Oregon Pacific Railroad 801
Last Update:  February 1, 2010
Oregon Pacific Railroad No. 801
Oregon Pacific Number 801 is also an EMD SW8 diesel-electric, but it's a bit older, being built in August, 1951.   This locomotive once served on
the Mt. Rainier Scenic RR among other larger RRs in it's career.   It was purchased by Mr. Samuels in 1993 for the Molalla Division.   
Photos: May, 2002
# 801 in 1993, when the railroad was  known as the Mololla Western. In
1997, the name would be changed to the Oregon Pacific
Photo by John Bauer, Rob Jacox collection, Courtesy of  Western Rails
This wonderful photo was taken by
Joyce Peters as the 801 makes it's
way under an overpass in Canby in
April, 2005.  
The 801 was purchased by Mr. Samuels in 1993 as one of his first dedicated engines to work on the newly acquired "Molalla
Western", which is what the current OPR Molalla Branch was originally called.    It was the first engine to be painted in the new
red/white color scheme as seen below, lettered for the Molalla Western, and named the Myron A. Satrum.

It was formerly owned by the Mt. Rainer Scenic Railroad as their 801.   Before that, it was owned by the Burlington Northern
as their 99 and the Great Northern as their 99.   Mr. Samuels purchased it from Pete Replinger.   The 801 was built in August,
1951 for the Great Northern RR and originally numbered 99.   It is serial No. 13305, frame No. 4089-2.   It is equipped with a
V-8 EMD 8-567-B, making 800 h.p.

The 801 has spent most of its career with the OPR, on the Molalla Branch.  Today, it still operates on the Molalla Branch.   

In the late 1990s, the engine was worn out and Mr. Samuels was told that the engine was not rebuildable.   He later
purchased the 1810 to replace the 801, but contract heavy diesel mechanic, Jerry Van Loo was able to rebuild the 801 and it
continued service.

For several years, the 801 was relegated to back up service while the 802 resumed most duties on the Molalla Branch.   
However, in 2009, the 801's 567B was again rebuilt, with all new exchange power assemblies added.   Since then, the 801
has been restored to front line service on the Molalla Branch.   The 802 is now in back up service, scheduled to return to the
OPR Milwaukie shops for a full overhaul and restoration.  No. 901 now augments the 801 as the primary switch engines for
the Molalla Branch, with the 901 generally used to switch American Steel and the 801 generally used to switch RSG Forest
Products and Willamette Egg.

This photo shows the 801 when it was the 99 with the BN in 1979.  This one from 1982.

In January, 2010, minor repairs were conducted on the 801 to help extend its service life when one of the power assemblies
installed in 2009 had to removed and resealed.   Detailed photos can be seen here.
Oregon Pacific Number 801 at Liberal, Oregon
Photos: August 2007
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Additional photos of the 801 taken in early spring 2008, showing it set out at the Liberal Yard.   The 801 is now primarily set aside for back up use
only.  Photos: March, 2008
Photos of the 801 at Liberal.  Photos: September, 2008
Photos of the 801 at the Canby Wye  Photos: October, 2008
# 801 in the 1970s still in Great Northern colors and markings.
Photo courtesy of Todd Montgomery