Modesto and Empire Traction

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I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. The Modesto and Empire Traction is still one of the most interesting surviving shortlines in California Railroading in the 21st century.

I am really regretting that I didn't focus attention on this little gem of a railroad until late 2008 early 2009. Even then, it was hard with my busy work schedule to concentrate time on it. But, I managed a few trips out there before the 70-tonners were put out to pasture.

I will admit I started photographing the M&ET because the locomotives they were running were really neat and were going away. What I found was that the M&ET wasn't just a railroad with really cool old locomotives. It is also a really cool railroad.

At first it was frustrating. Harry Wong once commented that chasing the M&ET was like playing Whack-A-Mole with an SUV. But, after spending time there and starting to get a feel for how the railroad operates you realize it is very logical and well run with great folks working there.

In this age of point to point commodity railroading and double stacks it is very refreshing to spend time chasing a well run profitable industrial switching railroad. The 70-tonners may be gone. But, even if only because the owners and employees take pride in running a railroad, the M&ET remains a blast from the past.

Some of these photos are from my 35mm and 6x7 black and white (bw) film cameras, some are color digitals, some are scanned slides and medium format transparencies. As always, comments, corrections and new information is appreciated!

~Steve Sloan [e-mail me]

Modesto and Empire Traction Company

Locomotives; Action and Roster

M&ET Locomotives

Click on the following links to see pictures related to the M&ET:

600 Series: GE 70 Tonners
1500 Series: EMD SW1500s
2000 Series: Railpower RP20DBs

Other M&ET Related

Construction at Valley Transload: Construction at Valley Transload in Empire, CA on January 19, 2009.
Nikon D2Hs Digital Image: 2009011901_048

Railpower Locomotives on M&ET

See Technologies Corp. Pages

My M&ET Videos on YouTube

M&ET GE 70-tonners at Work, Volume One: A 70 tonner set picks up a cut of cars from the BNSF Interchange. On November 21, 2008 Modesto and Empire Traction 70 Tonners were hard at work between Empire and Modesto, California. These historic little General Electric locomotives are over 50-years old. Their days are numbered because their replacements were coming as these videos were shot.
M&ET 70-tonners at Work, Volume Two: The second in a series of videos on the M&ET. This one was shot near Stanislaus Foods at the Riverside Yard around Nathan Ave. On November 21, 2008 Modesto and Empire Traction 70 Tonners were hard at work between Modesto and Empire, California. These little General Electric locomotives are over 50-years old. Their days are numbered because their replacements were coming as these videos were shot.

Special Thanks!

To all the great folks who helped me out with information for these Web pages!

Steve Sloan Train Photos