The Texas Mexican Railway,
which runs
between Laredo and Corpus Christi, was the first "Class 1" railroad to
completely replace its steam engines with diesel locomotives. No.
510 was in the second wave of new diesels that displaced steam on the
Tex-Mex's
lines.
In the photo above, museum volunteers have almost completed
the repainting
of No. 510 into her original Tex-Mex green and orange colors. No.
510 was built in Eddystone, Pennsylvania, by the Baldwin Locomotive
Works.
Texas Mexican used the 750-hp locomotive for switching chores at its
various
rail yards. However, No. 510 is more than just another switch
engine
- she is a movie star! The engine was assigned the task of
pulling
a train over Jack Nicholson in the film The Border, shot
partially
in one of the Tex-Mex's yards.
In the mid-1970s, No. 510 was sold to the Texas Crushed
Stone Co. (TCS)
of Georgetown, Texas. The locomotive operated in the TCS gravel
yard
in Houston, hauling uncounted tons of rock destined for use in building
Houston's freeways. In 1984, a newer locomotive took over duties
at the gravel yard, and No. 510 was set aside as a spare. By
1989,
No. 510 had become surplus to TCS' needs, and upon donation, the
198,200-lb
engine became the first locomotive acquired by the Gulf Coast Railroad
Museum. The locomotive is in running condition.
Below, local Houston TV reporter Cynthia Cisneros
broadcasts live
from the cab of No. 510
during an October 2002 afternoon news program that featured
the
Gulf Coast Railroad Museum.
The two photos below show No. 510 during her active
career on the
Texas Mexican
and at the gravel pit in Houston. Scroll down for more
pictures.
Above, preparing No. 510 for her new coat of Tex Mex
green and orange.
Below, just a few tiger stripes to go.
The photos below of No. 510 in service on the Tex-Mex were forwarded to the museum
by Tom Guernsey in early 2009. Thanks, Tom!
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