In 1970 when this picture was taken, this was probably the last major backshop in North America to overhaul steam engines on a regular basis. The former IRCA
shops in Guatemala City were relatively modern by steam standards, and built when the IRCA was a very busy railroad with a lot of engines to maintain. By the late 1960's the IRCA was largely dieselized, but the loss of much of the United Fruit business and newly built parallel highways created major financial problems. Spare parts for the diesels required hard currency, whereas the skilled work force in the shops could fabricate or repair about everything needed for a steam engine. So when the IRCA was nationalized and became the Ferrocarriles de Guatemala, it was "steamizing", with retired steamers brought out of storage, repaired (often minimally), and pressed back into service.This lasted for only a few more years, as new diesels were ordered and business continued to decline.
