The beloved K-28s were not beloved by the White Pass. I doubt the White Pass would want a "Rio Grande" locomotive. If you recall the outside frame 2-8-0 Number 40 or 44 didn't last long as leased power on the White Pass and there is nothing wrong with this locomotive.
In one of J.D. True's great little books on the White Pass he talked about the White Pass engine crews dislike of the K-28s. The White Pass has different ice issues than the Rio Grande/D&SNG and any locomotive with outside frames and the accompanying counterweights was problematic as the counterweights would strike the ice ledges that formed close to the rails, beating up the locomotive and causing derailments.
Based on the comments in videos and writing of other White Passers, I think part of the bias against the K-28s was the fact they were U.S. Army power. The operating battalion assigned to operate the White Pass refused to listen to railroaders who knew how to run their own line. This stubbornness of the Army led to all kinds of problems which the White Passers learned to solve by keeping their mouths shut until the Army gave up and finally asked them how to solve the problem.f
When the White Pass got a chance to pick from the Army surplus motive power to pick up some locomotives at bargain prices, all seven of the K-28s were sent to Seattle for scrapping. The inside framed 2-8-2s in the 190 series were the ones retained despite being designed for flat land operations. They were inside framed. Every outside frame locomotive was rejected.
If you look at the fleet of the White Pass, I believe the railroad had a grand total of three outside frame locomotives, the 66, 68, and 69. I could be wrong about the total number, but I do know the White Pass had a definite preference for inside frame locomotives.
Note, the all time favorites of the White Pass were the four inside frame 70-class 2-8-2s. The 69, known as the Gila Monster, was a brute used in helper service up to the summit. If it was up to the crews, the 69 was a warm weather only locomotive due to its outside frame.
If you can find a copy of True's books they are really worth getting. It's like reading Earl's posts in many regards. True was a lifelong engineer on the White Pass and loved his job. He worked during the steam era, went through dieselization, and then the modernization of the White Pass in 1969.
True stated he loved steam but didn't want to go back to it. Mainly because he liked the warm cabs of the 90-class which was his preferred diesel locomotive.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2020 11:31AM by kcsivils.
