Birth of a Black Widow
When the SDRM received SP#3873 from Union Pacific in 1996 she was still in her "bloody nose" Southern Pacific paint scheme and quite worn looking. It was decided early on that we wanted her to be painted in SP's classic Black Widow scheme, to match our #1809. Museum volunteers spent many hours sanding, priming, sanding, priming again, then painting the locomotive.
SP#3873 as she looked when she was received

 
SP#3873 during sanding and priming
Lew Wolfgang uses the rotary sander

 
SP#3873 working hard!
Bringing her train back from Mexico at Milepost 60 Brakeman Dave Houk brings her down the siding at Miller Creek At Miller Creek, preparing to couple into the train

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All photos by Randy Houk
This page last updated 3-21-2001