On another site, someone provided this link to a recent photo of the Santa Fe FP45 restoration at Orange Empire Ry Museum (Perris, California).


https://www.instagram.com/p/BQCUoUUlotY/

It looks like some very nice work going on there. I applaud them on their efforts. It was quite the event when AT&SF announced the "Super Fleet" and returned their 8 FP-45's to the original paint scheme as a kick off of their renewed focus on intermodal. It is hard to believe that was 28 years ago!

As for one of the others from that group, I know the IRM moved their #92 into the diesel shop some years ago out of it's outside display site. It was on display next to Union Pacific Gas Turbine #18 at Central Avenue and Depot Street for several years, and the locomotive was accessible for viewing inside. The car body was open and they had one of the power assemblies open and the cab was open also. The area where the steam generator had been was visible. I am glad to see the unit inside, and perhaps being evaluated for work, better for the locomotive to be out of the weather. (I do not know of any plans by IRM for their FP-45.) The IRM now has several 2nd generation locomotives in operation and have very impressive roster. (BN U-30-C, WC SD-45MQ3, C&NW SD-40-2, along with some earlier big power, Burlington SD-24, and GB&W RSD-15, and non operational Milw. U25-B)

When the 92 was on display, it was a very popular attraction for folks to be able to go inside a locomotive and see it in a much greater perspective. St. Louis also has a locomotive in "display" mode that allows much greater insight into their operations.

Steve

ATSF 92 needs that same level of treatment some day, as well as a fair bit of mechanical work.

I took this photo of Santa Fe 108 back in March 1968, Orange Empire was still the Trolley Museum and if someone had said, "Someday this will be part of your museum collection." I might have asked, "What have you been smoking lately?"

Possibly more unbelievable, this section of the Santa Fe 2nd District between San Bernardino and Pasadena, once known as Kincaid, has been rebuilt as a double track electric railway, with two-car light rail trains running on 7-minute headways to Los Angeles during peak hours.

The level of the work on the 98 is amazing. I believe it was posted here, they even set up a mini assembly line to make new panels for the body. The carbody uses lightweight removable panels and new ones were required.

This is probably the most extensive restoration of a second generation EMD diesel. It will be nice to see the end result.

#97 (ex 5997, ex 105, ex 5997, ex 5947, nee 107) is at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco TX: http://www.museumoftheamericanrailroad. ... fault.aspx

I'm really looking forward to seeing the fully-restored unit at OERM when it's done.

One question for the group. OERM is restoring its unit to as-delivered appearance. I keep going back and forth as to which version of the Warbonnet paint scheme I like better: The as-delivered one with black "Railroad Roman" titles or the 1989 version with the red billboard titles. Should one of the other preserved ones be restored in the latter?

My understanding is it was being returned to the passenger scheme, not the super fleet scheme.

Is the project picking back up though? I thought it was mostly dormant for a while now?

Jamie

I hope it goes into the passenger scheme. Both looked great, but all the other survivors are in the scheme they were retired in.

Will be nice to see one restored to represent their days as front line passenger train power.