Supplemental Power. The Georgetown Loop's Silver Plume Yard is home to a handful of relatively rare, narrow gauge diesel locomotives, which are used for yard switching as well as supplemental power for tourist trains. Sometimes, you'll see them used as helpers in conjunction with a steam locomotive and in some circumstances, they become the primary power. Two of these locomotives are GE Model U6, 52-Ton, End-Cab Road Switchers. Number 130, seen here, was built in 1956 and operated on U.S. Gypsum's narrow gauge line in Plaster City, CA before being acquired by Lindsey Ashby, the former operator of the Georgetown Loop. She ran on the loop from 1992 to 2004, and then spent some time at the Colorado Railroad Museum, when the Loop changed operators. As can be seen here, she and her sister (#140) were back at the Loop in 2016, and on this particular day, the 130 was being used as a helper with Steam Locomotive #111. During my next visit to the Loop in August of 2017, I saw this particular locomotive stripped of its cowlings and prime mover, apparently in the process of being re-engined. Hopefully, she'll be back soon. I'm not a big diesel fan, but the 130 and 140 are among the more visually appealing, narrow gauge diesels that I've seen.
From a hint of "Bee" (NKP 765), colorful "Bees" (KCS), "Bees" w/ "attitude", to "Bees" that "sting" your eyes, in their own way they have "Bee" on display! Equipment that "Buzzes" with Yellow & Black colors! ("Bees" can still "Bee" entering this "hive"!)
