Friday, May 30, 2014

East Portland Traction Company NW5 #187

IMG_7463 NW5 #187 in Milwaukie on July 13, 2007
NW5 #187 in Milwaukie on July 13, 2007

Locomotive #187 is an NW5, one of only 13 built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. It was built in December 1946 as Great Northern #187.

IMG_7464 NW5 #187 in Milwaukie on July 13, 2007
NW5 #187 in Milwaukie on July 13, 2007

It became Burlington Northern #987 after the 1970 merger. It was retired in April 1982 and was sold in July to Pacific Transportation Services as #1001. It was later sold to Pete Replinger.

IMG_9324 NW5 #187 at Golf Jct on November 7, 2007
NW5 #187 at Golf Jct. in Sellwood on November 7, 2007

It was purchased by Dick Samuels in the early 1990s for use on the Molalla Western, but was never put into service.

IMG_9325 NW5 #187 at Golf Jct on November 7, 2007
NW5 #187 at Golf Jct. in Sellwood on November 7, 2007

The original 1000-horsepower engine was replaced with an 800-horsepower one, giving the locomotive a single-stack exhaust instead of the original twin-stacks.

IMG_9446 NW5 #187 at Golf Jct on October 3, 2009
NW5 #187 at Golf Jct. in Sellwood on October 3, 2009

After the new engine was installed, the locomotive was never fully completed and placed in operation.

IMG_9459 NW5 #187 at Golf Jct on October 3, 2009
NW5 #187 at Golf Jct. in Sellwood on October 3, 2009

It spent most of its time stored along SW McBrod Avenue near the Milwaukie shops, but was moved to Golf Junction in Sellwood in late 2007.

IMG_9451 NW5 #187 at Golf Jct on October 3, 2009
NW5 #187 at Golf Jct. in Sellwood on October 3, 2009

This locomotive was heavily damaged by vandals in 2008. The internal damage made it no longer viable for the locomotive to be restored.

IMG_9456 NW5 #187 at Golf Jct on October 3, 2009
NW5 #187 at Golf Jct. in Sellwood on October 3, 2009

In 2013, the engine was removed for future installation in SW8 #801 and the locomotive was scrapped.

IMG_9454 NW5 #187 at Golf Jct on October 3, 2009
NW5 #187 at Golf Jct. in Sellwood on October 3, 2009

Historical Photos:
GN #187 in Spokane, WA in April 1970 (Fallen Flag Railroad Photos)
BN #987 in Seattle, WA in September 1972 (rrpicturearchives.net)
BN #987, New Westminster, BC, 1973 (Fallen Flag Railroad Photos)

Continue to East Portland Traction Company 80-Tonner #500

No comments:

Post a Comment