Steam & Excursion > Mexican Steam in 1966

Roger Puta took these three at Valle de Mexico Roundhouse, Tlalnepantla, Mexico on September 10, 1966.

1. NdeM 4-8-4 Niagra 3052 in steam

2. NdeM 4-8-4 Niagra 3053 in steam

3. NdeM 4-8-4 Niagras


Enjoy,
Marty Bernard



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/17 00:09 by MartyBernard.

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Stellar lighting in that first shot!

Great pictures! But if we're not looking at the NYC, why "Niagara"? The generally accepted generic label for. 4-8-4 is "Northern".

Dave

That's the moniker the Mexican engines were given. Makes more sense than a Northern south of the border, I suppose.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

DavidP Wrote:
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> Great pictures! But if we're not looking at the
> NYC, why "Niagara"? The generally accepted
> generic label for. 4-8-4 is "Northern".
>
> Dave

Notice that the NdeM men spelled it differently, too. When I was down there in 1964, delivering GP35 units, and GA8 narrow gauge units, the favorite locomotive for the crews out of Mexico City, was always the 4-8-4s. Each month they had a different 3000 class 4-8-4 all "dressed up, and referred to it as "El Negro", i.e. "The Black One".

When ever I had spare time, between the new GP35s, I made lots of trips on the 4-8-4s, since I had a special NdeM Government Pass, plus a hand written "note", with multiple carbon copies, signed by the Regional Superintendent, explaining that I had his permission to run the locomotive, if the Engineer at the time, was agreeable. It didn't take long for the "word" to get around the Mexico City Terminal, that there was the crazy gringo, that would do all your work, if one allowed him to run the locomotive. Great fun!

I might be wrong but I doubt any of those got scrapped considering that the last five ended up in one
boneyard and I believe are all still there.

Out

They are display at various Cities.

12 of the 32 of these locomotives survive. One is in Pennsylvania at the New Hope and Ivyland, and belongs to the Alco History Center.

Is there any standard guage operable steam in Mexico at the moment? The last one I had heard of was a 2-8-0 and an ancient 2-6-0 that had become a movie star, thanks to John Wayne.