Nostalgia & History > Warbonnet Wed - FP45s Pt 2

In August 1991 I got lucky with a Westbound manifest with FP45 98 leading out of Mojave, CA. Here are three from the Tehachapis, first cresting the grade just SP East of Monolith, then at Bealville and finally at Caliente, which is Spanish for hot, which it was in August.

Jim B



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/20 14:07 by jimB.

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Excellent photos. The old timetable name for your first location was Eric, photo 2 is the top (east) end of Bealville.

Thanks for sharing,
Ryan

>photo 2 is the top (east) end of Bealville

Thanks for catching that. I had originally planned to use a Woodford photo and didn't change the words when I changed the photo.

JIm

ATSF 98 was the only FP-45 with a snow plow pilot. Anyone know why?
Grade crossing accident? Plow not on it anymore.

Watts local

wattslocal Wrote:

> ATSF 98 was the only FP-45 with a snow plow pilot.
> Anyone know why? Grade crossing accident? Plow not on it anymore.

Jim's photos are the earliest I've run across showing 98 with the snowplow pilot.  I shot the unit in July 1991 with its original pilot in place.  I keep looking but have yet to find the answer as to why the pilot was changed.  A seemingly random handful of Santa Fe F45's got the same treatment however, and damage from a minor collision like a grade crossing accident seems the most likely explanation.

I believe the 98 was in a collision on the Engineer's corner.  There was evidence of repair when the Orange Empire Diesel Crew had it torn down.  The pilot on it now was donated by Motive Power Industries from the last Santa Fe F-45, MPEX 5989 (Ex ATSF 1939, 5939, 5989), which was being used as an engine test stand in Boise.  Here is a photo of the pilot just before it was removed from 5989.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/17/20 09:49 by SilverPeakRail.

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Excellent shots, Jim B!

RC Lundgren
Elgin, TX