Plenty of Porters on the PCRy ... and DOZENS of tractors!

Hi, All -

This could have been posted yesterday morning, or maybe even late Wednesday, but the fire at Lobato Trestle was way too distracting - and distressing.  Plans are still in the works for the 40th Anniversary Celebration in August, however, and the re-enactment of the First C&TS Train into Chama and the Tribute to the 'Summer of Seventy Volunteers' is STILL on the Calendar!!

I took some time off from planning of the C&TS August event and helping Phil Reader with Fillmore & Western #14 to visit The Pacific Coast Railway in Santa Margarita on Wednesday afternoon. The PCRy is hosting the Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association's FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY National Show for four days this weekend, June 24-27. There are DOZENS of old diesel and gas tractors at the ranch, and even a few big steam tractors; the railroad will be running at least three different engines on its roughly two miles of three-foot gauge track during this time.

One of the guest locomotives is the Marie E., a 0-4-0 Porter which I first saw and rode several years ago at Ollie Johnson's home near Julian, California. Here she is during a break-in, familiarization and crew-training session on Wednesday:


An even smaller engine is Ann Marie, another Porter, which was built in 1890. Currently painted up for the Cortez Mines Ltd. Railway, she looked quite at home at the ranch; it was easy to imagine her pulling loads of lumber, hay and farm products across the fields:


Last but not least, here is the cantankerous 2-6-2 lovingly referred to as 'Das FrankenPorter' by Ed Kelly and Jeff Badger. These are new photos, but are very similar to some I got a few years ago when the grass was taller and greener:


Phil hadn't shown up yet, and I was very disappointed to learn that my long-time friend Brad LaRose, President of the San Luis Obispo RR Museum, was apparently no longer involved in the operation of the trains; I spent more time than originally planned checking out the tractors out on the "East Forty" across the creek - see the following post.

- Roosso

p.s. Das FrankenPorter's green jacket is a little too green, IMHO.  If Brad were still there to give me permission, I'd apply the 2/3 gallon of D&RGW Dark Olive Green Boiler Jacket Enamel Urethane that's hiding in my garage . . .



Edited 9 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2019 11:30AM by Russo Loco.