My apoligies in advance if Rob thinks these qualify as material for a Brief. I really don't have much to say about them, just wanted to share my pictures with everyone.

I have visited the Center for Transportation and Commerce in Galveston many times in the past. But recently, armed with my new digital camera, I paid another visit to photograph steam lizards on the collections steam equipment. (I have photographed much of the steam equipment as a whole in the past.)

The subject of Budd Railcars has been discussed in the past. What I did not notice in the past is that there is an example in the Galveston Museum. Furthermore, it was originally purchased by the Southern Pacific; I did not know they used Budd Railcars.

The unit is inoperable; but could probably be ran if someone threw money at it.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Locomotives

james1@pernet.net

Here is a view of the rear of the Budd Railcar in the Center of Tranportation and Commerce in Galveston, Texas. Am I correct in assuming that Budd Railcars were originally double-ended, and this one had the vestibule grafted on at a later date? This area of the railcar has the most corrosion.

Another interesting note about this Railcar is that it is lettered for the Yereka Western Railroad. (Is that right!?!? Perhaps Greg Radler can correct me if I am wrong.) I assume it made a side trip there on it's way to preservation.

This museum also includes Magma Arizona 2-8-0 #555, a Texas and New Orleans steam engine, and the sole remaining steam locomotive from the Waco, Beaumont, Trinity and Southern (or Wobbly, Bobbly, Turnover and Stop) railroad. They also have a nice tank car collection, a good diesel collection, plus passenger cars, cabeese and other rolling stock. It also has an HO scale model of the Port of Galveston, plus a brand another brand new layout and other artifacts. It is all housed at the former depot and office in Galveston.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

> My apoligies in advance if Rob thinks these
> qualify as material for a Brief. I really
> don't have much to say about them, just
> wanted to share my pictures with everyone.

> I have visited the Center for Transportation
> and Commerce in Galveston many times in the
> past. But recently, armed with my new
> digital camera, I paid another visit to
> photograph steam lizards on the collections
> steam equipment. (I have photographed much
> of the steam equipment as a whole in the
> past.)

> The subject of Budd Railcars has been
> discussed in the past. What I did not notice
> in the past is that there is an example in
> the Galveston Museum. Furthermore, it was
> originally purchased by the Southern
> Pacific; I did not know they used Budd
> Railcars.

> The unit is inoperable; but could probably
> be ran if someone threw money at it.

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a


Surviving World Steam Locomotives

james1@pernet.net

> Here is a view of the rear of the Budd
> Railcar in the Center of Tranportation and
> Commerce in Galveston, Texas. Am I correct
> in assuming that Budd Railcars were
> originally double-ended, and this one had
> the vestibule grafted on at a later date?
> This area of the railcar has the most
> corrosion.

> Another interesting note about this Railcar
> is that it is lettered for the Yereka
> Western Railroad. (Is that right!?!? Perhaps
> Greg Radler can correct me if I am wrong.) I
> assume it made a side trip there on it's way
> to preservation.

> This museum also includes Magma Arizona
> 2-8-0 #555, a Texas and New Orleans steam
> engine, and the sole remaining steam
> locomotive from the Waco, Beaumont, Trinity
> and Southern (or Wobbly, Bobbly, Turnover
> and Stop) railroad. They also have a nice
> tank car collection, a good diesel
> collection, plus passenger cars, cabeese and
> other rolling stock. It also has an HO scale
> model of the Port of Galveston, plus a brand
> another brand new layout and other
> artifacts. It is all housed at the former
> depot and office in Galveston.

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a

James: I have a book on RDC cars entitled BUDD CAR - THE RDC STORY by Chuck Crouse and I dug it out. The cars are listed by original owner and on page 52 is Southern Pacific. The short paragraph starts out "The Southern Pacific was probably the least eager purchaser of the RDC. It did so because it was ordered to." It seems that the SP wanted to discontinue two locals but the California PUC directed them re-equip the service with self-propelled cars. The railroad purchased one RDC-1 in 1954 and the car was put into service on the Oakland-Sacramento runs. They eventually were successful in discontinuing the service and the car went to subsidiary Northwestern Pacific and eventually preservation in Galveston. There are two photographs in Mr. Crouse's book One shows the rear (modified) end which was aparently caused by an altercation with a logging truck when on the NWP. The SP shops rebuilt the car with a "blind end" which included a baggage section.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

I am sure this is the same RDC that was used by the Oregon, Pacific & Eastern as "The Honker" for two summers. It was originally SP No. 10, and worked between Oakland and Sacramento. In 1959 it went to the Northwestern Pacific and ran between Eureka and Willits until 1971, when it was purchased by Kyle for the OP&E. It ran there for just two years, numbered 100, and was little modified except for the goose logos added on either side. It was used for the weekday runs, when 2-8-2 No. 19 was not running, but as the OP&E's excursions became more popular it couldn't handle the passengers loads, and was retired. I understand it was stored for several years and then sold to the museum in Texas in 1978 along with several other OP&E treasures.

Jeff Terry

You are correct; the Goose logos are still painted on it. I thought it was lettered for the Yreka Western, but it must have been the OP&E instead.

I am not sure what other OP&E equipment is in the Galveston Museum. We regularly look at the rolling stock; but I am not good at taking notes when I do.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

> I am sure this is the same RDC that was used
> by the Oregon, Pacific & Eastern as
> "The Honker" for two summers. It
> was originally SP No. 10, and worked between
> Oakland and Sacramento. In 1959 it went to
> the Northwestern Pacific and ran between
> Eureka and Willits until 1971, when it was
> purchased by Kyle for the OP&E. It ran
> there for just two years, numbered 100, and
> was little modified except for the goose
> logos added on either side. It was used for
> the weekday runs, when 2-8-2 No. 19 was not
> running, but as the OP&E's excursions
> became more popular it couldn't handle the
> passengers loads, and was retired. I
> understand it was stored for several years
> and then sold to the museum in Texas in 1978
> along with several other OP&E treasures.

> Jeff Terry


Surviving World Steam Locomotives

james1@pernet.net

I realized after dispatching my last message that one of the OP&E treasures at the Galveston Museum I have seen and photographed is the previously mentioned Magma Arizona 2-8-0 #5; it went to the OP&E as their number 555.

Scott Wickert was kind enough to send me a picture of former OP&E engine number 18, which is stored at the McCloud River Railway. In addition, Kelly Iverson has also sent me a picture of OP&E 2-6-2T #1, now with Fred Kepner up in Merrill, OR.

I did not realize that I had pictures of all three OP&E steam locomotives. All have gone out in previous Surviving World Steam Locomotive update CD-ROMs.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a


Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

OP&E 18/YW 18 originally was MCRRR 18 (no that's not an extra "R")and is there now and not stored, but operating! MCRRR 25 is currently stored I believe, at least it is not currently operating.
S'
David D.


djdewey@cncnet.com

Hey guys,

I live here in Cottage Grove, (home of the old OP&E) and just have a couple little clarifications. The #18 was never on the OP&E, it was the 19. Kyle owned both at the same time, but alas, the only steamers were the #19, the #1 and the #5. You'll sometimes here the #5 refered to as the #7 because during filming of Emporer of the North she was lettered for the 5 spot on one side and 5 spot on the other. The #1 was never used by Kyle. Wonder if Kepner is ever going to have an auction?

kendepot@att.net

You are correst about there originally being two vestibule; one on each end, the reason the former Southern Pacific RDC looks the way it does is because it was rebuilt.

After the Southern Pacific discontinued the Oakland-Sacramento locals, the SP leased the RDC to the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, an SP subsidiary.

It operated as a shortened version of the NWP "Redwood" trains 3 & 4, between Eureka-Willits. During the time it was leased to the NWP, the RDC was involved in a major accident with a logging truck...when they rebuilt the engine one vestibule was so badly damaged that they just rebuilt it as a baggage room.

Hope this helps?

Anthony Pinkerton

calgrizzly@gay.com