Does anyone have any idea what Loco’s soo line used in Duluth during this time. I am guessing its an RSC-2. But i could be wrong. If, i happen to be right, then what paint scheme was used, and if wrong, what loco’s were used (and their paint schemes) thanks in advance!
During what time ?
DOH, Sorry, Fall of 1959
The SOO purchased the RSC2 and RSC3 engines for light rail service, but they seemed to get around and many times were ‘re-trucked’ to a ‘B-B’ configuration in their later life. The SOO had a lot of trackage in the Duluth Superior area. Both the SOO and the sub-lettered WC lines radiated from the Twin Ports, and the DSS&A(later merged into the SOO) also served the area. I have seen a picture of an RSC2 pulling a train on the ‘Plummer’ line out of Duluth. I think the time frame was something like 1955 for that picture. Of course the engine was in the black with yellow end stripes paint scheme. I know they later got into the red/white paint scheme, but not sure if any of they made it into the maroon/yellow ‘wings’ scheme.
Jim Bernier
I believe they got the new paint scheme in the 60’s BUT, wow, thanks for the info so far. I just purchased the RSC-2 proto-1000, darn nice piece. I was also wondering though, What did Soo haul. Not ore? maybe. SO, when you saw it on the “plummer” line, what was it carrying? thanks agian!
just a bump
The SOO did haul ore off of the ‘Cuyuna’ range in Minnesota. They had a joint ore line with the NP. SOO line ore trains would use the NP out of the mine area north of Deerwood, MN and run on the NP to McGregor, MN. There was a jct where the ‘Plummer’ line crossed the NP at McGregor and the SOO trains could be back on their own mainline for the run to Superior(The SOO used the NP ore dock). In later years, SOO and NP engines could be ‘pooled’ and these joint trains sometimes ran all the way to Superior on either route. The SOO had no direct route into Duluth, and their lines came into Superior, WI. They used either the ‘Grassy Point’ draw or the ‘Interstate’ bridge to access Duluth. In Duluth they had a really nice stub end depot accessed via a short tunnel!
Other traffic was puplwood, and in season grain trains ran from North Dakota to Duluth/Superior. The ‘Plummer’ line was a very nice cut-off for wheat that was shipped off of the SOO ‘Wheat Line’ in the northern part of North Dakota. Another line(Brooton Line) came off of the SOO main line a Brooton and ran to a jct with the Plummer line at Moose Lake, MN. There was a wye and ballast pit just easst of the jct. You have a real nice line to model, and your engine fits right in!
Jim Bernier
WOW, thanks!! I am happy to see i can have Covered hoppers on my layout! heh. very nice onformation. I have allready cut and pasted it to my desktop