Photo courtesy of Matt McCullor
Photo taken at Alaska Railroad's Anchorage Shops
in March 2000
No. 4004 the "Spirit of Whittier" was assembled at EMD's Juniata Plant
in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It traveled with sister unit 4005
from Chicago's Proviso Yard to The Dalles, OR. It was here that a
minor accident took place. From an anonymous source (01/18/00): "There
is a little bad news though. The 4004 has suffered a little damage to the
rear pilot. It looks as though the rear coupler on the 4004 or the coupler
on the unit in which was being backed into it was off center. This resulted
in the couplers not coupling and the top parts of the pilots hit. The top
of the pilot where it is extended so a person can walk from unit to unit
has been crumpled on the fireman's side. The damage is not severe, but
noticeable. I bet the ARR is not going to be too happy."
From John Henderson (1/25/00): "At 4:30 PM January 24, 2000 Alaska RR 4004
was sitting on the PRAXAIR spur along with UP 7500. It is headed
for CEECO (Coast Engine and Equipment Co.) for repairs of damage reported
caused during coupling on its way west."
After the damages were repaired, the unit was shipped to Seattle, Washington
and arrived in Anchorage on February 18, 2000. On February 26, 4004
was part of the first ARR SD70MAC test run by pulling 44 coal cars from
Anchorage to Seward.
For more information, see my ARR SD70MAC
page.
Cheyenne, WY 01/00
Cheyenne, WY 2/01/00
ANCHORAGE 08/19/03
Seattle, WA