Saturday, November 15, 2014

Cleared to move!

This week the Union Pacific inspected the 5057 and cleared it to be moved!  The 5057 will be returning to Washington for the first time in nearly 35 years.  It left Washington on one of the last Milwaukee Road trains out of the state in March 1980.




We do not know yet when it will move, but it could leave the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, CA as early as Monday, November 17.  The Union Pacific train that serves Portola typically operates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

After it leaves Portola, the Union Pacific will take the 5057 to its large Roseville Yard near Sacramento, CA.  From there it will go on a train to Stockton, CA and be interchanged to the BNSF.  BNSF will then haul it north via the Inside Gateway route through eastern Oregon, Pasco, WA and Spokane, WA, to be interchanged with the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad at Sandpoint, ID.  The destination for this trip is the POVA shop on 'home' rails in Usk, WA.  POVA operates the former Milwaukee Road branch to Metaline Falls, WA.

If you're able to see the 5057 traveling north, please take photos and send them to us if you can!  Contact us through the Cascade Rail Foundation web site if you have photos you'd like to send us and we'll get in touch with you by email.

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Your support is needed!
Once the 5057 arrives at the POVA shop in Usk, WA, the restoration phase of the 5057 begins.  A lot of work needs to be done before it gets a fresh coat of paint!  Parts borrowed to prepare it to move need to be returned and/or replaced.  Most significantly, extensive work needs to be done to the metal exterior of the locomotive.  Rusted out metal needs to be patched or replaced.  Many of the hood doors are warped and need to be straightened.  We also plan to replace the bad traction motor on the locomotive with one we purchased with the 5057.  Fundraising for this work is ongoing, so please donate if you can.




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