Western Railroad Discussion > Switchers at Navajo Mine ?

I was looking at some satellite photos of the power plant / unloading area of Navajo Mine earlier today, and I saw two ET's, what I took to be an Alco control unit, AND what appeared to be two end cab switchers -- those two [ if that's what they are ] were a surprise.  Any information on those, or a better PI of what I am seeing ?

SZ

I was there years ago, and they had two C424 or 425-based control units. Former EL, if memory serves. 

march_hare Wrote:
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> I was there years ago, and they had two C424 or
> 425-based control units. Former EL, if memory
> serves. 

Former N&W - ordered by the Wabash and rebuilt by MK. Originally 3. They were C425's.

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Yes, I know about the control units -- I was in the facility a couple of times back in the electric era.  But these two units, both from the rooftop details visible and the shadows they cast certainly look like end cab switchers, and rather modern [ modern to me is SW1000/1500 or later ] ones at that, although compared to a hopper they seem a little on the short side.  One is in front of the shop area, the other a little farther east on the wye.  It looks like one of the Alcos is still there on the other side of the wye.

SZ

I believe those are in fact the C425 locomotives.  I thnk the satellite angle and the lightning is creating the illusion of an end-cab switcher.  I also believe the hulk of the 3rd C425 is on the east leg of the wye coupled to a hopper.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/23 20:23 by SCAX3401.

SCAX3401 Wrote:

> I believe those are in fact the C425 locomotives.  I thnk the satellite angle and the lightning is creating the illusion of an end-cab switcher. 

I don't think so.  In these Google aerial views, the sun angle on the two locomotives would have produced shadows showing a short hood if there was one, but there isn't: 

https://goo.gl/maps/WfdKQAUrvoPiDGQM7
https://goo.gl/maps/ycoQASmcTuxXP5jk8

In this different aerial view on Bing, the shadow shows a couple of stacks on the long hood like an EMD switcher: 

https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=d879ec0e-2206-48bd-a531-348741247401&cp=36.689481~-108.46586&lvl=20.74&style=a&pi=0&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027

This is what one of the C425 "owl cars" and its shadow look like in an aerial view - the short hood is detectable and the long hood's shadow is nearly the same height as the cab's shadow:

https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=1e0965be-1d4c-4bc0-8617-4071e8dbd27f&cp=36.689817~-108.462374&lvl=19.74&style=a&pi=0&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027

I agree based on the shadow and the 42 ft lenght they are some kind of end switcher, The alco has distict features you can see and are showing in at 58ft in google earth. 

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Thought the power of Google i found them, xUP purchased from LETX in 2007
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbob_nm/sets/72157647430377076/

If memory serves me they were detrucked (and put on trucks) in Thoreau (East of Gallup).

Out