Nostalgia & History > Jal, N M Aug-1950

In spite of receiving many F-7 diesels in 1949 the Texas & Pacific had to resort to steam in the desert of Texas and New Mexico on occasions..  Class H-2R 2-8-2 # 802 is well fit to handle the inhospitable surroundings .  It received a 15,000 gallons of water tender from a retired 2-10-2 (replacing a 10,000 gallon tender) and a 10,000 gallon aux. water car filled in the spot with the most hospital water to be found in that area of bad water..Crews liked the 800's, they steamed well.  Still the 802 is making do with faded boiler paint and the dusty environment. By this time painting steam locomotive had become limited with passenger engines getting the most attention.   It , another 2-8-2 and even a Class M-1 4-8-2 #904 would pinch hit for diesels being away for their  inspections.  T&P had assigned 4  F units to cover the TNM branch for every day service..
Photo by John McCall.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/23 13:44 by tomstp.

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Looks just fine.  USRA.  We had a lot of trouble with that damned Texas water in 2001 w/1522.  Ain't fit to brew coffee.

First-rate photo - Interesting back story.
Bob

Wonderful pic and story about the 802

Jal, NM

Been there, worked there. Not one of my favorite places.
Hard to image this locomotive there. Very nice photo !

I kind of wonder about the Elesco Feed water heater and the poor water conditions and how that worked.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/23 15:35 by train1275.

Nice pic and engine, have a good friend who lived in Jal for awhile in his childhood and once showed me around town...

JG