I know this is a bit dated, but I was traveling cross-country in late July with my son and I spotted an old ALCO, maybe an RS-11, sitting light in Watseka, Illinois. It was parked just north of US-24. Unfortunately, I didn’t make him turn around so I could get a picture, but it was lettered for Erie Mining Company, and (I thought) numbered as the 7502. I can’t find the 7502 on any EMC roster, could it have been the 7205? Is it now part of the KBSR roster, as I believe that line may travel through there? Any help would be appreciated.
It would be an RS-11, EMCO did the nose chopping themselves - they were purchased as highnose units in the fifties. LTV Steel closed the old EMCO line several years ago and they’ve been selling off the engines.
The 7205 is now owned by the Watseka Farmers & Grain CO-OP. Its sister the 7210 is just north of Watseka at another WF&G elevator in Pittwood. There is also an ex-KB&S RS11 at the elevator in Darrow.
The line on which you saw the Alco is not KB&S. It’s dispatched by UP, and is used (owned?) jointly by UP and CSX. Used to be the Chicago & Eastern Illinois main line south out of Chicago. The split between UP and CSX routes is at Woodland Junction, only a few miles south of Watseka.
