Nostalgia & History > Hutchinson & Northern 1 BiCentennial at OERM

Back about 40 years ago, many railroads were painting their newest and largest locomotives in red, white and blue color schemes in honor of the 200th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.  At Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris CA (oerm.org) the late Charlie Lowe was inspired to lead a project to paint our oldest and smallest electric locomotive in the national colors.  Eventually, the patriotic paint job faded, and the 30-ton switcher was converted from the "Electric Mailbox" back to the "Electric Pumpkin" color that it wore when it came from Kansas in 1971.  Just think--only another 60 years and it will be time to give this one-of-a-kind unit a Tri-Centennial repainting, and some of the younger members of OERM may be around for that!

---

---

---

Picture three is the way  I remember it when it  was operating around Hutchisnon, Kansas  in the late 60's

For comparison, #2 shortly after being to the Hutchinson salt museum in 2009.

Fred in Wichita

---