After 9 years, Rio Grande Tunnel Motor 5401 was delivered to the Colorado RailRoad Museum today. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=463215380844679
Is she internally still intact? Possibly operable? For some reason, I had thought that museum had a connection to the outside world...
There was a track from the museum that used to cross the road and I believe connect to the regular main, but that's all gone. Jason
And more interesting that the unit was carried, by 4 Hulcher sidebooms to the Museum. And towed on panel track, across a very narrow bridge along the way. Have NO idea how they got it from Coors, across Hwy 58 to 44th. Since then, the UP stuff has been peeled off, leaving the original Rio Grande numbers in view! Not sure of the overall condition of the 5401, but I can get in touch with a friend who should know.
Sent a text to my friend, about the 5401. As far as he recalls, the 5401 was in good shape. The traction motors and alternator were good, and the engine was in good shape. The folks involved with getting the 5401 to the Museum chose it over the tired and broken units! The 51 was in better shape, than the 5371, that’s at the Museum in Ogden, UT. That unit was having alternator issues. UP was not too pleased to give up a good, working unit. Was a nice tax write off apparently.
That group must have a bit of (influence) pull inside UP. To get a good, working unit... I can only hope such a relationship continues!!!