United States Gypsum.

Equipment Roster - Compiled by Randy Hees.

Locomotives.

No. 2, “Lucy” Plymouth gasoline/mechanical, model HLB, c/n 3170 for Pacific Portland Cement (Old Mission Cement), San Juan Batista , purchased 1936, transferred to Plaster City in 1940 when San Juan Batista plant closed, transferred to Pacific Portland Cement Sweetwater plant (Texas), 1946.

No. 4, Baldwin 4-4-0, 8-18c 30, c/n 3971, for South Pacific Coast, No 3, to Colusa & Lake No 4, to United Commercial (scrapper, used equipment dealer) to Imperial Valley Gypsum 1921, used to construct line, scrapped 1936. It is believed that the locomotive was initially leased, and photos show it lettered for United Comercial.

No. 8, Baldwin 2-8-0, c/n 6057, built for D&RG, 2/1882, class 60 (later C-16), No 283, to Nevada County Narrow gauge No 8, 1933, to Dulien Steel (scrapper), to Plaster City 1943, scrapped 1947.

No. 12, Porter 2-6-0 c/n 2123, 4/1900 for Arizona & New Mexico Ry No 12, (Arizona Consolidated Copper Co.) Clifton AZ, 16x22, 46”, 41 ton, class C-2-T, to Plaster City, 1922, scrapped 1946.

No. 14, Porter 2-6-0 c/n 2124, 4/1900 for Arizona & New Mexico Ry, (Arizona Consolidated Copper Co.) Clifton AZ, 16x22, 46”, 41 ton, class C-2-T, to Plaster City, 1922, Retired in 1930’s, and stripped for parts for No 12, scrapped 1946.

No. 40, Whitcomb, 300 hp 8 wheel center cab diesel, 40-DE-17, c/n 60072, built May 1941 for US Navy Ammunition Depot, Oahu, Hawaii, to Plaster City 1947, sold 1954 to Canadian Gypsum Co, New Brunswick, converted to 42” gauge.

No. 1203, Porter 600 hp c-c diesel, 75 tons, cn 8096, 1946, apparently ordered for Pakistan, but diverted by the factory, for a cost of $69,855, delivered 7/1947, sold 1979 to Albert Horn, for $25,000, to Huckberry RR, Flint, Michigan. Disabled Aug 1990 by blown engine, sold to Colorado Historical Society for Georgetown Loop, Feb 2005, rebuilt by Sumter Valley RR, Place in service May 2008.

No. 1303, General Electric 400 hp diesel, 50 ton, cn 32658, 7/1956, to Lindsey Ashby (Georgetown Loop) 1992, No 130, now at Colorado Railroad Museum.

No. 1403, General Electric 400 hp diesel, 50 ton, cn 32675, 7/1956, to Lindsey Ashby (Georgetown Loop) 1992, No 140, now at Colorado Railroad Museum.

No. 111, Bombadier DL535E, c-c diesel, 1,200 hp, built for White Pass 7/1982, never delivered to White Pass, Sold to US Gypsum 2/1993 to replace wrecked No 113.

No. 112, Bombadier DL535E, c-c diesel, 1,200 hp, built for White Pass 7/1982, never delivered to White Pass, Sold to US Gypsum 1/1991.

No. 113, Bombadier DL535E, c-c diesel, 1,200 hp, built for White Pass 7/1982, never delivered to White Pass, Sold to US Gypsum 1/1991, wrecked, December 1992, scrapped.

“Blue Goose” motor car, consisting to two 1953 Chrysler coupes back to back with a center engine. Disposition uncertain.

Leased and other locomotives.

SP No 8, Baldwin 4-6-0, c/n 31445, 1907, for NCO, 16x20, 44”, 81,000 lbs, to SP 1929, retired 1955, to Nevada State Railroad Museum, currently displayed in Sparks Nevada.

SP No 9, Baldwin 4-6-0, c/n 34035, 1909, for NCO, 16x20, 44”, 88,000 lbs, to SP 1929, retired 1960, to Inyo County, displayed at Laws, Califorinia. This was the last steam locomotive used on the Plaster City railroad c. 1953 while No 1203 was being re-engined.

Eureka & Palisade No 4, Eureka, Baldwin 4-4-0, 8-18c 18, c/n 3763, was tested after being restored, c.1990.

Rolling Stock.

The earliest (1922) cars were flat cars from Colusa & Lake purchased through United Comerical. These were wood frame truss rod cars used to build the line.

At the time of opening the line is reported to have 10 ore cars, photos show flat cars equipped with three steel bins, which could be dumped to one side. The early photos show wood truss rod flat cars, likely from the C&L, but later photos show steel framed flat cars.

Photos also show; some flat cars, (as flatcars), at least four, 4 wheel side dumps, at least 4 different tank (water) cars, two different cabooses, and early car numbered 021, and a later (post 1946?) steel “crew” car (this later car is reported to have been donated to the Railway Historical Society of San Diego, but since scrapped) and a 8 wheel side dump, purchased from Austin-Western at the same time as the first group of steel hoppers (this car since donated to the Railway Historical Society of San Diego).

During the 1947 modernization program after the sale to USG, a crusher was installed at the quarry, allowing the use of steel, air operated (bottom dump) hoppers with a capacity of 50 tons.

The first 16 cars (1-16) were built in 1947 by Austin-Western to run with Porter 1203.

Five additional cars, (17-20) were added in August 1957. (note, the two orders as reported should total 21 cars)

The third series, welded, more rectangular with exterior vertical side "stake" bracing wad built by Difco in 1999, numbered 21-25.

Trinity (successor to Difco) delivered 12 cars, numbered 26-37 in 2000. They differ from the Difco cars by having two step stirrups on the corners instead of single step stirrups.

As of 2008 there were 30 hoppers in service. Some of the older cars have been scrapped; several others are out of service due to wreck damage and/or being stripped for parts (parked on the tail of the wye at Plaster City).

Currently, there are only two service cars on hand, one flat car and one water car, both in regular use. Both were built by Trinity in 2008 (the tank on the tank car is from an earlier water car) The flat car is used to transfer the backhoe and other smaller equipment between mine and mill as needed. The tank car is normally parked at the mine, which has no water supply. It is brought to Plaster City every couple of days to be refilled.