Canadian National 5000, Prince Rupert, 1958. When I look at this photo, I wonder “Why oh why did I not take a screwdriver to the locomotive plate beside me?"
Two reasons. 1st of all at age 14, and a newbie ferroequinologist, I had no idea about its importance. 2nd, and most telling, my Dad took this photo of me, and he would have never allowed me to begin a lifetime of thievery!
Which leads me to a lapse, a few years later, when I grabbed the builder’s plate off Alaska Railroad SW1 1203. She was sitting on death row at General Metals in Tacoma. My rational? If I didn’t grab it, someone else would. What would you have done?

Not often noticed by rail fans, not only locomotives had builders plates, but boxcars often had identification plates, such as this one on Northern Pacific 7408, taken in Prince Rupert on April 8th, 1959, on Tri-X film at f.16, 1/300th second.
Talk about your “tax shelters!” A real estate company owning boxcars? There is a lot more to this tax shelter – I remember an investment broker offering my wife and I a couple of boxcars, but I cannot remember how the scam worked.
Perhaps if you know about such a plan, you can add it to the “Comments” section at the end of this article.
I recently sold the boiler plate from CNR 7358 on eBay. The plate was given to me by a old friend of the family, who was Road Forman of Engines in Victoria.


Finally, I also own this plate from a GE locomotive. But I cannot remember where I got it, and what locomotive it belongs to. Any help from my readers?

2 Comments - Click here:
I would have taken the plate too! You have such a great collection of pictures, memorabillia and stories.
I wish it was as easy to get into a yard as it was in the 1950's. I live near the Union Pacific yard in the San Fernando Valley, CA, and in order to get decent pictures, I have to find a spot away from the yard near the tracks.
They don't take kindly to stranges snapping photos anymore.
GE 15701 is a GE 25 ton Locomitive form Bethlehem Steel Seattle Washington. Pretty neat since you worked there.
Bob G
Post a Comment
"Comment" is for sharing information related to this article. "Anonymous" comments are not published.