Oregon Pacific Railroad Locomotive 602

Oregon Pacific Railroad 602

Last Update: May 19, 2009

Oregon Pacific Railroad No. 602

Photo on the left is courtesy of Matt Wolford, taken in 2000 in Liberal. Photo on the right was taken by me in May, 2002 and shows # 602 at
Liberal, in the background.

The 602 at Liberal, Oregon Photos: August 2007

The 602 was purchased by Mr. Samuels in approximately 1994 at auction when the Oregon Pacific & Eastern Railroad closed
down and was abandoned that same year.    It is one of two surviving OP&E locomotives, which were the last two diesels to
operate on that line.

Prior to the OP&E, it was operated by the Yreka Western RR and the Bamberger Railroad also as their 602.   Bamberger
purchased it new 1952, then sold it to the Yreka Western in 1958.   It was transfered to Yreka's sister railroad, the OP&E in
1978 and used by the OP&E through it's final days.

Build date is July, 1952, serial number 17230.

For several years after being purchased by Mr. Samuels, the 602 operated on the Molalla Branch.   By 1996, the No. 803
arrived and was put into service, augmenting the No. 801.   As the 801 and 803 operated, the No. 602 remained mostly in
back up service.   In recent years, the No. 602 has not be used and has remained in storage in the Liberal Yard where it
remains today.

Here is a photo of the 602 while it was operating on the Yreka Western in 1977. And another from 1963.

This photo was taken of the 602 in 1986 while operating on the OP&E.