from the Yahoo 'Alco Locomotive' list:

[i]An opportunity has presented itself to save an Alco RS1 that once ran
on the Spokane International, Tidewater Southern and Central
California Traction Company.

A group of TS and CCT fans are banding together to save the engine
and move it to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola
California for preservation and restoration.

This rare locomotive is currently privately owned and not on live
rail. It is land locked in Willets California. It will be an
expensive project (an estimated minimum of $70,000 to acquire, move
and repaint the engine), so we need as much support as possible. Long
terms plans are to restore it to full operation as funds allow.

To contribute, you can use this PayPal link:
http://ts746cct80.notlong.com

or send donations via mail to:

TS 746 / CCT 80
1052 Lexington Street #10
Santa Clara, CA 95050

Make checks payable to the Feather River Rail Society. Place TS 746 /
CCT 80 in the memo line.

Negotiations with the owner are on-going, and much hinges on the
funds that can be raised to cover all the costs. (If we cannot reach
our goal in a reasonable time, about 6 months, then the effort will
be ended and all funds returned.) Donations are tax deductible
through the WPRM when the deal is completed.

More information on this locomotive, Tidewater Southern 746 / Central
California Traction Company 80, can be found here:
http://www.tidewatersouthern.com/conten ... /RS1746/rs
1746.htm

and here:
http://www.trainweb.org/tractionco/cct80.html

A page will be set- up soon at the Tidewater Southern website to
discuss progress in saving the engine.

Please join us in saving this rare and historic locomotive.

If anyone has questions, please contact Eugene Vicknair at
webmaster@tidewatersouthern.com

Thank you.

Greg Elem

This locomotive was iconic in the Central and Sacramento Valleys of California for many years. With a lot of generosity and a bit of luck it can be saved for future generations.

Without warning and despite preservation efforts, the ST&E railroad in Stockton, CA scrapped 4 ex-Western Pacific ALCO switchers earlier this year. Consequently ALCO locomotives from the WP 'family" are increasingly rare. Original locomotives off the Spokane International must be even more rare.

The current owner is sympathetic to our efforts to preserve this locomotive. It is currently in fairly good mechanical shape and could earn it's keep as part of the "Rent a Locomotive" program at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, CA.




Chris Allan