SP&S 860: A Rare Survivor
EDITOR'S NOTE: The latest addition to the museum's collection of locomotives will be the former SP&S 860 donated to us by Derrik Klarr. The locomotive now sits in Pennsylvania and is being prepared for a move to Reardan. It was donated to the museum in late 2021 but a rockslide covering the rails close to where it has been stored still preventing transport. The 860 is ready to go and will be on its way in early 2023 [Update: Move completed in 2026]. The top photo shows its present color scheme while the inset photo illustrates its paint colors when it ran on the SP&S. It is slated to be a static display at the museum site. Board member Nate McKorkle shares a brief history of the locomotive below.
2026 UPDATE: The locomotive is now on display at the museum awaiting restoration.
Spokane, Portland & Seattle 860 was built in 1949 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and arrived to the SP&S with the number 860A-1. Its number was simplified to SP&S 860 in 1952. The SP&S 860 was an ALCO FA-1 locomotive that was originally powered by a 1,500 horsepower ALCO 244 diesel prime mover engine that produced electricity for the locomotive's four traction motors (one traction motor per axle).
SP&S 860 was built as a freight unit and served its whole life on the SP&S in freight service. As a cab end unit that was only practical to operate in one direction (whichever way the cab was facing), the SP&S 860 primarily pulled freight on the mainline of the SP&S system. While originally painted Pullman green, the SP&S 860 received an experimental paint scheme around 1964 in which the top part of the body was green and the lower half of the body and the nose were painted yellow. The nose had a green V shaped stripe.
After the SP&S was absorbed into the Burlington Northern merger in 1970, the SP&S 860 became the Burlington Northern 4108. It was subsequently sold to in mid-1973 to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). The LIRR repainted the 860 into LIRR colors and converted it into a power car with cab controls by removing the traction motor, detun-ing the engine (to provide electricity for connected passenger cars and adapting the cab controls to operate a locomotive at the opposite end of the train (for push-pull operations).
After 28 years with LIRR, the 860 was sold to Trains Touristiques de Chaudiere-Ap-palaches, a tourist line in Quebec, in 2001 and then New York and Greenwood Lake Railway (NYGL) in 2008. However, NYGL ceased operations in 2009 and the 860 sat idle in a fenced lot in Passaic through 2020 with other former NYL equipment. This equipment was saved when acquired by Operation Toy Train out of New Jersey.
Rail enthusiast and preservationist Derrek Klaar worked with Operation Toy Train to acquire the 860 to get the engine back to former SP&S territory.
Indeed, the 860 is a rare survivor. The Inland Northwest Rail Museum is not currently aware of any other museums or places where the public will be able to access a SP&S diesel locomotive that will be restored to its historically accurate appearance. Help us bring home this unique and valuable locomotive and restore it to reflect the glory days of SP&S diesel freight power.
2026 UPDATE: The locomotive is now on display at the museum awaiting restoration.
This article was originally published in the February 2023 issue of SIDETRACK.
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