Re: New White Pass Units

James Wrote:
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> bcp Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > WP&Y has had others.
> >
>
> The blue scheme reeks of the 1970's,
> reminding me of the Rock Island's "The Rock" or
> Conrail's standard colors. The yellow-and-green
> manages a somewhat more timeless appearance
> without feeling like a nostalgia trip.
>
> I don't have any historic interest in diesels (the
> technology appeared only after railroads were
> already losing their critical place in the
> development of nations), so I judge them solely by
> how well they work day-to-day. They look like
> uninteresting boxes on wheels, but if they earn
> their place by doing good work without fuss or
> drama, then I can appreciate that. As such the
> new White Pass machines remain an open case, yet
> to be decided.

Here we go again with the negativity towards diesel's. Good grief they have been around for over 80 years, they ARE a part of railroad history. The fact that they have been around long enough for SD40s to now be preserved at museums should tell you something.

As part of a younger generation who grew up entirely in the diesel era it is very discouraging to keep hearing the beating down of diesels. I love steam, I have spent my entire 13 years as a railroader working almost exclusively with steam. However I find EMD Es, Fs, GPs and SD to be quite familiar and good looking. Alco PAs are beautiful to me, as are the Santa Fe FP45s.

So what if the new White Pass diesels look a little unpretty. They are built for function, that function is to keep the railroad running. Keeping a modern 3' gauge railroad running in 2020 is a good thing in my book.

Jeff Taylor
CRRM curator of equipment and rolling stock.