Juan M. Celorio photo
Barton Jennings' recent visit to Ferromex in Mexico:
April 2, 2001...dead at Mazatlan - M424: 561, 563, 567, 571, 574 M420TR-2:
531, 534
April 4, 2001...dead at Guadalajara - RS-11: 7219 M420TR-2: 524 M630: 707,
724 M424: 564, 568, 570, 573
(By the way, Ferromex has a new shop complex here at Guadalajara, they've
been in it about 1 month. This complex is on the grounds of the old NdeM
shops and includes a brand new roundhouse! There are about 45 GE's stored
dead here in addition to the dead Alcos.)
In April 2001, TFVM 7447 and 7468 (RSD-12) are stored again.
A few observations from John Bensons's recent Mexican trip (January
2001):
The 2 TFVM RSD12s, 7447 and 7468, are now lettered (thanks to Juan
Celorio). They are in an attractive scheme based on the FNM two tone blue
paint, with the dark blue replaced by green and the light blue band is now
yellow. The group of C628/C628u are still stored in the roundhouse and are
for sale. I tracked down an RS2 located about 15 miles west of Colima. I
believe the unit is ex-EJ&E. Lettered for Las Encinas S.A.Stored FXE
units in Guadalajara: The Alcos and GEs that have been stored since 1998
are still there. (524, 540, 564, 568, 570, 573, 707, 724, 7229)
FXE 501, RS11, is still operating out of the ex-FCP engine facility in
Guadalajara. The long hood has had the FNM lettering removed and a bigger
FXE decal applied. Still in green/cream paint.
I tracked down an RS2 located about 15 miles west of Colima. I
believe the unit is ex-EJ&E. Lettered for Las Encinas S.A.
6/17-24, 2000 sightings by John Benson and Paul Wester:
FNM C628u 8310 and FNM RSD12 7447 in MPI Shop Mexico City for evaluation
and possible return to service on TFVM. Alcos in roundhouse are NdeM 8321,
8322, FNM 8324, NdeM blue 8328, NdeM 8300, 8311, 8330, FNM 7404, NdeM 220,
FNM 8310, NdeM 7414, 8301, 7437, FNM 7455, 7447, 7468. Outside stripped
were: NdeM 7442, FNM 8611, NdeM 610, and NdeM blue 204.
Stored in FNM Pantaco coach yard were: NdeM 9119, NdeM blue 9124, FNM 420,
421,424, 425.
At Alstom Shops (Mex. City): NdeM blue 9110.
Wrecked in Aguascalientes: FNM 8810.
Stripped in Saltillo: NdeM 6709 and FNM 6715. Ferrosur SF30C 9521 still in
full FNM paint. One other SF30C known to be in service on Ferrosur. We
think the number is 9530.
At MPI San Luis Potosi: Last unit to be painted in full FNM paint: 9220.
Group of SW1504s and MP15ACs in TFVM paint but lettered for HLCX.
At GE San Luis Potosi: The entire group of GECX Super 7s (3000 series)
that had been in service on FXE.
Ferromex rosters a number of ALCos and MLWs from which the RS11 # 501 was definetely reported active during 99. All 251-powered units are proposed for yard use only, if at all.
John Benson, 15.01.99:
Returned from Mexico and the news is not good. The only Alco that may be
operating on the Ferromex System is ex-FNM 501, RS-11. Still in
green/cream but with a Ferromex Logo added. Working in Guadalajara. Also
there was 3 M420Ms, 1 M420TR, 1 RS11, 1 M630W and 1 M630, also dead. The
remains of 2 ex- NdeM RS11s sitting on ground. The ALCO days are over.
Empalme shops, aka the ALCO hospital, is for all practical purposes,
closed. There is a remote possibility that MPI might move in, but as of
2/13/99 the shop has workers, but no work. Many of the ex-BCR units, along
with other ALCO, MLW and GE products that were stored at Empalme have been
scrapped.
Can anyone save a C628 before they are all gone?
|
Ferromex 501, a spotless ALCo RS-11 in a view from 1998. Juan M. Celorio photo |
 |
N de M #574 (an M424) at Nogales, January 1988. Doug E. Cummings photo |
Stored ALCos of as of September 99:
Units BO at Terminal Valle de Mexico, owned by FNM
sideline # 1:
TVM roundhouse in summer 99. Juan M. Celorio photo |
 |
Inside roundhouse (Roundhouse owned by FTVM - unfortunately it will be demolished anytime soon):
| RSD12 | 7404, 7414, 7437, 7447, 7455, 7468 |
| C628 | 8300, 8301, 8303, 8311, 8321, 8322, 8324, 8328 |
(Surprisingly C628's 8310 & 8330 have been seen in operation recently)
Andy Inserra contributed the roster below:
National Railway of Mexico (N de M) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | MODEL | HP | Qty. | NOTES |
| FCP 501-520 | RS-11 | 1800 | 6 | entered service 1958-62 |
| FCP 522-535 | M420TR-2 | 2000 | 5 | has a switcher style body and cab with road-unit trucks |
| FCP 547-558 | API620 | 2000 | 8 | rebuilt from RSD5's with Alco kits, ex-801, 803, 802, 806, 823, 809, 820, 816, 835, 831, 812, 814, 817, Super Cinco [Super Five] series |
| 561-574 | M424 | 2400 | 9 | wide cabs, entered service 1981 |
| FCP 576-587 | BX620 | 2000 | 7 | rebuilt from RSD5's with Bombardier kits, ex-#829, 808, 810, 819, 821, 827, 825, 828, 826, 811, 818, 834, 833, 822, 832, 815, Super Cinco [Super Five] series |
| 601-617 | C628 | 2750 | 7 | ex-D+H of the same numbers |
| FCP 656-666 | M636 | 3600 | 4 | some rebuilt to Super Seis [Super Six] series, entered service in 1973-74 |
| 709-730 | M630 | 3000 | 18 | ex- BC Rail, some have wide noses |
| 3219 | C424 | 2400 | 1 | |
| 5302 | S6 | 900 | 1 | |
| 5700 | C420 | 2000 | 1 | |
| 7207-7295 | RS11 | 1800 | 14 | entered service in 1963-64 |
| 7403-7471 | RSD12 | 1800 | 19 | |
| 8116 | C424 | 2400 | 1 | |
| 8300-8331 | C628 | 2750 | 11 | |
| 8600-8616 | M636 | 3600 | 5 | some rebuilt to Super Seis [Super Six] series |
| 8600-8616 | M424 | 2400 | 18 | wide cabs |
Spotted ALCo power in storage at Mazatlan (Feb 99):
M420TR: 531 (blue and yellow (FCP?)), 534 (grey FNM)
M424: 561 (FNM blue), 563 (FNM grey), 567 (FNM blue), 571 (FNM
blue), 574 (FNM blue)
Back to country list
Last update 05.07.00