Where is it?

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

Doe s anyone know whatever happened to the second D&H PA-1 that came back from Mexico about 20 years ago? I think it went somewhere in Texas?

mg_thomastx · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 6:19 am **Posts:** 11

I thought it was being restored as part of the museum in Frisco, TX.

Mark Thomas

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

https://www.facebook.com/AlcoPARestoration
Here's a photo of it from last month, the roof came off of an MLW FA that had been parted out and was to be scrapped, replacing a difficult-to-fabricate roof that was damaged when the unit rolled over in Mexico in the 1980s. Caption: "Restoration of the Santa Fe Chief - Alco PA #59 June 24

Just a little update- C19 paid us an unwelcome visit recently and really put a dent in progress this spring. That said, all better now- so here’s a bit of what we are working on. It will be wildly cool to see the cab portion of the project really come together this Fall. So, check out the attached photos- new cab doors being engineered, door handles reproduced, rebuilt Pyle- National Gyralite, vintage LESLIE horns and valves, sand fill hatches, reproduced builders plates, original Santa Fe 120 MPH CP speed recorder- and more! ALL this “jewelry” will come together with the new roof to radically transform this historic Santa Fe Alco PA 59L! THIS is going to be Awesome!!!"

They did a fundraiser a few years back to buy a 251 from a wrecked MLW unit on the Missouri and Arkansas Railroad but didn't raise enough. The last 16-244 (what the unit had originally) was a standby generator that was cut-up due to a miscommunication. I think if I were them I would try the very difficult process of creating a 16-244 from two 12-244s, Morrison-Knudson in Boise had that ability (e.g. the SD40-2M's made from SD45s) but are closed now.

G. W. Laepple · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1182

Thanks for the update. Mystery solved.

Mouse · **Joined:** Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:10 am **Posts:** 42

Have you tried contacting Ed with Vintage Locomotive. Know he has engines scattered about that might have what you need.

EDM · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:47 am

What would be the point of 'kitbashing' a pair of 12-244s into a 16-244? Could it even be done? And what do you do for a 16-244 crankshaft?

That locomotive frame has been modified to take a 12-251. The footprint and mounting bolt pattern is far from being the same for both engines. I've helped lay out the modifications, 12-244 to 12-251, on a unit.

A true historical restoration is impossible, due to the changes that were made at M-K. The best, and most practical option, would be to do a full cosmetic Santa Fe treatment on the exterior of the locomotive, and stay with a 12-251 and the other upgrades on the inside.

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

I wonder if anyone in the organization reached out to Norm A. or Chris M. to document the full story of the modernization done at MK and the specific reasons each of the design changes were specified. It is after all part of the history of these locomotives.

PC

John Redden · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 8:53 pm **Posts:** 220

PA4 Locomotive by Norman E. Anderson, and C. G. MacDermot.
128 pages.
Chatham Publishing.
July 1978.
I.S.B.N. 0-89685-035-8