I took this shot on July 27, 1979. The daily freight was running east to Sonora California from Oakdale. All three Baldwins working on the freight wasn't a common occurrence. I don't think the old water tank is standing anymore at Warnerville. Greg
#42 is the only Baldwin currently in service. She has a shiny new paint job and is used on the dinner train. The other two have been retired and are stored in shall I say, poor condition in Oakdale. Here is a pic: Sierra 42
Didn't they pick up a Geep or something? I keep thinking that they also "borrowed" some power from elsewhere? Boxcab E50
Oops! That'll teach me to post first, and look second. I just went to the Foothills site and found the roster page...... Boxcab E50
Besides what I have on the roster page, Sierra has used/is using several of the exBN B30-7A's they bought for use as mobile power stations. A recent trip saw one in use at the Port of Sacramento on the Yolo Shortline and three in Oakdale on the Sierra.
John- Why the use of units as mobile power stations? Selling to the local utility? Trying to save $$$? Boxcab E50
Back when California had big power problems and rolling blackouts, someone came up with the idea of using locomotives as mobile power generators to be used wherever power was needed. Of course there would be a charge for this service. Not sure exactly how it would work but you get the jist. Anyhow, several have been pushed back into "regualar" service. Mainly during that big log rush from the Arizona/So-Cal fires. Mills along the Sierra got alot of the downed timber and Sierra used these units as extra power to haul the log trains.
That's what I was thinking. The same happened up here. Montana Rail Link had some units generating. At least one was parked in the Stone Container plant at Schilling. Guess it worked out OK. It would be interesting to know just how the dollars figured out... Boxcab E50
