I ran across this photo of a pair of Bi Polars taken east of Ringling, MT on July 9, 1956. They were all retired between 1968 and 1960. As a kid I was able to take numerous trips on the electrified diviion in Montana but never got to see one of these in person.
I saw these a few times, when a small boy, down in Seattle at Union Station. For some reason they always made me rather nervous. Maybe it was their size? The more I look at this photo, the more I am wondering if it might be one taken by Sandy Goodrick
It is a Sandy Goodrick! Extra E-1 East, (with E-3. Note the white designating flags), about one mile west of Loweth in 1956. A Boy Scout Special supposedly returning them home from Jamboree. I believe either the direction designation is wrong, or destination off. In 1956, their Annual Meeting was in Cincinnati, Ohio. Therefore, if eastward this would be the outbound move taking them to the meeting, not returning home. If it was indeed returning home, it was a westward train. To me, the little bit of shadow cast, this is high sun and I am thinking it was westward.
Sure is a long train. It really stretches down the line, and finally disappears around the curve. Was this was before or after the line change at Loweth?
This was very close to that time, if not while it was happening. Would need to see about finding a completion date.
Great pic!! I had Sandy's book at one point,(and now it's worth 3x as much!), and it's full of these pics!! If you find it, get it!!
Ha-ha, and I just managed to buy one . This one isn't mine, though, because I want to get mine painted in the true Milwaukee Road orange and maroon colours . I just did a test run of the one I bought over the weekend... It's a little bit noisy as one might expect from older brass, but it ran very nice and smooth.
Some did. There was a certain shop which had a "traction booster" kit available. This included additional weight and axles with traction tires. But that did nothing for the gear train.
I went the cheap route, and bought a Del Prado version for $20.00 w/shipping! Doesn't run, (it's a static display), but I'm thinking of getting a couple more to paint in the various schemes over the years. Being perfect for N-scale, you can always park it at the depot getting ready to head out with the Hiawatha! I'd really like to do the original all black scheme when it was new.......
