A Snowy Alco Surprise in Milwaukee

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Greetings,

I was out and about today due to being on vacation. I stopped by several of the usual railfan spots in Milwaukee and I was surprised to catch one of Milwaukee’s best kept railfan secrets. Switching today at the Port of Milwaukee was the Alco that switches the Nidera Grain Elevator. This Alco switcher is not out much and so to catch it working is quite rare. One of the workers on the locomotive yelled out that is was from 1943. So here are some shots of the RLCX 1063 working.

Keith Schmidt

Here is another shot from today Amtrak #90200 leads a southbound Hiawatha train past CP train at Maple Street in Milwaukee

Keith Schmidt

2

Great shots! Thanks for sharing. It sure looks cold in that bottom photo.

3

Is that Alco an S1?

4

Very Cool Pictures you got there. I like the snow falling in the back ground.

5

It’s an S2. The S1 has a smaller, rectangular, grill.

Great pics – I’m freezing just looking at them though.

6

Very nice shots Keith! The Amtrak shot is great too. That little Alco is an odd little critter with the extended roof, and it just begs to be modeled! If I ever get the time…

Noah

7

Gotta love that cab…look at all the windows, you should be able to see just about everything from it…and the long roof to protect the rear porch…

Looks like someone’s shop queen!

8

Thanks, I need to find my old Diesel Spotters Guide and get to studying!

9

According to the “Comprehensive Guide to Industrial Locomotives” (1995 edition) it is an S2 previously owned by Cargill and McKeesport Connecting Railroad. If it is an S2 it would be close to 60 years old

Dave Nelson

10

It still looks to be in really good shape after 60 years.

11

Keith did not mention this but 90200 is in its own way a significant engine: the class engine for F40PH’s. It has since been spayed and neutered but still, this is the first of the family. It is seen from time to time on the Chicago/Milwaukee Hiawatha Service runs.

Dave Nelson

12

Spayed AND neutered???

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Spayed and Neutered - The Amtrak #90200 is now a “Cab Baggage” or Cabagge unit. The prime mover and HEP units have been removed and a side door was added so that luggage or what ever could be stored in it.

It was definitely a good day to be trackside yesterday.

Keith

14

That’s funny right there, never thought of it like that.

Great shots too!

Adrianspeeder

15

Funny how when you’re a railfan, engine types can be real markers in your life.

An S2 was always something really old to me, from my first day railfanning, if I saw an S2 and I get excited and try and shoot a dozen pics of it.

I can’t tell you how many F40PHs I just let go by without a picture how many times. I remember them delivering the very first one, pictured here, after all. Now I search them out.

16

May we all look that good when we are in our 60’s !!

17

Better than “Stuffed & Mounted” (i.e. sitting in a park somewhere…)

[;)][;)][;)]

18

If the S2 was built in 1943 as the crewman indicated to Keith then it is worth pondering – domestic US steam locomotives were built for another ten years after that, until an N&W 0-8-0 was the last.

Dave Nelson

19

Thanks for sharing the pics.great shots.

stay safe

joe

20

It would be worth a trip to Milwaukee just to hear one of those things kicking cars around–as long as it hasn’t been spayed and/or neutered (or re-engined)! [;)]