I read somewhere that Yreka Western was going to use their "Mike" in freight service due to a major failure with their SW-8.

Can anyone confirm anything about this? Any pics?

Alan Levy

AlanL759@aol.com

The major failure on SW-8 #21 was last fall, and as the other diesel on the property (SW-8 #20) has not run for several years, the railroad did indeed bring out the #19 for one day to move eleven or twelve loads of veneer and woodchips and three private cars (two cabooses and a flat) to the Central Oregon & Pacific interchange at Montegue. The railroad had the #19 fired up a day or two later to move freight again, but instead decided to use a leased road switcher from CORP. I have not heard anything since, so I assume that they either got the #21 fixed or are still leasing road switchers from CORP.

The YW management talked about leasing one of the two Baldwin switchers in the area, but the YW management is generally not to be trusted for many reasons I will not go into here. The YW was not willing to meet the terms laid out by the group that has the former Medford Corporation S-8 #8 in Central Point, and to my knowledge McCloud Railway's former McCloud River S-12 #30 is not currently operational. Both switchers ride on roller bearing trucks, making movement to Montague at least feasible.

The YW has arranged to purchase an Alco MRS-1 from the Portola Railroad Museum, but transporting the unit from Portola to Montegue is proving to be difficult due to the friction bearing trucks.

A picture of the #19 with six loads of veneer is on YW's new website which I will attempt to link up below. There is also a nice feature on the YW at www.northwestrails.com.

new YWRR homepage
jamoore@elko.net

Wow! Great info.

Thanks JD

-Alan Levy

Alanl759@aol.com