C&O/Chessie System part #4

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From the C&O Historical Newsletter, from November, of 1981

Motive Power News, by way of Carl Shaver

Mr. Art Million, reports that bebinning on or about Oct 1st, C&O started to replace remaining switchers on the Michigan Division. Among the firsts to go, were one of two in Muskegon, replaced by a Geep. Tom Lindholm reports on Sunday, Oct. 4th. Wyoming yard, on the east end was exclusively by Geeps, but could not see what was on the east end. Also that the Grand Rapids, local switch jobs, still had switchers. It is noted that Grand Rapids, and Saginaw, have lost a lot of switchers in there dead lines, in the past few months.

The Car Department

MSTRP, have acquired the 50 foot boxcar PM 72332, that was retired in 1977, with out having any C&O marks or paint applied. Also Northwestern Steel and Wire in Sterling, Il., is giving them a C&O 21-RA class tender, for a auxiliary tank, for the 1225. (Not sure what has happened to this tender, as it is known that the aux tender used for the past long while, is s tender off a RI 4-8-4. Matt)

The St. Thomas, Ontario, wreck train, is renumbered into the 900000 series, as seen by Cyril A. Butcher, of St. Thomas. Here are the new numbers, along with the old.

C&O 940002 former ex-PM 150 ton steam derrick DK-5
C&O 940352 is former WS-102 (water supply car)
C&O 940202, is former K-103 (Commissary car)
C&O 940056 is former WK-93, a flat car
C&O 940057, is former WK-94, also a flat car
C&O 940058, is former WK-95, also a flat car
C&O 940152, is former 16765, a Tool car (steel box- new conversion to replace wooden box car LO-5)
C&O 913406 is former PT-19, Panel track car (originally C&O gondola 40961)

Caboose Notes

From Robert H. Michaels, of Howell, Mi, comes this report of two recent Chessie System, repaints are C&O 3266 & 3319. With these two repaints, 10 of the now down to 60 blue painted cabs, are Michigan based. Also 3205 & 3254, are to be painted in Grand Rapids soon, then leaving 58 blue cabs. (One is still around, last seen in the past few years, around the Pittsburgh area. Matt).

From Fred L. Cesefske, in Pt. Huron, Mi., comes the report that blue cab C&O 3260 has been on the daily Saginaw, to Pt. Huron local, for some time.

From Bob Michaels, is this report. In Manistee, bay window cabs, 904099 & 904131, are assigned and marked on each side, as assigned to trains 145 & 146, between Manistee and Grand Rapids. Also on Labor Day Weekend he and another fellow railfan had noticed that 5 of 6 cabs seen, looked to have air horns mounted near the end of the roof, on one end. They were the 3503, 3521, 3652, 90220, & 90287. Also the 3503, & 3521, looked to have backup lights mounted next to the red blinking light. He also reported that he seen the 90200, pass by Howell, on its way to Grand Rapids, presumed to be going to be rebuilt. He also had some notes on the cabs beeing rebuilt at Grand Rapids. It is noted that cabs numbered into the 900200 and 900300 series, may have been a mistake, as none of the later cabs, have the extra number, leaving Grand Rapids. Also they are starting to paint the numbers, on the ends of the small babs on the right side above the window, he had see the 3514, 3556, and 3586 like that. And finally not all cabs, in the Grand Rapids rebuilding program, have been receving the end lights installed.

Gene Huddleston, had photographed C&O 90680, a Chessie System painted cab, shown in Ensel yard, in Lansing, that is the oldest active on the roster, beeing built in May of 1924, at age 57.