The Santa Maria Valley RR is railfan friendly and a terrific trip back in time. SMV #70 is a GE 70-ton switcher built in January 1950 (Builder No. 30381) acquired for operation in November 1972 from Fort Dodge DM&S. At the time of this writing, her sister, SMV 80, is out of service in the engine house in Santa Maria, making this the only operating 70t on a railroad that once rostered almost half a dozen of the creatures. |