By Eric Berger
A modified Baldwin diesel switcher that spent nearly four decades in service on the Frisco before having a second career in the U.S. military, has reached a well-earned retirement at the Oklahoma Railway Museum. The unit is USAX 4648, originally a VO-1000 built as SLSF 206.
The engine was set out with a warm bearing in Winslow, Ariz., en route from California, but eventually arrived at ORM on August 23. It is otherwise believed to be in fairly good mechanical condition. It becomes the first Baldwin model at ORM, which has multiple examples of Alco, EMD and GE models.
Emerging from the Eddystone plant in 1942, just a month after the United States entered World War II, the 206 was part of the first order for diesel locomotives ever placed by the St. Louis-San Francisco. It was the fourth of 38 VO-1000s the railroad would eventually roster and is one of two survivors from that group, the other being class unit SLSF 200 at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.
By the mid-1950s, early First Generation diesels were reaching the end of their anticipated lifespans and builders, including Alco, Baldwin and EMD, offered rebuilding programs as an alternative to buying new locomotives. Baldwin ended production in 1956 and Frisco was among the railroads that sent Baldwins (and Alcos) to EMD for rebuilding beginning in 1957. Both of the surviving units went through the program, which included the replacement of their eight-cylinder De La Vergne VO prime movers with an EMD 567C. The original hoods were too narrow to accommodate the new engines and were replaced with EMD SW1200 hoods. The trucks, cab, frame and the distinctive curved trim along the walkway between the cab and frame were retained.
The new lease on life turned out to be a 20-year lease for some of the Baldwin units, which remained on the Frisco roster until a round of housecleaning led to their retirements prior to the 1980 merger with Burlington Northern. For several, new careers with the U.S. military would begin in 1981. While the 200 served as a Navy unit until its 2015 acquisition by TVRM, SLSF 206 ended up in the Army as USAX 4648. It was stationed with the 834th Transportation Battalion at Port Chicago, Calif., now Military Ocean Terminal Concord.
