Tidewater Southern Railway
Gallery.. 1940-1949
September 21, 1947. Aurora and McHenry, California.
One day in the fall of 1947,
renowned railroad historian Guy Dunscomb chased a train north out of Modesto. One of the TS's fall harvest rush trains, this massive block of ice reefers required two WP locomotives to bring it northbound. WP 2-8-0 99 takes the
lead while cut in 8 cars back was Western Pacific 122, one of the smallest steam engines on the WP roster. The block appears to consist almost completely of Pacific Fruit Express reefers, including cars from the WP's small fleet of PFE's.
The second photo shows little 122, sandwiched between a WP PFE and a more common Union Pacific-Southern Pacific liveried car. The opposite side features the SP logo.
Guy L. Dunscomb photo, Martin E. Hansen collection.
February 16, 1946. Modesto, California.
SN box motor 602 rests at the Modesto Terminal near the end of its long lease to the TS during WWII. Soon, TS steeplecab 106 will return, albeit briefly, and the 602 and sister 601 will return to the SN and retirement. The 602 will survive however, preserved by the Bay Area Electric Railway Association.
Ted Wurm photo.
June 12, 1947. Aurora, California.
TS 2-6-2 132 heads north with a mixed freight while steeplecab electric 106 and GE 44 ton diesel 135 rest on the siding tracks. This was the northern limit of electirfication on the TS post-1932. The 106 had just cut off after escorting the steam train through central Modesto as required by city ordinance.
Guy L. Dunscomb photo, Martin E. Hansen collection.