Re: WP&YR 02/09/1943

m.j.peltier Wrote:
=======================================================
> Just for the record it was the US Army Military
> Railway Service that commandeered the K-28s and
> sent them to Alaska, not the WP&YR. The Army ran
> the WP&YR from Oct 42 till the end of the war.
> Commandeering things for the 'war effort' was a
> common occurance in 1942. The D&RGW was not
> treated uniquely. The ET&WNC 'lost' the two
> 'ten-wheelers' #10 & #14, which the Army sent to
> work on the WP&YR early in '42. Unfortunately
> they were destroyed on Christmas eve '43 when
> inattention by troops who wanted to go party
> caused the Whitehorse Engine House to burn down.
> The K-28s faired much better, only one was
> seriously damaged.
>
> The WP&YR ran trains over the Pass for 42 years
> using a different procedure than the Army. The
> old hands at the White Pass would patiently wait
> till the storm blew itself out and the sky
> cleared. Then they'd send out the rotary fleet to
> clear the line. Much easier on men and equipment,
> but it didn't fit with the Army attitude of "hurry
> up and wait".


I should have clarified myself there: Yes I understand that the US army requisitioned the K-28s, as well as the ten-wheelers and other locos, for service on the WP&Y. It was a all-hands-on-deck situation, and with second place in combat being annihilation, I understand why they did it as well.

That said, there are times when, if my mood is foul enough, I'm not above condemning the US Army Transport Corps for "Engine-napping" the sport models. usually if I'm in that bad of a mood any logic I have normally has gone out the window anyway: I'm more realistic normally.

Next stop Honolulu!

See Oahu by Rail with the Oahu Railway and Land Co.