Locomotive 1809
Unit 1809 went to the Alaska RR in november 1952, as it was leased from the Army for a
3 year trial period. In november 1955, it went back to Vandenberg Air Force Base (CA). In
late 1981 / early 1982, it went to the Pacific SW Railroad Museum (San Diego Railroad Museum) toghether with #1820.
San Diego & Arizona #1809 prepares to pull its excursion train eastbound up the 1.4%
grade to Miller Creek with volunteer engineer Jack O'Lexey at the throttle. These
excursion trains are run most every weekend and most holidays at 12:01 and 2:30 on a
fifteen mile round trip into the mountains of San Diego County. #1809 is an EMD MRS-1
(Military Road Switcher with variable gauge) built in 1952, and wears the "Black
Widow" paint scheme made famous by the Southern Pacific.
Photo by Randy Houk
Detailed history, available on the SDRM website.
San Diego & Arizona #1809 prepares to pull its excursion train eastbound up the 1.4%
grade to Miller Creek with volunteer engineer Jack O'Lexey at the throttle. These
excursion trains are run most every weekend and most holidays at 12:01 and 2:30 on a
fifteen mile round trip into the mountains of San Diego County. #1809 is an EMD MRS-1
(Military Road Switcher with variable gauge) built in 1952, and wears the "Black
Widow" paint scheme made famous by the Southern Pacific.