Western Railroad Discussion > SERA Gensets on verge of delivery to former FWRY in Santa Paula..

It was reported on the Groups.io HeadsUpCoastFans that the 2 Sierra Railway Gensets headed for the former Fillmore and Western have arrived in Oxnard, CA today, 1/12.   They were spotted a couple of days ago on a UP West Colton-bound train in or near Bakersfield:

UP Gensets On The Move? (trainorders.com)

They arrived into Gemco (Van Nuys) overnight from West Colton via the UP Gemco Hauler and went up to Oxnard today with the UP LOF-65 'Leesdale' job that goes as far north as Oxnard with same-day return to Gemco yard (on Wednesdays).

SLO Railfanning (also a member here) reported that the UP Oxnard Local should deliver the 2 units to Santa Paula tomorrow, departing Oxnard around 8:30 to 9am, after first switching in Camarillo.

Rich



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/22 18:45 by PasadenaSub.

As much as I like F units, having one on a 10mph branch line, just seemed like a waste.  I dont love gensets, but they seem more appropriate for the line.  Hopefully they will be hauling freight cars on the line, as well as a tourist train. Alco S units or EMD SW's would be great, but u cant have everything .  Im just hoping the operation is successful.  Especially freight, as i personally dont think its the most scenic place for a tourist train.  I've always been surprised that the F&W could attract tourists.

I would think that, with the Coast Line having so few trains these days, that the real place for a tourist train would be SBA to surf and back,  SBA is a big tourist town, and seems a ride along the most scenice part of the coast line would be a big attraction for out of towners, and ppl from other countries.   Another Rockymountaineer type train.   Or run LA to SLO, overnight, and back on day 2. Its a perfect trip with a town like SLO for the overnight. You can do it on your own for 100. on amtk, plus hotel and food.  If think that charging rockymountaineer type fares would leave a few bucks left over for profit....

   Another Rockymountaineer type
> train.   Or run LA to SLO, overnight, and back
> on day 2. Its a perfect trip with a town like SLO
> for the overnight. You can do it on your own for
> 100. on amtk, plus hotel and food.  If think that
> charging rockymountaineer type fares would leave a
> few bucks left over for profit....

Rocky Mountaineer told me that they had looked at the Coast Line in the past years and dropped it in favor of the ex-DRGW. 

As most of you know continual slow running is not good for 2-cycle enngines. If you want to check out Facebook for SCRM you can see the mess on SF # 108 after a week of Thomas! Right after Thomas the museum commenced Polar Express which lasted all the way through Christmas. The museum used SP 3100 for that due to the 4 cycle 7FDL. Much less oil spray! After we get the SF #560 checked out, including a truck inspection and servicing, on the Harbor Alcos may be tended to. IMHO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/22 08:43 by TomPlatten.

Just handed off from the UP Oxnard Local in Santa Paula at the depot today (1/13) a little after 10am.  The 2 Gensets were picked up by FWRY 1059, an Alco S-6 - to head east to Fillmore.

Rich

Rich, call them out by their actual model name: Railpower RP20GE. They are part of the Railpower RP20BD line but since these ride on former GE Dash-7 frames and trucks, their RP and UP model designation was RP20GE as labeled on the sides of the cabs. Just calling them "Gensets" would be like calling all Dash-8's and EMD 60 series locos produced in the late 80's and early 90's the same generic name (like "80's Babies") or calling all post-2005 era built GE locomotives  "Evolutions" even though the GEVO design spans across many years, several design/truck/radiator modifications including older model rebuilds of AC4400W's and AC6000W's. Just using "Gensets" is so generic... or would that be Gensetneric? 🤣

Specifically, Sierra Northern has sent down to their new Santa Paula branch operation RP20GE locomotives SERA 2627 and 2666.


SERA 2627 = nee-MP 4816 B30-7A, blt 12/1981, #43751, re# UP 216 on 11.24.1987, retired 06.18.2001, rebuilt by RP as UPY 2627, RP20GE, #64000094 (03.01.2007), sold to SERA/re# 03/2019.

SERA 2666 = nee-MP 2295 B23-7, blt 01/1978, #41778, re# MP 4606 (1980), re# UP 106 on 09.05.1988, retired 07.05.2007, rebuilt by RP as UPY 2666, RP20GE, #64000123 (06.22.2007), sold to SERA/re# 03/2019.

Dude, they're gensets.

TomG Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dude, they're gensets.

You'd call an SD40-2 an SD40-2, I'm sure.  These are RP20GEs.