Jeff Moore Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Second, unless someone has something more
> definitive, it appears BS&A only ever used the
> #702 on the Oregon Coast Express.

Agreed - I wasn't sure if he ever used the 701 on this and left the possibility open.

> First off, Bob Steele & Associates purchased the
> two locomotives. While the Port of Tillamook Bay
> Railroad hosted BS&A operations, they were never
> involved in the ownership of either locomotive.

Actually POTB might have been an owner. At this time, POTB was only operating about five round trips per month. Banks Lumber often had rail orders that required a turn from Banks to the SP at Mahan between the hauler's runs. This required leaving one of the three POTB SD9s at Banks, limiting the hauler to 10-12 loads eastbound up the 3% to Cochran, making them double or triple the hill above Enright. It was apparent another engine was needed to allow for leaving one in Banks, or out of service for inspection or repair.

POTB railroad staff found a retired SP SD9 for sale by Chrome Crankshaft, inspected it, and negotiated a vary good deal for it. They made the recomendation to buy it, but before they even made it back to Tillamook the Port Commision instead voted to accept an offer by Bob Steele for POTB to jointly purchase the two Columbia & Cowlitz C415s and slug with him.

Not long after all three engines arrived, Steele's crew had the 702 running and repainted in time for the inaguaral run of his Oregon Coastline Express. The POTB crews continued to make due with only three engine expecting to get the 701 (and slug?) to be assigned as the Banks switcher.

I do not know for sure that POTB paid for a half interest in the CLC engines, but I do know they voted for it and the Port's RR staff weren't able to make any more efforts to obtain a additional engine. Even if Steele had been the sole purchaser, I believe he would have made an effort to lease the 701 to the POTB. As it was, POTB apparently never pressured him to provide one of the C415s in running condition as promised. Apaprently at some point, Bob Steele and the Port must have settled leaving him as sole owner of the engines.

The Port had previously sold Bob Steele their two GE 80 tonners they used before POTB leased/purchased the SP line. Evidently the 80 tonners weren't suitable for the tourist train, and CLC was probably insisting selling all three of their engines together. Steele did later use one of the 80 tons to run a tourist train of xBN cabooses between Tillamook and the Port. By late 1993 Steele had scrapped the slug in Tillamook, and I think the inoperable 80 ton met the same fate. I believe the operable 80 ton is now in the care of Shortline Sammie, and he may have more info on it.

I don't believe POTB ever used one of the C415s for their use hauling freight, but I do belive they did own a half interest in them as a way of supporting the economic development and the tourist train that Steele had very heavily promoted.