TSBY finally delivered the engine to CSX at Ann Pere near Howell early this morning. The D709 local from Lansing could have picked this engine up today, but they chose to leave it for the time being.
Some history and other details on the locomotive, courtesy of Bob M.
Here are two recent photos of the locomotive in Cadillac, MI, taken by Kelly Countryman.Bob M. wrote:The unit is pretty well grafitied up on the engineers side, or south side as he will be coming to you, but it perfect paint on the firemans side, or north side despite the rear window being boarded up. The rear window on the engineers side is cracked pretty much but still there. I was impressed on its relatively good physical condition inside and out. Mechanically, it may not be much, but looked really well for sitting for so many years.
I was really impressed behind the "4" in the numberboards on the short nose firemans side, you could still plainly see the old number underneath (5258) And, while this unit was retired in Chessie paint, you could see no signs of that paint under the current paint, but you could still read the "Chesapeake and Ohio" across the long hood in its former paint. At least on the firemans side when facing towards the sun.
From my history notes, I last saw this locomotive as 5258 on 2-25-86 in Grand Rapids, one of 52 switchers stored there at that time. I have my first slide of it in Chessie paint in August 1980, and a slide of it in original Chesapeake and Ohio paint in August 1976. Last time I physically saw it as Leelanau Scenic Railroad was in August, 1994.
There are several "Non Complying Locomotive In Tow" form cards inside the locomotive with a 4-12-06 date saying "Dead In Tow On Own Wheels, No water, Shop Trucks, Destination: MQT, Grand Rapids, Michigan. They didn't look like shop trucks to me, as both trucks had "GM Diesel Limited London, Ontario" stamped on them. And a trust plate up and under the frame still had the Cheseapeake and Ohio "Subject to ownership" info on it.
I will update this page with the current progress of the move from Traverse City to Manistee as events occur. As of now (June 8, 2006) it is still sitting at Ann Pere.