COPPER &NICKEL ELECTRICSby DONN C. BARBER

Phoenix, Arizona may seem an unlikelylocation for locomotive rebuilding, butthanks to General Electric Co. and numer­ous Phoenix firms, the unlikely is takingplace.

The $500,000 rebuilding project allstarted when Kennecott Copper Co., ChinoMines Div., Silver City, New Mexico, soldeight of its replaced electric locomotives toInternational Nickel, Ltd., of Sudbury, On­tario, Canada.

The General Electric Phoenix ApparatusService Shop was selected by InternationalNickel to carry out the major rebuildingoperation. Joseph B. Levine was selected asproject coordinator and Byron Hensler se­lected as project foreman. Several membersof the mechanical crew were born aftermany of the locomotives were built.

A total of eight locomotives were trans­ported from New Mexico to Phoenix bysemi-trailer truck. International Nickel ori­ginally requested that five of the eight loco­motives be rebuilt, the remaining threeunits to be used for parts. Due to the excel­lent performance of the newly rebuilt loco­motives, I CO is considering having twomore units rebuilt.

Three units originally intended for scrapor parts salvage were unloaded by crane,for outside storage.

TRACTION ~ MODELS

ALL PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR UNLESS OTHERWISECREDITED.

All units arrived from New Mexico via semi-trailer, stripped ofparts and badly weather-beaten.

Two of three units originally intended for scrapping.

~~'--"Tl

No. 56 being transferred by overhead cranes to rebuilding locationwithin powerhouse.

15

16

Three superstructures and misc. partsrest on turbine deck awaiting their turnfor rebuilding.

Overhead view from turbine deck look­ing down on yet to be rebuilt powertrucks stored in rebuilding bay.

The five locomotives scheduled for re­building will leave Phoenix as new units,being completely rebuilt, painted and let­tered for the new owner. Each locomotivesuperstructure is being shipped by rail flatcar. The traction trucks and spare parts arebeing shipped by a second rail flat car. Fourcompleted locomotives, Nos. 121,123,125,& 126 have been thusly shipped to date.

As General Electric's local facilities werenot adequate to handle the task, space wasleased from Arizona Public Service Co. attheir West Phoenix Power Plant. The APSpower house is ideally suited for the re­building as the main structure is approxi­mately 60' wide by 400' long by 60' high,and equipped with a 75-ton overhead travel­ing crane and 10-ton auxiliary.

Two of the "pure electric locomotives"were built in 1950, the remaining units be­ing built at different dates during the1940's.

All units are presently rated at 85 tons,but will be rated heavier following reballast­ing upon delivery to Canada. The super­structures scale out at approximately71,000 Ibs., while each power truck weighsabout 47,000 Ibs.

All locomotives are of the same basicdesign with only slight variations in con­struction or detail. Two units have been re­built with centered hoods as shown in thephotos. The remaining three units will haveoffset hoods compatible with those ofInternational Nickel.

Each of the eight locomotives are swivelmounted on articulated power trucks con­taining 2-500 H.P., 600 Volt General Elec­tric traction motors per truck.

The articulated truck concept utilizedon the locomotives was, in theory, to trans­mit all pulling forces thru the trucks only,the superstructures being "along for theride."

The rebuilding process necessitated con­siderable work such as removal and repair orreplacement of the hoods, repair and recon­struction of the cabs, rebuilding and/or re­placement of all electrical com ponents. Pri­or to replacement of equipment, the super­structures were sandblasted, steam cleaned,and painted a prime coat. The tractiontrucks were disassembled, cleaned, necessaryrepairs and/or replacements made, andpainted. All traction motors will receive a

Wheelsets with attached bull-gears fol­lowing "Magniflux" inspection. Notecondition of flanges on wheels whichnecessitate replacement of severalwheels.

MAY, 1971

Only the foot boards need be added tocomplete truck for No. 126.

INCO No. 126 (formerly KCC No. 631preparatory to painting. Pantograph bas­es and other appurtenances will be addedafter units reach Canada, due to ship­ping clearances.

complete overhaul as necessary.Only 30 of the original wheels were

satisfactory for reconditioning. Additional46" wheels have been cast by a west coastfoundry and machined at a Phoenix ma­chine shop on a modified lathe. The loco­motives originally intended for scrappingwere: 52,56, and 59.

Although Phoenix has been without 0­

perating "electrics" for nearly a quarter of acentury, and may seem as an unlikely loca­tion for locomotive rebuilding, thanks toGeneral Electric, Phoenix again aas '.'EIec:­tries", at least temporarily.

INCO No. 126 being transported to railsiding for placement on power trucks.Photo by Stanley D. Schwendler.

No. 63 (lNCO No. 1261 in process ofbeing stripped for complete rebuilding.

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The first of 2 locomotives with centeredhoods. The balance of the locos willhave wider offset hoods.

Number 126 rolls out into the sunlighton its own wheels for the first time.

INCO No.

Ir-tCD12'

INCO 123INCO 126INCO 125INCO 122

'.JJlJI'n~J~

LOCOMOTIVE ROSTER

Builders Date & NumberGE March 1940 No. 12553GE March 1940 No. 12555GE March 1940 No. 12559GE April 1941 No. 13040GE Nov. 1942 No. 15625GE Dec. 1950 No. 30638GE Dec. 1950 No. 30639GE March 1940 No. 12557

..

Kennecott No.KCC 50KCC 52KCC 56KCC 59KCC 62KCC 63KCC 64KCC 54

ALL PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE

BY STANLEY D. SCHWENDLER.

Does it fit? Number 126 is lowered ontoits power trucks following rebuilding.

INCO No. 126 (KCC No. 63) ready forshipment to new owners. Pantographs,horns, bell and other roof details willbe added upon arrival in Canada.

18 MAY, 1971

HO POWER FROM N SCALE LOCOS

COVER PHOTO: Donn C. Barber, who furnished the slide for the coverpromises us 1/4" scale plans for these same locomotives at a futuredate. Photo shows newly rebuilt International Nickel-GE electric loco­motive at Phoenix, Ariz. Story on page 15.

COPPER & NICKEL ELECTRICS

LOS ANGELES PCC CARSPlans, photos and brief history of LATL

By Ed Leonard 7

By S. Soho 19

MG1y,1971

Volume 7, No.3

By DOfln C. Barber 15

By L. Gorton Baker 26

Amalgamated TractionInterests 30

Audit the Books 31Line Car 33

Scheduled Meets 33Merchandise Dispatch 34Traction Dealer Guide 35

How to do it yourself

Office Car 3Electroliners 5Advertisers Index 5Scrap Line 14

NMRA Traction Material 23Model Traction Photos 27,38

Old Electric Locos rebuilt in Phoenix

DIVISIONS:

BLOOMSBURG, 1971Photo Report of the Recent Meet

CONSIST:

TRACTION &MODELS

We are glad to hear that AlLamborn and Everitt Wood havelaunched the Model Traction Insti­tute-it is something that we havefelt needed to be done for a longtime. Best of everything to them.

Another thing that we have feltwas needed in the Traction Fan &Model field is an "Electric RailwayFoundation". Of course it wouldhave to be administered by a boardof directors, but so often we havetalked to fellows with wonderfulideas for a book, model or modelpart, but most of us are not for­tunate enough to have the money,time and ability, all at the sametime.

But if the "Electric Railway Foun­dation" was in operation, the boardof directors could consider a certainitem-let's sayan under-floor powertruck for HO traction, make arrange­ments for its manufacture and dis­tribution, and thus further the funin Model Traction, and encourageothers to submit their ideas, plansand inventions. Of course the direc­tors would serve without pay, their"seed money" coming from "in­vestors" who could expect a littleprofit and of course the inventorwould get a royalty from each itemhe was instrumental in designing.

Your comments, ideas, and con­tributions are earnestly solicited­for books on little known lines; brassimported models of less popular cars;future development of model traction-what do you think?

Vane A. Jones, Publisher

OFFICE CAR

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TRACTION ~ MODELS 3

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