Trains in Liberal, Oregon, in September, 1998

On our way to visit the Pacific Northwest Live Steamers' Shady Dell Train Park in Molalla, Oregon, in September 1998, my dad and I stopped in nearby Liberal, Oregon, to photograph some locomotives on the Molalla Division of Dick Samuels' Oregon Pacific Railroad. My dad's pictures came out underexposed, but I am including them anyway.

 

Locomotive #602 is an 800-horsepower SW8, built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in July 1952 as Bamberger Railroad #602. After the Bamberger shut down it was sold to the Yreka Western in 1958. It was transferred in 1978 to the Oregon Pacific & Eastern, which was under the same ownership as the Yreka Western.

Photo by Cliff West

The locomotive was purchased by Dick Samuels after the Oregon Pacific & Eastern shut down in 1994. It may have been intended to be painted in Oregon Pacific colors as #802, but that never happened and #602 still wore its OP&E paint and herald on the cab.

Locomotive #803, "Spirit of Canby," is an SW8 built by EMD in March 1953 as Texas & New Orleans (a Southern Pacific subsidiary) #13. In the systemwide renumbering of 1965, it became Southern Pacific #1105. 

Photo by Cliff West

Southern Pacific retired the locomotive on February 7, 1983, and sold it to Chrome Crankshaft on November 28, 1984. It was resold to Northern Railway Services in April 1987, and was assigned #80. In January 1989, it was sold to the Lewis & Clark Railway as #80. It was purchased by Dick Samuels in August 1995.

Photo by Cliff West

This locomotive was briefly numbered East Portland Traction Company #802, but was given #803 when painted in Oregon Pacific colors.

Photo by Cliff West

Here is a view of the two locomotives together, with the RSG Forest Products mill in the background.