Sometime back we may have discussed the C&NW's choice to remove number boards on its Es. While it was often seen, I read that it was a number of former UP Es kept theirs and that all four of the former KCS Es did. I shot this at the Barrington, IL coach yard in the mid-1970s. The 5033-A is former KCS 29. Heritage of the other E without number boards is unknown, but that pointy-shaped pilot may provide a clue.
Our mystery E-8 with the pointy pilot plow seen above may be the 518 (former 5030-A), original C&NW. I shot it in March 1978 at the new Barrington coach yard, built west of town in preparation for a new depot to be built where the old coach yard was located. You can see that the Es were used on the longer trains.
It's the same locomotive. I see marks in the paint that are in the same locations in both photos. I see 11 or 12 cars in that train. Great photo. Doug
Thank you for confirming Doug. You have a good eye for details. I updated the EXIF data on the black & white jpg to note the engine number on the mystery unit.
That's an interesting video -- it moves right along. This was the first RTA F-40 I ever saw, taken the same month as the above picture in March 1978. I went to college far from home, so was shocked to see it during a visit. Things were changing. According to the video, the 119 was in the first order.
By April 1980, the F-40s were old hat, even showing faded paint and some rust in this scene at La Salle Street Station where they worked Rock Island routes.
Wow! To have photos of them in the original scheme is terrific! BTW, the principle marks in the paint I used to identify that the two photos are of the same E8 are the three black spots or chips on the nose on the fireman's side. There are two right above the lower vent (curiously missing on #5030A) and then, another one up at an angle from the furthest right one of the other two. I used a magnifying glass to see them Doug
On the Milwaukee, crossing the EJ&E at Rondout, July 1984. Speed limit sign reads 70-50. Impressive, given the times. Under CN, the J main is single track today.
Something is up at the sheds. The UP switchers (GP15AC #s 711, 723, 729) have been missing from the area for several days now. Doug
Ah, #729 showed up with six cars at about 1:20 this afternoon and was back in its usual spot, in the corner, by 1:30 and is still there. I know that sometimes, switching moves are made at night so that might have been going on a few days and I just missed it, but usually that only goes on in a single day. Who knows? I know I have read that the U.P. wants to be rid of its commuter responsibilities here and that's why I was kind of alerted. Doug
I'd read something about that too some months ago, something about Metra and legal reversal for their case that UP had to provide terminal switching.
At least one of the four GP15s is now in Metra colors, the same scheme as used on the SD70MACHs and it looks pretty snazzy. I read that this was UPY #728. UPY #711 is still in UP colors and is still working Ogilvie - California Ave. yard along with the Metra-painted GP15. I haven't been able to make out any numbers on the Metra unit, yet. Doug
The Metra GP15 I've seen working at the train sheds is Metra #14. I was finally able to see the black numbers against that kind-of-dark blue carbody. #711 is still UP. Doug
Preston Cook has uploaded a bunch of his C&NW photos to the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library website at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/albums/72177720316395741/
I have been waiting to see if they ever would paint the unsightly wall on the what, 113-year-old building (I don't know what's in it) that serves to support the six approach tracks to the sheds, at lower center of the north camera view and, lo-and-behold, they finally did this morning. They were also doing some ballast work on the fourth track. I wish they would get the south view camera fixed. There's a data transfer problem somewhere and the picture is intermittant/jerky. I suppose if the problem is at the camera, itself, way up there on the smokestack, it's not an easy endeavor. Also, I finally got an Atlas GP15-1 I have wanted for a while, #733, which is 10 numbers off the GP15AC (#723) still operating at Ogilvie - California Ave. yard. I have read that the two versions are externally identical except the ACs are supposed to have a straight sill on the fireman's side (no traction motor cooling duct?) but I have seen pictures of ACs, including #723, with the raised walkway. I don't know why one wouldn't need a cooling duct just because it was AC powered. I would have included a picture but my camera is not recognizing a SIM card and a scan looks like crap. Doug
I scooped up Atlas UPY 733 for the exact same reason. I have to keep reminding myself I model CNW not UP and that I don't need the other road number they just produced in a UPY GP15. Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk
