Didn't think I would be catching any more Rio Grande units when I moved to Oregon. But the other day, I had to drive to Portland and as I was heading towards I-5 through Longview, WA I saw this unit (D&RGW 1445). Remarkably clean for an old Grande unit. Sorry about the quality. I only had my phone camera at the time. Eric
I thought I saw her in Portland when I took Amtrak to the N scale convention in June--it's still there, and I saw it too late to bag a shot! Awesome catch!
I had seen a picture of her when she saw still in Colorado. There was a UP shield on the nose. I guess it has been taken off since then. My pics don't really show how well the loco looked. While not a new paint job, she was clean and looked in good repair. I have to head back to Portland next week. I'll take my regular camera and get some better shots. That is, as long as there is a BNSF employee around to give me the OK to go to where its parked. I think I was lucky there was somebody there last time. Eric
Here is a better pic from somebody else on FLICKR. You can see the UP shield on the nose: Rio Grande 1445 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Sweet find! I look forward to seeing some additional pictures if you are able to get close to her. Ben
I miss her! She was here for about 4 Months in spring '09 I may have had something to do with the removal of the nose patch, and repainting on the class lights! Come on back baby!
I wonder if I would get any weird looks if I asked if I could wash it. Of course it wouldn't be a real Grande engine if it were washed more than once a decade. Eric
Long live 1445 *cough*cough*3129*cough* Yep, While this Unit was in Colorado Springs. It ""magically" Lost its nose patch, Got some painting touch-up, And even some new numberboards. For if you can believe it. The rear number boards in this thing were the originals, Flipped inside out, And painted over! So after some bargining with the UP here in town, they allowed us(me and 3 others) one afternoon to do some work on her appearence. We Painted over much rust that formed along the hood. And covered up the nasty rusty Class Lights. We took out the "valueable numberboards, And replaced with some new stuff. So i like to think of this as the DRGW herritage Unit. KEEP THIS GEEP BLACK AND ORANGE!
While The Springs I got this Earlier in the Spring I wasn in the "Springs" and managed to get these two...
Hmmm--- You don't suppose we could get someone up there in the Northwest to "Adopt" that sweet little Rio Grande GP40, do you? They seem to be very kind to their locos up around that area. I mean, look how sweet they treat SP #4449, when UP won't even allow that beautiful baby back on her 'home' rails. Maybe they could 'borrow' her out of the yards at Longview and just 'forget' to return her, LOL! Tom
