Today is the anniversary of CGWs last day. It was meged into CNW at 12:01AM on July 1, 1968. goodbye old friend…[:(]
I think it’s appropriate to post pics of FP7 #116A, the only engine currently in CGW paint.
It should actually have the Lucky Strike logo, like on this hopper
Wow…that doesn’t look right…only 1 CGW F-Unit in a consist? I’m almost tempted to go Photo-chopping on that one and add about 5 or 6 units! [:o)]
one carbody is left. sad indeed. there should at least be some B units there in CGW paint and then some CGW passenger cars for an excursion train. i’m sory my favorite road took over CGW. they had some nice color too…man. look at that red. sweet. there should really be some stuff repainted in CGW colors at a chicago or IL museum. i recently discovered a museum in IL has a CNW GP7 on display. but we need recognition for every last fallen flag out there!
but it is great to see some CGW rolling stock and caboose there too. all that should run as one big memorial train anually on this day. but i think repainting some passenger cars and B units as CGW and running that would be great. i’d ride it. wouldnt you, ding?
I vote that UP does a CGW Heritage unit!!! Actually, two of 'em, because CGW always ran 9000hp power sets!!! [swg]
As a kid in the sixties, our local noontime “Lunch with Casey (Jones)” TV show’s introduction included some scenes filmed at a CGW yard (probably in St.Paul MN). I remember one character, Roundhouse Rodney, running along trying to catch up to a CGW caboose on the end of a train pulling away.
Wonder how many lawyers would have to get involved now to go film in a railyard and climb on and off equipment being goofy ??
Onions, onions, la la la!
Onions, onions, la la la!
do-do-dodoo, do-do-do…
//popular song from the show
Lunch with Casey? Never heard of it. What was it about?
It was basically a goofy kids’ show, with skits, kid-oriented guests/interviews, songs, etc., and I think they even threw in a few cartoon shorts for good measure. The song I quoted was always accompanied by footage of Roundhouse Rodney with his mouth stuffed full of small onions with greens attached. Minneapolis/St. Paul’s independent TV station (Channel 11 back then) carried it, IIRC. Of course, the host of the show went by the name of Casey and wore the classic engineer’s outfit, and Rodney was much shorter and wore this crazy hat.
Sounds like I didn’t miss much.
[:D][:D][:D]
CGW 116A looks OK, but she might need a paint job soon. If so, leave it in the GM styling group scheme she has now. It sure is a nice one. I cannot think of too many other schemes with the same striping pattern. The “lucky strike” herald was only used on red dip jobs. That would make her custodians happy since they would need only one color paint, and no masking paper and tape!
The Boone and Scenic Valley in Boone, IA has a CGW boxcar, but it might get scrapped.
They also have a CGW tank car, whose future looks brighter.
Here’s the boxcar
And their NW2 wears CGW paint, but Boone & Scenic lettering.
Looks nice, though
Small world. I met “Casey” a couple years ago. He lived down the road from my relatives on one of MN’s 10,000 lakes- on Casey Lane.
Quote by Fuzzybroken:
[(-D] I was thinking the same thing before I read your post.
For fans of the GCW there was going to be sad day because the CGW wasn’t destined to survive.
Maybe I’ll ride the Great Western tomorrow… the Great Western bike trail that is.
There’s not much left of the Great Western in Illinois. It looks like the GCW St Charles branch from W Chicago is done. I haven’t heard about any movements out to St Charles in a while. General Mills shut down and the town forced the lumber yards out (or at least they were trying to). Anybody got any more info on this?
CC
Lord atmo, yes I would. 116A is missing some controls and the traction motors. The mueseum hopes to eventually get it running.
Not true at all! The scheme 116A is in (CGW- “as delivered”) started using the LS logo in the early 1950s. The maroon dip (looks brown) scheme used LS too, as did the red dip.
railfanespee, that’s a cool looking NW2. something about it aint right- it’s not a 100% CGW scheme. Not sure what yet.
Chris, CGW was somewhat destined to survive, but then they go tthe idea to merge, and considered merging with several other roads.
How did I know exactly what was going to be in the post before I even clicked on it…
There is a VERY nice looking restored CGW depot in Elizabeth Illinois. There is also a nicely painted caboose but it is actually a Milwaukee Road caboose painted CGW.
Check out this guy’s pictures:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locThumbs.aspx?id=37669
Dave Nelson
You obviously know a lot about the CGW, so I am reluctant to challenge you on this. But, I find it incredibly hard to believe the CGW would have survived absent a merger. If it could have survived, there really isn’t an excuse for any railroad to fail.
The CGW was in one of the most saturated rail markets in the history of railroading. Long before the merger, its physical plant was deteriorating. Some may argue that the physical plant deterioration was due to “padding its numbers” before the merger, but I just don’t see how that railroad could have survived. Look at what happened after the CNW got it, even after the merger, the CNW nearly failed.
I am not asserting that what you state is incorrect, I would just like to hear your comments on my statements to the contrary.
Gabe
P.S. I find the CGW to be a particularly facinating railroad. In a way it is a ghost. It is one of the largest railroads that no one seems to know that much about. I would like to read a book about the last decade of the CGW.
Before or after the injury?
gabe, I do agree with you. The main thing was, CGW had too much competition, and it was one of the later roads to target the area. However, CGW was an early user of timetable freights and locomotive tonnage ratings. CGW ran long (at that time) trains to cut overhead, despite all that, it didn’t survive.
I’d say, CGW had a good run.
If you want to learn a lot about CGW from the beginning to the end, the book The Corn Belt Route: A History of the Chicago Great Western Railroad Company, by H. Roger Grant, is what you want to look at. Amazon has them for $30, as I got a copy a few months ago. BTW, it may be a “special-order only” book now.