U.S. Gypsum ALCo/MLW DL535 Narrow Gauge Locomotive

[cromboldWVU]

This is neat! I didnt know we had any modern narrow gauge loco's in America. I know those latin countries love the hell out of them though.

[synthfreakify]

Nice video! I saw one of these on the WP&Y in 1999 at the shops in Skagway. There was only one. Employees told me they liked it and that the WP&Y would buy the other ones if it could. It bought back DL-535E's that had been sold to Brazil, restored them and put them to work hauling tourists. This engine even has Hi-Ad trucks!

[cvrnut09]

@synthfreakify If I may make a correction for you. They had been sold to a company in Colombia. Not Brazil.

[HUTCHtopher]

These units look better in USG colors than in WP&Y green and yellow

[SouthernPacific8984]

@HUTCHtopher I agree

[SouthernPacific8984]

USG bought 112 and 113 in 1991. The loading bay at the quarry is only high enough for the hoppers to in. So in order to load the first hopper, the locomotives nose has to go under the bay, but on November 1, 1992 the engineer on 113 could not stop quick enough and 113 crashed into the loading bay. USG officials determined 113 could not be rebuilt, so they bought 111 in 1993.

[UP5853]

That's a nice P5 horn.

[maddennis55]

4 were built by MLW for the White Pass & Yukon, but the order was cancelled on completion. USG acquired one, but wrecked it; then they acquired a second. Eventually, one actually made it to the WP&Y. I'm not sure about the last one.

[alco424]

Actually, USG initially acquired two units (112, 113), one of which was wrecked (113) and then acquired the third (111). The fourth unit was the one that was eventually delivered to The WP&Y.

[MWAirvirtual]

do they still use both 111 and 112, how was 113 wrecked, does it still exist and could it be repaired if they needed another locomotive on the White pass and Yukon?

[Spillimacheen]

Years ago, I understand, a wealthy man brought his own 3-foot gauge Steam 4-4-0 up to USG and operated it there on a Sunday.

Does anyone have videos of that?

I understand USG wrecked the first of N/G MLW units in a loader, requiring they get a second to replace the first.

WP@W wrecked one of their units of this type, and had it rebuilt.

4 built in all, and stored for many years near Montreal when WP@W closed.

Yes, the unit should stay at USG!!! as there are few enough N/Gs left.

[whitepasser]

Yes, it was David Malkof or simillar. He is a men of law from Las Vegas. But sorry no images are arround. Too bad.

[southparkline1]

@Spillimacheen I believe that was the 4-4-0 Eureka and Palisades #4. The locomotive was purchased and restored and runs yearly on the Durango and Silverton during railfest and sometimes the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic railroad. Just lookup railfest on the Durango and silverton and you should find videos of it. This is one of the older ng locomotives left and one of the last if not the only wood burning ng locomotive in operation.

[pennsyr1]

I'd love to see this unit find its way up to the White Pass, where it belongs. Cool video!

[RustedBovine]

No, it should stay with USG, where it belongs. It's on the last working narrow gauge railway in the US, I'd say that's far more important and interesting than tourist railroad number 1365252.

[pennsyr1]

I'll agree with you on the point of the uniqueness of the freight service that the loco now provides for USG as opposed to performing tourist duties, RustedBovine, but let's not lose sight of the fact that the DL535E Wide Cabs were ordered by the White Pass. They were meant for "The Gateway to the Klondike", regardless as to where they may be employed now.

[RustedBovine]

Yes but what I'm saying is that the DL535E-W's use on USG lines is more important than it's use on WP&Y lines. There are many things in life whose original purpose was less important than it's eventual purpose. Refusing to acknowledge that importance does not make it go away. These locos should stay where they are until their job there is done.

[pennsyr1]

I understand your viewpoint, but whether working for USG is a more pivotal duty than working for White Pass is a subjective argument. The original purpose for these units was hauling lead-zinc ore and other general freight for the line that ordered them, and only the inhospitable financial climate of the time prevented them from doing so. I don't deny or dismiss the valuable service they now perform, but that shouldn't devalue what was their deferred calling, and what was their intended home.

[southparkline1]

@RustedBovine Well recent years there has been a lot of talk of restoring freight service over the WP&Y, and even use it as a way to connect Alaska with the rest of the North American System by connecting it to the Alaska railroad. (This is only a rumor, but the white pass said if it can make money it will do it)

[NVanWendy]

So can you not buy narrow gauge engines in the US, or was this just bought from an existing (or shutting down) NG railroad?

[enr3870]

It came from the White Pass and Yukon Route.

[NVanWendy]

I thought it looked familiar - it should, as there's a WP&Y vid being promoted on the right side of this screen! That's even the original paint, isn't it?

[devianb]

@enr3870 I had a feeling it came from there.

[jimmydcap]

Whats the differance between narrow gauge and regular

[Narrowgaugefilms]

Standard gauge is 56.5 inches between the insides of the rail.

Narrow gauge is anything less, in this case 36inches. They are basically smaller railroads for areas where the traffic wouldn't pay for standard gauge.

Narrow gauge used to be very common but trucks proved to be more economical. This line is pretty much the last of its kind and is still here only because it fits its use so well.

[csxt6573]

I switch out a USG plant here in oregon... I wish they would ask me to leave! Would be killer to get this operation on camera though, nice job.

[mlwS1]

What is this ?? Its look like a M420 !!

[TrainmasterCurt]

Looks like a mutant M420-W, lol, but nice engine sound like all ALCO's

[karldotcom]

That is awesome dude...I didnt think anyone was allowed to shoot pictures in there. El Centro is another scary place to hang out.

[cchan006]

I went to the main office and asked for permission. That's probably why I wasn't asked to leave by security.

[dutchtrainmanserie22]

Track Wide 1000 millimetre= 1 metre ???

[cchan006]

This railroad would be 914 mm wide, so it's even narrower than 1 metre.