Re: Diseasalization at SVRy

Quote
the important paragraphs in Dan's post (bold text is my addition-bn)
CLC at Armuelles did buy new GE/EMC boxcabs (#6-10, re#706-710, re#X706-X710 re-engined with a 335 hp Superior diesel) and two HH300 Alcos (#12 & 14, re#712 & 714, re#X712 & X714), all of which were still listed as in operation in 1979. These were joined by three (2 new 1 transferred) Whitcomb 50 ton end cabs with Cooper-Bessemer engines, three GE 50 tons (#18-20), three GE U6B after FCdelSur closed, and a variety of other engines. They also had Brill and Edwards motorcars, including at least one armored payroll car from Brookville.At some point UFC decided to try and renumber their remaining properties locmotives into a commons scheme, the Alimirante/Bocas engines became 800s, the Armuelles engines became 700s, and then were renumbered again by adding an X prefix. After closing in the early 1990s, some of the better equipment was transferred (where?), but the Alcos and Boxcabs were apparently scrapped.

This is were things get confusing - the UFC/CLC used Chiriqui National track in the Armuelles region for banana traffic, and one or both also met the FCdelSur at the border (Empalme station) where there was a short stretch of dual 36/42 gauge that lasted into the 1980s. I have seen accounts of a traveler who specifically mentions transferring passenger trains due to different gauges.


Confused? So am I. It has taken me several years to get this far, so some will be wrong. BTW - Sumpter Valley Railroad GE 50 ton #720 was built new for the Chiriqui Land Company's southern division at Armuelles as #20. It was one of the few survivors that escaped scrapping going to the Bocas/Alimirante/Northern/BFC division (by sea through the canal or overland by truck?). It was the last known operating 50 ton at Alimirante, before being purchased by SVRR in 2007.