As part of the institution's ongoing collection development process, the Museum Board has authorized disposal of two industrial switchers. In keeping with the Museum's collection policy, the pair are being offered to another qualified non-profit that would be interested in preserving the locomotives. Photographs of the locomotives are available through the Museum website following the link below.

Both locomotives were used by the American Potash & Chemical Company in Trona, California. The E-60 is a GE Diesel Electric built in 1941, 16'1" in length and weighing 25 tons. The E-513 is a 1956 Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton product, 20'4" in length and weighing 40 tons.

Both locomotives were acquired in the 1960s, have never run at the Museum, and are in very poor condition. They are being offered free to any responsible non-profit interested in preserving them, provided that an acceptable plan to remove them from Museum property can be in place prior to June 1, 2004. All expenses associated with removing the locomotives would be borne by the new owner.

If there is no interest in preserving them as complete locomotives, then the pair will be dismantled for parts.

The Museum also owns a 1941 Plymouth Gas-Mechanical switcher formerly operated by Southern California Edison, that will remain part of the Permanent Collection and serve as a representative of an industrial switcher. The Museum also actively operates a three-foot gauge industrial switcher as part of its Support Collection.

Contact John Smatlak, Vice President-Collections, for additional information.

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