SLT Rail Power
From Spearfish Lake Tales Wiki
When the C&SL was formed the first road power purchased was a former Rock Island EMD GP7. In the later days of the Rock Island money was tight to non existant so the line sold a number of GP7's to PNC for rebuild with the understanding that they would lease them back. It was likely one of these that Bud Ellsberg bought Here are links to 2 pictures of Rock Island/PNC GP7's.
Later when more power was needed a wornout Burlington GP7 was purchased. Here is a picture of a GP7 in Burlington livery.
Since a lot of the action in Snowplow Extra takes place in the cab of a GP7 here are some pictures in the cab.
Just to complete the picture here is a video of a vintage GP7 working yard switching.
At the start of Snowplow Extra Bud makes a run to Warsaw and back with the 2 GP7's and the big plow to clear the line. In Warsaw a fire has started in a storage shed of the Jerusalem Paper Plant. The fire is threatening the main plant and the town. Bud Ellsberg promises to keep the line open because Warsaw is isolated by a bridge collapse. On the return trip to Spearfish Lake the Burlington starts to act up. Bud knowing he is going to have to make a return trip and desperate for any power has Walt Archer warm up The Milwaukee. First to start switching the Piggyback flats so that the Spearfishlake Volunteer Fire Department can be loaded to go to Warsaw, and second in case the Milwaukee will have to doublehead with The Rock.
Here are some pictures of EMD NW2's in vintage Milwaukee livery.
Here are some In The Cab Pictures.
Here is a video of RDG 103 switching in Hamburg, PA.
By the time Plow Extra 1 had returned to Spearfish Lake the Burlington was all but dead and Bud Ellsberg knew he was in real trouble. He needed power and manpower anyway he could get it. The C&SL had an old GE 44 ton switcher in Camden that was used for local switching only. It was operated by two long retired engineers, both in their late 70's, Ralph McPhee and Harold Stevens. There was also a marooned (because the Camden drawbridge was out of service) EMD SW9 switcher, D&O 1478. For the purposes of this wiki page we will use the SOO Line as a stand in for the D&O. It covers the same geography, uses the same equipment and it's livery being Red & White is a match.
Here is a picture of a vintage GE 44ton switcher.
Here are two In The Cab shots of a GE.
Here is a picture of an EMD SW9 in SOO livery.
Here is a shot of the engineers station.
Here are a couple of videos of SW9's in action.
Bud Ellsberg was so desperate for power he let Ralph McPhee talk him into using the LN 9608 vintage Baldwin 2-6-0 steamer.
Here are some pictures of vintage 2-6-0 steamers.
Here are some shots of the engineers station.
Here are some videos of various 2-6-0's working.
Here are some other links dealing with 2-6-0's.
