These images are just a taste of what is
on the Chapter's Web Site which
chronicles the disassembly and restoration work on the Willamette
as well as test runs of the Baldwin on CORP. (Your web master
put together the Chapter site in lieu of continuing work on this page.)
Our
star attraction is Medco 4, a three truck Willamette geared locomotive.
This engine is often confused with a Lima Shay as they are outwardly similar,
however, Number 4 was built by the Willamette Iron and Steel Works of Portland,
Oregon. It is number 18 of only 33 such locomotives built by Willamette
and was delivered new in February, 1925 to Owens-Oregon Lumber, a forerunner
of the Medford Corporation. This locomotive hauled logs out of the
woods above Butte Falls until 1962 when the railroad logging operations
of Medco were taken over by truck. No. 4 was then donated to the
City of Medford for display in Jackson Park. In 1986 it was moved
to the Railroad Park and just recently, title was transfered to the Chapter.
Unfortunately, much of the easily removable hardware and "jewelery" was
removed from the engine since it's retirement and it looks just a bit incomplete.
However, all of the major parts are intact and plans are being made to
restrore No. 4 to operating condition for use on a proposed excursion railroad
above Butte Falls.
The
Chapter also owns Medco 8, a Baldwin S-8 which is the only diesel owned
by the Medford Corporation and was used to haul logs from Butte Falls down
the hill to Medford. Due to the steep terrain, tight curvature of
the track and heavy loads, No. 8 was outfitted with dynamic brakes, the
only Baldwin switcher ever so equipped. We purchased this engine
from Magma Arizona Railroad which had acquired it after Medco shut down
the railroad logging operation. Through the kindness of the Willamette
& Pacific Railroad we were able to restore No. 8 to operating condition
in their shops in Albany. This picture was taken at Gerlinger, Oregon,
on our outting over the West Side Line of the W&P in February, 1997
.
Unfortunately,
all was not well with No. 8 on our trip and we burned up her main generator
not far from Albany. The W&P came through with and engine of
their own and our trip was salvaged. This picture was taken on a
photo runby of the entire train. The consist was a W&P GP-39-2,
Medco 8 dead in tow, two excursion baggage cars from the W&P and the
ex-ATSF business car Caspar Mountain.
Southern Oregon Chapter, National Railway Historical Sociey Site