In 1963 the Oro Dam Contractors ordered the first U25Cs, and used them until 1967, when the dam was completed. What happened to the Oro Dam units after the project was done?
What do you think the dam's made out of?
LOL not really. 2 were wrecked and the other 8 went to L&N
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The January 1966 issue of Trains magazine had a great article about the Oro Dam railroad. It was one of the first issues of Trains that I bought so I remember it well. Well worth reading if you can track it [no pun intended ... or desired!] down.
Dave Nelson
I had to look all this up, about the Oroville Dam. There is a bunch of videos out there, the beginning, the construction, some on the train accident, and an ongoing series of videos on replacing and repairing the main spillway.
If you like big time construction, it's all good to watch. The newer videos on the spillway rebuild are in time lapse.
The Kiewit Corp. is the general, used to be Peter Kiewit & Sons, based in Omaha NE. Has to be the biggest infastructure contractor/engineer in the world.
Oh.....wait....this forum is about railroads!
I digress, once again!
Mike.
My You Tube
Found this interesting Trains article from google: http://trn.trains.com/~/media/files/pdf/2017/jan1966_2023.pdf?la=en.
I don’t know the context behind it, but it came up in a google search. The Oro dam railways looks like it would be an interesting model. Small enough to get a good portion of in a medium space yet very interesting. Could also make for an interesting part of a larger WP layout.
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
Thanks. I did some more research and I found pictures of them patched for L&N. I'm glad they weren't a part of the dam! The track, however, is a different story...
rrinker 2 were wrecked and the other 8 went to L&N --Randy
2 were wrecked and the other 8 went to L&N
Actually four units were involved in the head on October 7, 1965 wreck. The 8014, the least damaged was repaired by Oro Dam Constructors. The two lead units, 8010 and 8016, were scrapped in January 1966. The fourth unit, the 8011, was rebuilt at GE in June 1966 and renumbered 8020. Wreck data from "Unit Trains in the Construction Industry: Oro Dam Constructors" by Kent Stephens in issue #114 of Extra 2200 South.
SSW9389 rrinker 2 were wrecked and the other 8 went to L&N --Randy Actually four units were involved in the head on October 7, 1965 wreck. The 8014, the least damaged was repaired by Oro Dam Constructors. The two lead units, 8010 and 8016, were scrapped in January 1966. The fourth unit, the 8011, was rebuilt at GE in June 1966 and renumbered 8020. Wreck data from "Unit Trains in the Construction Industry: Oro Dam Constructors" by Kent Stephens in issue #114 of Extra 2200 South.
The rest of the equipment, 150 gondolas and the car dumper went to Port Hedland, Western Australia where they started the Mount Newman Mining (now BHP) iron ore mining and railroad. The Gondolas were still being used in 2006 and the dumper was replaced about that time. There are now five car dumpers in Port Hedland operated by BHP, three by competitor FMG and one by Roy Hill.
Mt Newman purchased Alco C636s which were painted similarly to the Oro Dam U25Cs but with an orange body instead of dark green and silver stripes instead of gold. The octagonal badge had a black swan instead of the bear.
Peter