In another thread, Richard wrote:

"As much as I depise the loss of steam to the internal combustion locomotive, we are well into a fifth generation of Diesel locomotives, and we don't seem to be going back to steam real soon! I think it's fair to say that the classic Diesels, that is, those that "did in" steam are important relics of American railroading."

Actually there are some pretty fine 1st-generation diesel museums shaping up. In addition to Portola, don't count out the B&O Museum, where well-restored 1st generation units form the core of the operational fleet, and are much-loved by the staff and volunteers: operable suspects include an SW-1 (Pere Marquette 11), an SW-900, an F-7 (WM 236) high-hood passenger GP-7, high-hood freight GP-9, "sunburst" GP-30, and the newly-acquired GP-38.

eledbetter@mail.rypn.org