Just wondering how MILW numbered there diesel locomotives. If anyone says "well get this book" please try to include some info on where to get it.
Milwaukee Road All Time Diesel Roster 1939-1993
http://www.trainweb.org/milwaukee/roster.txt
Milwaukee Road Photogtaphic Roster
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locolist.aspx?id=MILW
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Both of the above links have good roster info. Now to the reasons for all of those renumbering of the diesels!
When the Milwaukee Road got their first diesels, they had just completed a complete renumbering of their steam fleet. Generally they renumbered the engines from 4 digit to 3 digit numbers(except for older steam like the 1000 series 4-6-0 and 1200 series 2-8-0's). For some reason Milwaukee Road management liked the smaller numbers.
Since most of the steam engines were now in the lower number series, the diesels got numbered into the 1500-1600 series as they were acquired. The exception being that the diesel covered wagons were numbered right on top of the existing passenger steamers.
After WWII, dieselization really started. Many road switchers were numbered into the 2200/2300/2400 series. By 1957, most of the steam was gone. At that time the Milwaukee started a 2 year program to renumber the diesels into the 3 digit series! Some examples:
GP9/30/35/40 - 200 & 300 series
SD7/9 - 500 series
In the late 60's, they started using 4 digit series again - The GP30's went to the 1000 series, the GP35's to the 1500 series, and the GP40's went to the 2000 series, The GE 'U Boats' moved all over into varies 5000 series every so often. New purchases like SD45's were put in the 4000 series, and SD40-2's were assigned the 3000 series. Then in the mid 70's, the 3 digit 'fever' struck again! The SD45's went into 2 digit numbers, the SD40-2 engines went into 100 & 200 series numbers and SD40-2's with 'Locotrol' gear go renumbered on top of the 2 digit SD45's which had Locotrol gear as well. Rebuilt GP9s in the 200-300 series were renumbered into the 900 series(starting at 999 and going down) as they were rebuilt into 'GP20' engines. New purchased of GP38-2 engines were numbered into the 300 series. New GE U30C engines for joint coal train service with BN got numbered into the 5650 series. Old covered wagons got renumber all over as they re-assembled the sets out of the remaining fleet. Those provided roster charts give lots of insight to the various renumbering's that occurred through the years. Never a dull time for the Milwaukee Road!
Since I like to model the Milwaukee Road in the 50's, and like to include freight cars that were acquired in the late 50's, I have sort of set 1959 as a date for my loco fleet. This means 200 series GP9's, and 500 series SD7/9's on my roster. Most of my switchers are in the older grey/orange scheme with the maroon stripe, and I leave them with their 'delivery' 4 digit numbers(it's my railroad!)...
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Jim, I found this post while searching for GP9M renumbering. I have two of the Milwaukee Walthers Trainline GP9M's #974 and want to renumber them. From looking at the rosters it appears that I may be limited to the 900's. 970 to 976. There isn't much room so I'm limiting the amount of numbers to just three. Can you confirm my thinking?
Rick