> desireable option in my opinion. If you haven't
> done this before, another issue is getting those
> who have never seen this done (including the
> property you are on and the wrecker company) to
> allow you to use your experience.
>
> PSRMA is still asking for donations. The remaining
> M&ET 70 tons and spare parts have been sold to a
> buyer in Canada, and PSRmA would like to offer to
> purchase as many spare parts as possible before
> they leave. This effort was led by Larry Rose with
> his donation, arrangments by Diana Hyatt
> (President - PSRMA) and the mechanical department
> headed by Ron Hyatt. Many other volunteers were
> involved, PSRMA will be listing all involved in
> their newsletter.
>
> To make a tax-deductable donation for the #5119
> (and a chance to run it):
> [sdrm.org]
> For video of the move:
> [psrm.org] (Scroll
> down to #5119)
>
> Heavy haul trucking:
> [www.renntransportation.com]
>
> Experienced loading and unloading services by
> Sumpter Valley Machine Works/Two Rivers Railway:
> tworiversrailway@aol.com

The SP 5100 welcomes the SP 5119 to the list of "preserved locomotives" and will be happy to see her in SP "SP paint"!

Makes me want to get the 5100 running!!!!!!

Congratulations for making the 5119 happen!

Dick Samuels
www.oregonpacificrr.com