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Milwaukee Road boxcab electrics turn 100 this month
Was wondering if any of the little joes are still around
Happy Birthday! Wish I could go visit!
Here is a link to a photo of E57B in Harlowton: https://flic.kr/p/9VJgwG
And here is a link to a photo of Little Joe E70 in Deer Lodge: https://flic.kr/p/9RpAzr
There is a “Little Joe” on display in Deer Lodge, MT., which is near Butt…'er…Butte. If you park your vehicle next to the loco (it has a protective fence around the loco), you’ll have a good idea of how HUGE these Joes are.
Illinois Railway Museum occasionally operates their beautiful South Shore Little Joe.
When one reads and contemplates the contents of Steve Glischinski’s well-written and concise article, two of many conclusions explode: the audacity and forward thinking of both lines west and the electrification…and regret of what may have been premature demise.
Electric locomotives often had L-O-O-O-N-G lives: The GG1s reigned for just shy half a century (although no individual motor ran for more than 46 years, I believe). For almost shocking longevity, look to the New York Central’s S-motors: First in service in 1906, the last of the breed ran until past 1980. And for REALLY shocking longevity, check out the boxcabs that Canadian Northern bought in 1914 for its Montreal electrification: A half-dozen of them ran until 1995 – 81 years! I had the good fortune to photograph them in their last weeks of operation, and I got one cabride in 6711. Many diesels now in daily service have six and more decades of service behind them, such as Reading & Northern’s ex-Lehigh Valley SW-8 “pups”, built in 1954. And the Delaware-Lackawanna has (heavily rebuilt) EMC #426 dating from 1935, 80 years ago; this one does not run every day, but she does run, now restored in her original Delaware, Lackawanna & Western livery.
Great article, thanks Steve! It would be nice to see the 10200 set in Cle Elum, WA. Great display there with the depot, substation, and someday Milwaukee Road U25B 5057. Along the old Milwaukee Road right of way it once operated on. http://www.milwelectric.org/5057project/
Amazing to think that technology’s 100 years old. I wonder if it can still run?
By the way, the New York City Transit Museum has 100 year old subway cars that they operate on occasion.
Somewhere i have 88mm video of these units.
I have 88mm video of these somewhere!
These locomotives were obviously built very well. .I did get to see a “little Joe” operate in late 1960s in Montana, but never saw a juice box like this one pulling a train.
In 1952 I spent a month in Harlowton, Montana and would go to the station to watch them switch from Diesel-electric to Electric in the morning and then the reverse in the afternoon. I also sold local newspapers to the passengers as they waited on the station deck.
Hope the remaining Little Joes could have some sort of sheltering to protect them better from the elements and preserve them more. Long live Milwaukie Road memories