The title of this article might not sound impressive to any motorman or even some passengers - but, they weren't done going back and forth to Xochimilco or Tlalpan. I traveled from Mexico City to Nueva Laredo aboard PCC 2268, aboard good ol' TexMex piggyback flat 400233.

STE 2268 was donated to the Michigan Transit Museum with completely refurbished body and interior but nothing was done to the electro-mechanical parts, anyhow only a few parts were missing, and repairing this car shouldn't be difficult (at least to Rio Vista Museum shop gang).

Everything began at Rio Vista (for me) when I picked up a copy of "Traction & Models" which carried a cover of a Mexican PCC, and inside had a short note about 2268 being donated to M.T.M. Later in my visits to Tetepilco (STE Mains Shops), I saw it being refurbished. By March, it was completely repainted all white with red stripe and crown as all refurbished trolley buses. Thursday before Holy Week (Easter) George (Geo) Cutler of M.T.M. called me - he was in Mexico City and wanted to say hello plus some help translating arrangements being done with STE in order to ship the PCC to Mt. Clemens.

Geo had an awful time when he found out how expensive it is to move a PCC where there is no track. Everyone wanted the equivalent of 3-grand in pesos, but fortunately I knew a railfan who owns a moving & truck co., Mr. Sanroman cut the rate to 2-grand. Then we had to contract the flat car with N de M - holy cow! Those @#*/% bureaucrats gave us a rough time - first Geo couldn't receive more money from M.T.M., he returned to the States and sent the check. Mrs. Isaura Diaz Diaz de Guzman, personal secretary of Dr. Sansores, had to deal with N de M employees to load the PCC in the flat, however I went personally to the Freight Station to get the number of the flat, later documented the car. In order to help M.T.M. save some money, I offered myself to travel in 2268 as watchman. Sanroman's cranes did a fair Job loading the PCC body in a flat trailer and trucks in another truck - sounds easy? What wasn't easy was to move a high PCC above a standard flat trailer. Mexico City is so lousy planned (even the new "Ejes Viales") that low cables are everywhere; our first and only victim was a trolleybus crossing near Tetepilco, broken wires almost ignited a taxi, but a TB operator set aside wires - one of Sanroma's employees pulled down the trolley and almost pinched the second crossing. Up to this moment all the crew at the trailer where: driver, helper, and...me! After the accident, standard procedure at TB crossings (alot of them) was very low speed and the helper hanging from the trolley cord. It took four hours! At Pantaco Freight Sta., the PCC was loaded in the TEX-MEX flat, and meanwhile I did all the documentation. That afternoon I installed myself aboard - hung my hammock and prepared to get tired of my Job... Why? I almost stayed 2 1/2 days at Valle de Mexico hump yard (that was Sat. and Sun.), but on Monday I had to go to work. I almost froze 3 nights at Valle, also was rationed to one meal a day. Sunday night ended with enough bread for one meal and three cans of ham for the next three days. I remind the audience that a PCC has no restroom or shower.

Monday 12:15am. (at last!) the train moved out of Valle and ran swiftly until Tula where it stopped too much, later we lost time at KM 97, where the train was doubled. Seeing no engines in the train, I went down to snap some pictures - in this place I found by the track an Army map of a place called "Ban-Konghang" in Laos!! Maybe a U-2 following the PCC dropped it. The engines returned for the rest of the train and continued with some delays. We passed by portions of the new Mexico-Querefaro Double Track (suppose to be electrified next year) and entered in San Luis Division. The engines failed again before reaching San Luis Potosi, so I spent all night in a siding in the middle of the desert. Next morning we reached San Luis Potosi and just passed by; in that place they have a Mexicano electric (loco), plus lots of diesels ready for scrap.

It took us one whole day to reach Vanegas (196 KMs. ) and slept in the desert again. Next day involved a fast and nice trip - passed by some of the Coahuila-Zacatecas right-of-way (all track pulled up), the only things left along that line are some station buildings and a few Na.Ga. water tank cars.

About 7:00pm, I arrived in Saltillo - everyone had told me to take care in San Luis and Monterrey yards, but no one told me about Saltillo slums! I was really frightened there, even with a can of of CS tear gas, a blank ammo pistol, and a large can of insecticide with a long range spray nozzle! It was a long night but nothing happened. Next day we departed around 9:15am. and wonder of wonders, the main goes in the middle of avenue "Emilio Carranza", and of course some people said, "We should have those
here".

It was a very pleasant ride between Saltillo and Monterrey in the middle of the high mountains. Between Santa Catarina and Monterrey, the track runs parallel to the highway and people looked astonished to see 2268. I was there only two hours (enough to get water at car-shop), we departed and to my surprise the train gained speed. I reached Nuevo Laredo by midnight, and next morning took out my belongings and closed the door, everyting ended too fast!

I still had things to do; 'walked to the station and downtown to a long distance phone booth - called STE people but no one answered - I forgot it was a holiday! So, I called home and they were very happy. Later, 'went to Laredo to the customs broker and gave him the papers. (I hope he won't break the PCC). Voila - that's how I lived a whole week inside a PCC. HLH

': .

The story above speaks for itself. The
cartoon was drawn by Hector from first-hand infomuation! The picture at the
right shows Geo Cutler (left) and Hector (right) when Geo was down in Mexico City to sign the release papers for the PCC. The M.T.M. wishes to thank Hector for all his help in getting the PCC on the road toward Michigan!

Photo by Isaura Diaz