Nostalgia & History > mundo: Steam at Los Mochis, Mexico, 1988

Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico holds the distinction of being the site of the last revenue (non-preservation) steam-powered freight railroad operation in North America. Ferrocarril Mexicano Del Pacifico existed to work a United Sugar plant in Los Mochis and deliver cars to the Chihuahua Pacific interchange. The mill used steam locomotives until 1994 or 1995, when a Trackmobile took over. Today, the mill is shuttered and decaying, with development all around. Up until at least 2009, four of the locomotives were still on-site, with Nos. 6, 4, and 7 visible through the fence from a nearby road:

https://goo.gl/maps/pgoyik5G7b82

Clicking the slider over to 2015 shows the yard cleaned out and the engines nowhere to be seen. No.2, an ancient ex-SP ten-wheeler which had been displayed at the entrance to the plant for many years, is said to still be around somewhere, and No.7 was moved sans tender to a display location in the landscaped median of a boulevard in Los Mochis:

https://goo.gl/maps/w3eSXLDZ1dR2

I haven't been able to determine what became of Nos. 4 and 6.

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MdelP 2-6-2 No.6 started life as California Western 21, as seen in these old threads:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,3078834
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,2666724,2667868#2667868

Built in 1920, this Baldwin 2-6-2 originally had the headlight mounted atop the smokebox:

http://www.trainweb.org/rosters/cwr21.html

CWRR eventually lowered the headlight to the center of the smokebox door. They sold the locomotive to Pan American Engineering in 1950, who then brokered the engine to MdelP. As No.6, it kept its low headlight for many more years as seen in this 1969 photo at Los Mochis:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,724435

As SBC_1344's MdelP roster in this old thread explains, the 6 rear-ended another engine somewhere along the way, resulting in a new, flat smokebox door and a high-mounted headlight once again:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,2668343

In June of 1988, Ed Von Nordeck, TO user mundo, caught No.6 in action.

1. Roster shot of No.6

2. No.6 with the mill in the background. This scene now looks like this: https://goo.gl/maps/vMg41trs2aE2

3. View of No.6 out on the line with two boxcars. Everybody wanted to be in the picture.

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4-6. More views of No.6 switching.

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7-8. A couple of views of trucks delivering cane to the plant. Based on the structures in the background, photo 7 was taken right about here: https://goo.gl/maps/i3F7Ycxtm372 .

Thanks again, Ed, for giving us a glimpse of the not-too-recent past that looks like it could have been an eternity ago.

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What treasures these images are!
Bob

refarkas Wrote:
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> What treasures these images are!
> Bob


I second that!

PQM

Excellent pictures!
I didn't realize in service steam lasted this late anywhere in N America.
Thanks to Mundo for the shots and Evan for scans.
Gary

From a 1945 Official Guide,  the original main line was 15 miles long from Los Mochis to Aguila, and a 3.75 mile branch to San Miguel.
Line was used to haul Sugar Cane to the Los Mochis Mill until cane started moving by truck.

The period of time that I observed the line, it was only used for in-plant switching and an interchange with the Chihuahua al Pacifico located on the line to Topolobampo.

Most of the photos were taken when my groups of US rail-fans would use the hotel bus to "Chase" the train during the interchange.  One could ride the locomotive or freight cars if one wished.
Crew was very friendly, and I had caps made with a M del P  logo. which they loved.

Los Moches for the most part was a "Company owned Town",   built by  US interests.  The quality of the cane crop declined over the years, when the new local ownership did not invest in rotating the crops, so its no surprise that the plant is now gone.

Moches is a growing town now, with the deep water sea-port at Topolobampo and tourism en route the "Copper Canyon" of Mexico..

"TO" members  Sam King and John Kirchner, can share additional info on the mill and the railroad.

My sincere thanks to Evan for the fine copies of the slides and postings.

Ed
 

From someone who almost got down there a half dozen times, thanks a gazillion for the shots! I've seen a
few shots of the track at the end of operation and it was surprising even a trackmobile could get over it!
I believe that the line even outlasted the gentleman down in Durango who switched his lumber yard with a
Shay.

Out