http://ctr.trains.com/photo-of-the-day/2019/06/g-mo-in-joliet
It would have been equally nice if they changed the picture to match the caption.
Thank God, order has been restored to the universe. The correct caption has now appeared under the Mikado in todays photo. And it is a good photo, in and of itself.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
Great to point that out otherwise some would overlook amd miss out.
At first glance the corrected photo seems a bit dull but then some things start to pop out. The neatness of the platforms, the lighting in the area, the roadbed knife edged , the semaphores present and further ahead of the tower and all the multiple tracks, and of course the size and power projected by the station itself. Everything in balance and well maintained. A location built for efficient, clean and serious Railroading.
1951.. perhaps a peak time, things had not yet shown many signs of deteriorating and the downward spiral yet to come. The Rock Island and the Erie were doing just fine. New York Central still gave top notch service everywhere. The Pennsy however was definitely showing some cracks, posting fiscal loses and long lines of Q2's and T1's dead and cold.
The GM&O freight still goes forward into a solid future as evidenced but beyond the horizon is a sad tale yet to come.
Thats what I see.
Speaking of the GN 2-6-8-0's, when were they retired? DPM and Hastings photographed some dead ones in their early 50' S quest for steam. What other lines had uneven wheel arrangements? Santa Fe did. Who else?
NOW the photo of the day in the POTD archive matches the caption. I hope they re-run the GN photo...
77,800 lbs tractive effort, 506 sq. ft. firebox , 71" drivers.
Engine with tender weight 752,540#
Built by GN themselves! # 3375-3399
Big Mike
M636CThese were very large Mikados.
Larger than most people think. This was a Mikado with higher drivers than a N&W J-class 4-8-4.
These were very large Mikados.
The same chassis was applied under the boilers of withdrawn 2-6-8-0s (which boilers were smaller than the O-8 boiler).
Peter
Mike dug this up:
Perhaps a Great Northern Mikado
Here is the actual star of the photograph. 1953 in Minneapolis .. must of been close to the end for this gal.
BaltACDThe picture being commented on was steam. That I can find, the GM&O had no 'F' class steam engines.
The whole point of this thread is (rather obviously, to me) that the caption of the photograph involves two F7s near Joliet, while the actual image has nothing whatsoever to do with that. The OP was making fun of that, and the slightly later comment that if you squint hard enough the picture begins to look like an F7 continues the joke.
If you're looking for some way the GM&O operated big ex-GN steam locomotives, all I can say is that you've been whoooooooshed.
rcdrye BaltACD As best as I can tell from this roster https://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr2083.htm GM&O had a number of E class engines but no F's. GM&O had four F7As, 811B, 812A, 812B and 813A. It's pretty hard to tell them from GM&O's F3As. Over two years elapsed between 811A (F3A, 6/1947) and 811B (F7A, 9/1949). Best guess is the F7s were built for stock or another customer so GM&O got them at a good price. GM&O had 23 freight F3As, 8 dual-service F3As plus the four freight F7As, some of which lasted well into the ICG era, and were resold to MBTA and rebuilt as "FP10s".
BaltACD As best as I can tell from this roster https://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr2083.htm GM&O had a number of E class engines but no F's.
As best as I can tell from this roster https://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr2083.htm GM&O had a number of E class engines but no F's.
GM&O had four F7As, 811B, 812A, 812B and 813A. It's pretty hard to tell them from GM&O's F3As. Over two years elapsed between 811A (F3A, 6/1947) and 811B (F7A, 9/1949). Best guess is the F7s were built for stock or another customer so GM&O got them at a good price.
GM&O had 23 freight F3As, 8 dual-service F3As plus the four freight F7As, some of which lasted well into the ICG era, and were resold to MBTA and rebuilt as "FP10s".
I am well aware of the diesels that the GM&O rostered, and most likely never washed after they arrived on the property until they went to the scrappers. The picture being commented on was steam. That I can find, the GM&O had no 'F' class steam engines.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
And a disappointment for us diesel enthusiasts (we are not the devil)
I'm sure also that Kalmbach has a photo of a GM&O F7 somewhere but I really don't think it looks like a Great Northern 0-8 Mikado.
As Penny states a fortunate mistake for the steam lovers.
Powerful looking beast as well!
rcdrye BaltACD As best as I can tell from this roster https://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr2083.htm GM&O had a number of E class engines but no F's. GM&O had four F7As, 811B, 812A, 812B and 813A. It's pretty hard to tell them from GM&O's F3As. Over two years elapsed between 811A (F3A, 6/1947) and 811B (F7A, 9/1949). Best guess is the F7s were built for stock or another customer so GM&O got them at a good price.
Even I have a photo of a GM&O F-3(?) hauling a three car commuter train into Chicago back in 1977. I don't think it was even patched ICG but the paint was pretty worn. It was one of the known railfan attractions on Roosevelt Road.
Nice when that happens!
When a mistake is in your favor...
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Dat sure ain't no F7A!
Clambake strike again?
However if you squint real hard for 4 minutes it could be a GM&O F7A.
Maybe it's a model railroader type thing .. 'my railroad, my rules'
ahhh, nooo. Perhaps a Great Northern Mikado somewhere on the plains of North Dakota or something like that.
Cerrtainly not a F7 on the GM&O near Joliet.
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter