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50s Milwaukee Road steam in "The Gap"

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Posted by ACY Tom on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 11:23 AM

I have no horse in this race, so I'm only asking as an outsider who is curious: 

I remember seeing MILW USRA heavy Mikados used on their Western lines in the movie DANGER LIGHTS. Were they used in this territory? What other classes/types? When were those other classes displaced?

Thanks.

Tom

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Posted by Geared Steam on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 10:49 AM

Just to add to this discussion, and Jim can verify, but I believe all steamers out west were oil burners as a result of the 1910 Bitterroot fire. ( and another reason for conversion to electric)

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

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Posted by jrbernier on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 12:33 AM

  In April, 1950 - There were seven N-3 2-6-6-2 engines on the Idaho Division.

  By February, 1953 - There were only three N-3 2-6-6-2 engines left.

  The January, 1953 infor has noN-3's left in operation on the Idaho Division.

  This info comes from Lloyd Stagner's 'The Milwaukee Road's Steam, Diesel and Electric Era - 1950-1957' (ISBN 0-9422035-72-0)

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

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Posted by De Luxe on Saturday, December 5, 2015 10:33 PM

@ Motley: "The Gap" was the nickname for Milwaukees non electrified district on their mainline between the 2 electrified divisions (Cascade & Rocky Mountain division). I still wonder why Milwaukee never managed to close that gap to have a fully electrified line from Harlowton, Montana to Tacoma, Washington.

@ jrbernier: Thanks for the info. I wonder if the S-3´s ever pulled the Olympian Hiawatha too on that part after the FM Erie Builts ceased running all the way through...

Have Milwaukees 2-6-6-2´s already been out of service in the early 50s?

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Posted by jrbernier on Friday, December 4, 2015 6:52 PM

  There certainly was steam operation in the non-electrified 'gap'.  Diselization can early(right after WWII) with FM 'Erie-Builts'.  Steam operations came back during one of the coal mine strikes as many of the steam locomotives were oil burners out west, and diesels were moved east while the strike was on.

  Both S-1 class Northerns were assigned to the 'gap' most of their career, and 4 of the S-3 class Northerns were assigned to the 'gap' as well.  The S-1's were the prime passenger power for the Olympian.

  By 1953, the Idaho Division(the 'gap') had:

  • 2 F-6 Baltics(4-6-4)
  • 2 S-1 Northerns(4-8-4)
  • 4 S-3 Northerns(4-8-4) 

By 1955, there was a single S-3(stored) on the division...

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

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Posted by Motley on Friday, December 4, 2015 6:44 PM

What is the "The Gap" ?? Between a rock and a hard place?

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

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50s Milwaukee Road steam in "The Gap"
Posted by De Luxe on Friday, December 4, 2015 11:24 AM

Hi,

is it prototypical to have Milwaukee Road steam locos (mostly 4-8-4 and 4-6-4 types) pulling steam and passenger trains (the Columbian) through "The Gap" on an early to mid 50s based layout? I couldn´t find any information about if the Milwaukee Road still used steam during that time on that non electrified district between Avery and Othello.

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