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Quincy Railroad 1100 came to the Western
Pacific Railroad Museum in late 2004 courtesy of long time FRRS
supporter, Sierra Pacific Industries. Originally built in 1950
as TR6 Demonstrator #1600 for EMD, the 1100 was eventually sold to
Southern Pacific Railroad where it ran with a permanently coupled
cabless booster unit as a "Cow-Calf" set working transfer drags in
and around Los Angeles. After a while, the cabless booster was
disconnected and the 1100 was sent to become the shop switcher at
the sprawling "Sacramento Locomotive Works", Southern Pacific's
system heavy locomotive shop. There, the 1100 shuffled diesels
of all types around the shop complex.
Eventually the 1100 was sold to
Sierra Pacific Industries, where they re-lettered the engine
"SIERRA PACIFIC INDUSTRIES" and "QUINCY 1100" on the cab side.
SPI's Quincy Railroad had two seperate lines that they ran, one in
Quincy, California in the Feather River Canyon, and one in
Susanville, California where SPI had a lumber mill complex.
When the SPI mill in Susanville shut down, the 1100 was offered to
the Society in exchange for short term storage of their other
Susanville locomotive, the Quincy Railroad #12.
These days "Little Lulu" as she was
nick-named on the Quincy, can be found doing yeoman duty around the
museum grounds switching the shop and yard after hours, running
caboose trains pulling guests around the property, and is frequently
used in "Run-A-Locomotive" service. Due to the reliability of
the little engine, it is a favorite of the museums Operating
Department and not many weekends go by during the season when she is
not out running, doing something useful.
You can actually take the
throttle and operate the 1100 in our "Run-A-Locomotive Program" under
the guidance of an engineer instructor at the Western Pacific
Railroad Museum in Portola.
Click
HERE for more details.
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