A Brief HistoryThe OC&E extended 65 miles from Klamath Falls, OR, east to Bly. Construction began in 1922 and was completed to Bly in 1930. It was purchased jointly by the Southern Pacific and Great Northern in 1933, and operated alternately by the two roads for five year periods. The line was sold to the Weyerhaeuser Company on January 1, 1975, and began independant operation. Weyerhaeuser had an extensive network of logging lines extending north from Sycan, about 50 miles east of Klamath Falls, and both operations were based out of Sycan, where the shops were located. The OC&E ran its final log train to Klamath Falls on April 29, 1990. Two locomotives were kept in Klamath Falls to switch some local industries, all other equipment was stored at Sycan. On September 10, 1991, all locomotives and rolling stock were moved from Sycan to Klamath Falls, and the line was soon abandoned. For a complete history of the OC&E, please read the file Twilight for the OC&E by Donovan Gray. This excellent article was published in CTC Board magazine, June, 1990 (Issue #167), and sent to me by Mr. Gray for use here. This is a Rich Text Format file that should be readable by most browsers by clicking on the link. You can also right-click on it and select "Save target as...". It is a pretty long article, you may want to print it and read it in a comfortable chair. Revised file posted 7/30/02.
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Modeling the OC&E?I have never had any plans to model the OC&E or any of it's equipment, but on Jan. 27, 2005, I found TWO sets of no longer available HO scale Herald King decals for the OC&E's MK TE53-1-4E'a and S3-3B slugs at The Whistle Stop in Portland, OR. (Herald King quit producing decals several years ago). So, now I need to locate one or two Stewart U25B's to kitbash some OC&E units, though I suppose I could kitbash one of the slugs out of an Athearn U28/30/33B. I certainly can't let these decals go to waste!
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Photos |
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New! Added 7/31/02
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New! Added 7/31/02
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New! Added 7/31/02
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New! Added 7/31/02
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Great Northern Geeps
Klamath Falls Yard Keith Ardinger photo July? 1969
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RSD-12 #2958
Sycan, OR Keith Ardinger photo August? 1975
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Baldwins on log train
Klamath Falls, OR Keith Ardinger photo July 7, 1978
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Baldwins on log train
Klamath Falls, OR Keith Ardinger photo July 7, 1978
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DS-4-4-750 #101
Klamath Falls, OR Aug. 19, 1995 |
TE53-1-4E #7604
Klamath Falls, OR Sept. 1978 Don Hall photo |
TE53-1-4E #310
Sycan, OR Jan. 13, 1984 Jim Bryant photo |
Baldwin RS-12 #7908
Sycan, OR Jan. 13, 1984 Jim Bryant photo |
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Klamath Falls, OR
Summer 1983 Jim Bryant photo |
Klamath Falls, OR
Summer 1983 Jim Bryant photo |
Klamath Falls, OR
Summer 1985 Jim Bryant photo |
Caboose #2007
Klamath Falls, OR Summer 1985 Jim Bryant photo |
Links to OC&E photos
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Locomotive Roster |
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No. | Builder | Model | Serial | Built | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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101
102 104 105
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Baldwin
Baldwin Baldwin Baldwin |
DS-4-4-750
DS-4-4-750 S-8 S-8 |
Four Baldwin switchers acquired for use on the Woods Line out of Sycan, and not considered OC&E units. See Woods Line roster (coming soon) for information on these units. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
310 | GE/MK | TE53-1-4E | 35535 | 8/62 | Transferred from Longview, WA, operation in 1979. Remanufactured 12/75 by MK from ex-UP U25B 637. Engine destroyed from low water in 1986, retired and stripped at Sycan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
311
312 314
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EMD
EMD EMD |
GP9
GP9 GP9 |
Three ex-BN GP9's assigned to the Woods Line out of Sycan, and not considered OC&E units. See Woods Line roster (coming soon) for information on these units. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2904 | Alco | RS-11 | Acquired in 1975, ex-SP 2904. Out of service by L/76, disposition unknown. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2950
2954 2958 2959
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Alco
Alco Alco Alco |
RSD-12
RSD-12 RSD-12 RSD-12 |
83640
83644 83838 83839 |
2/61
2/61 2/61 2/61 |
Acquired 3/75, ex-SP 2950, nee-7000. Sold to MK 3/76.
Acquired 3/75, ex-SP 2954, nee-7004. Sold back to SP 1/76. Acquired 3/75, ex-SP 2958, nee-7008. Sold back to SP 1/76. Acquired 3/75, ex-SP 2959, nee-7009. Sold back to SP 1/76. |
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7601 | GE/MK | TE53-1-4E | 34537 | 9/62 | Remanufactured 6/76 by MK from ex-UP U25B 639. Sold in 1992 to Econo-Rail, resold in 1997 to Longhorn Railway Co. (Texas), same#. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7602 | GE/MK | TE53-1-4E | 34239 | 2/62 | Remanufactured 7/76 by MK from ex-UP U25B 633, nee-GE Demo 2501. Sold to Econo-Rail in 1992. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7603 | GE/MK | TE53-1-4E | 34538 | 9/62 | Remanufactured 7/76 by MK from ex-UP U25B 640. Sold to Econo-Rail (Texas) in 1992. Was assigned to Port of Beaumont, TX, 1/95 - see notes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7604 | GE/MK | TE53-1-4E | 34228 | 8/61 | Remanufactured 9/76 by MK from ex-UP U25B 628. Sold to Econo-Rail (Texas) in 1992. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7605 | GE/MK | TE53-1-4E | 34536 | 9/62 | Remanufactured 8/76 by MK from ex-UP U25B 638. Sold to Econo-Rail (Texas) in 1992, then to (sold or leased?) Union Carbide Corp. (Seadrift, TX), same#. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7606 | GE/MK | Slug | 34238 | 5/62 | Remanufactured 6/76 by MK from ex-UP U25B 629. Sold to Econo-Rail (Texas) in 1992. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7607 | GE/MK | Slug | 34237 | 2/62 | Remanufactured 7/76 by MK from ex-UP U25B 636, nee GE Demo 2504. Sold to Econo-Rail (Texas) in 1992. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7908 | BLW | RS-12 | 75475 | 5/52 | Acquired in 1979, ex-SCL 207, nee-SAL 1466. Sold by 9/84 to E&LS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7909 | BLW | RS-12 | 75477 | 5/52 | Acquired in 1979, ex-SCL 209, nee-SAL 1468. Sold by 9/84 to E&LS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7910 | BLW | RS-12 | 75478 | 5/52 | Acquired in 1979, ex-SCL 210, nee-SAL 1469. Sold by 9/84 to E&LS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7911 | BLW | RS-12 | 75479 | 5/52 | Acquired in 1979, ex-SCL 211, nee-SAL 1470. Sold by 9/84 to E&LS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roster Notes
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CreditsI would like to thank Keith Ardinger, Don Hall and Jim Bryant for contributing the photos on this page, and Donovan Gray for contributing the text to his excellent article he wrote for CTC Board magazine. The images and text on this page are used here with written persmission of the owners. Please do not reproduce, publish, or otherwise distribute these images. You are welcome to save any images on your computer for reference or personal enjoyment.
Bibliography
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This page was created on October 29, 2001 and last updated on July 31, 2002