Steam & Excursion > Its Not Every Day You Get The Entire Railroad Roster In 1 Photo!

Back in August, 1957, Southern California railfan Gordon Glattenberg found himself in hot dry shops of the Mojave Northern in Victorville, California hoping to see one of the 3 0-6-0T's that this little railroad was famous for.  Well, as we see here, he hit the jackpot on that day.

Owned an operated by the Southwest Portland Cement Company, the MN was kept all steam powered until shortly after this photo was taken when the first of the lines diesels arrived to replace steam. 

All 3 of these MN steam locomotives were built by the Davenport Locomotive Works.   Two of them survive today.

Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/21 04:10 by LoggerHogger.

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Loggerhogger...I road with Gordon for a few days in Ecuador, decades ago.   Is he still well and around?

I've always thought that those Mojave Northern 0-6-0Ts were among the ugliest (and therefore, most endearing) tank locomotives ever constructed.   Wonderful photo. 
 

Yes, Gordon is still with us and still active in the hobby.

Martin

LoggerHogger Wrote:

> Back in August, 1957, Southern California railfan
> Gordon Glattenberg found himself in hot dry shops
> of the Mojave Northern in Victorville, California
> hoping to see one of the 3 0-6-0T's that this
> little railroad was famous for.  Well, as we see
> here, he hit the jackpot on that day.
>
> Owned an operated by the Southwest Portland Cement
> Company, the MN was kept all steam powered until
> shortly after this photo was taken when the first
> of the lines diesels arrived to replace steam. 

The line's first diesels arrived a decade before Gordon's visit, so the photo above does not show the entire roster as of 1957.  SWPC purchased a couple of dynamic-brake-equipped 70-ton endcab diesels new from GE in 1947 and 1948, numbering them 5 and 6.  This old thread shows photos taken by Trainorders.com member mundo during a 1950 Railway Club of Southern California excursion from LA to Victorville to ride behind steam on the MNRR.  It includes a photo of 70-ton diesel #5 "Leonardt" that was standing around the shop along with the tank engines:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4220322,4220333#4220333

Wow....

Seeing posts like this is why I'm a member of Trainorders......