East Portland Traction 187, Portland Oregon, February 2004
East Portland Traction 187, Portland Oregon, February 2004
The NW5 was EMD's response to Alco's successful RS-1 roadswitcher, and was basically an EMD switch engine with road trucks and a short hood containing a steam generator. However, the formula that worked for Alco did not work for EMD and only 13 NW5s were built in 1946 and 1947.
As this locomotive was exposed to the elements in an industrial area of Portland and easily accessible, it suffered from vandalism and decay and was scrapped in 2013. Fortunately, two of these rarities have been preserved.
One of these can be found at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, MN! They even use it on excursions, it's usually the power for the Duluth Zephyr, which runs from the museum to the edge of Duluth & back. It's amazing to be able see such a rare specimen up close.