Western Railroad Discussion > New Paint for M&ET SW1500s

The Modesto & Empire Traction has repainted their two SW1500s to match the rest of the locomotives. Here is the #1500 this morning, parked in front of the shop/enginehouse on the east side of Modesto. She sure is pretty!

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A class operation from one end to the other...the things money can do when you are extremely profitable! Looks like they wanted to keep at least two dependable EMD's on the roster. What is the lettering under the cab window?

Dick Samuels



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/18 10:07 by EMDSW-1.

EMDSW-1 Wrote:
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> A class operation from one end to the other...the
> things money can do when you are extremely
> profitable! Looks like they wanted to keep at
> least two dependable EMD's on the roster. What is
> the lettering under the cab window?
>
> Dick Samuels

Looks like it says Ronald S Jackson.

Nice shot! What happened to the 70 ton engines? Do they still have the one for historical purposes?

Looks fantastic, except for that ridiculous horn stand.

Here's the "before" link.
(Big improvement)
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=932996

Wow, they finally look like part of the family now. Knowing how much pride M&ET has always taken in the appearance of their locomotives, I’m surprised the units lasted so many years in predecessor paint even though it was in good shape. Looks sharp!

Ryan Barber
Stockton, CA

WLE2679 Wrote:
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> Nice shot! What happened to the 70 ton engines?
> Do they still have the one for historical
> purposes?

They should still have #600, their original 70-tonner tucked away inside. The rest were all sold off. The inoperable/wrecked ones were sold for salvage, most of the rest were sold to a grain outfit in Canada. One, #613 IIRC (ex-SP) is preserved and operable at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum and eventually supposed to be returned to SP paint. Corrections are welcomed.

Posted from iPhone

Ryan Barber
Stockton, CA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/18 11:30 by TS735.

sixaxlecentury Wrote:
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> Looks fantastic, except for that ridiculous horn
> stand.

"Ridiculous Horn Stand" needed to elevate the horns above the cab air conditioner so they can be heard both to the front and to the rear.

EMDSW-1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A class operation from one end to the other...the
> things money can do when you are extremely
> profitable! Looks like they wanted to keep at
> least two dependable EMD's on the roster. What is
> the lettering under the cab window?
>
> Dick Samuels

Profitable with their railroad carload (ie boxcars, etc) business. Too bad the Class one railroads can't figure this out!?!?

Anybody know what those boxes are where the ditchlights would be? RCO?

You can make money on switching/terminal fees if you move enough cars which they do.

Out

GE 70-tonner #600 was parked outside (has been for a while), a couple of tracks further in, completely obscured by a couple of gensets. Early in the morning on weekdays, the gensets are usually at work, and #600 is parked there just waiting for someone to take her photograph.

I got the #600 a month ago, slightly obscured by a genset.

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hawker95 Wrote:
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> Anybody know what those boxes are where the
> ditchlights would be? RCO?

Slug power connections that were installed when this unit belonged to Vancouver Wharves Railroad.
Don't know if they're still connected.

Nice paint job, I am glad that they centered the headlights. Most of the ex SP SW-1500s that have had their full light package removed leave the headlights off centered.

Traction implies overhead trolley wire. Was this line powered by juice trains once? Would love to see early photos.

Posted from iPhone

callum_out Wrote:
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> You can make money on switching/terminal fees if
> you move enough cars which they do.
>
> Out


And if you control your rates, which they do.

I'm not sure if they do origination billing or not, that's one way of controlling the initial dollars. The loss of Tri Valley
Growers some years ago hurt them but they look like they've pretty much recovered.

Out

They don't do waybilling any more, but get a switch charge from the UP or BNSF. Unlike recent spin offs, however, they've got the ability to change their rates or go back to being Interline.