Pat Durand's Baldwin No. 1300

	Right side
	Tank details
	Left side
	Cab detail
	Nose detail

Alaska Railroad #1300
Only one Baldwin locomotive made it onto the Alaska Railroad Roster. Baldwin model VO1000 builders #71745 was built in April 1945 and served at two locations before being shipped to Alaska. She worked as US Army V1801 and for a brief time as US Atomic energy Commission 3724 at Hanford, Washington.

In October, 1949 she arrived in Anchorage, was painted blue and yellow and joined the Roster as #1300. At 250,000 pounds this was the heaviest diesel on the Railroad until the EMD FP7 units arrived in 1953. Combining weight, 1000 horsepower and low gearing gained this switcher a reputation a capable of moving anything in the Anchorage Yard with quick response. Unfortunately she left a wake of broken brakemen as well.

Being unique, and one of a kind amongst a roster of ALCO and EMD power, she suffered with maintenance problems such as blown head gaskets. Retirement came in October 1957 and the #1300 lounged around the Anchorage yard and Birchwood scrap line until finally cut up for scrap in January 1968.

Photos of this locomotive seen to date show her after retirement with at least one of the Harriman number boards missing and no horn.

The HO model was built in spring 2003 by Pat Durand for Randy Thompson’s Alaska roster. She started as a Stewart VO1000 and underwent some minor changes. Class lamp holders were added at the front corners of the hood. Wind screen and sun shade were added to cab side windows. Fuel tank filler pipes were added with red caps. Rerail frogs were hung to the rear of the tank on each side. Non skid tread plate added to steps. Second grab iron over the radiator was added along with the canvas winterization cover. The Alco style round back Harriman number boards and storage boxes for the number inserts were added on a bracket over the radiator vent at the front top of the engine. Faded blue and yellow paint finished the job representing the locomotive near retirement in 1957. Decals come from Healy Roundhouse, first generation diesel set.