Anyone from (or know about) Hastings Minnesota?

[dknelson]

[?]
While railfanning the steam doubleheaders in Hastings MN this summer we noticed what looks like a large grain elevator just south of downtown with its own EMD SW type switcher, painted I think dark red or brown. The switcher was either unlabled or we were not able to get close enough to see lettering, and oddly the industry itself seemed to have no name on it.
Does anyone know the industry and the origins of the locomotive? I have a book on industrial locomotives but this isn't in it ;(.

Dave Nelson

[Big_Boy_4005]

That's the Con Agra mill, or at least it was last time I checked. There is an historic plaque on the back side of the mill by the falls on the Vermillion River. It was known as the Gardner flour mill and the original structure dates back to sometime shortly after 1853. I'm getting this off a photo that I took of the plaque a number of years ago. According to that the mill is owned by the Peavey Company, and has been since 1928.

My photo is dated March of 98, but I could run down and take another look for you. This industry will be represented on my layout. One of my old photos has the locomotive in it, but it is too far away to see much detail. I can see a single stack, but not much more. Hastings is about a 20 minute drive.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well Dave, we got lucky today. Yes it is still Con Agra, and your eyes were not playing tricks on you. The switcher has no lettering whatsoever!!! It is dark brown with smudges of black. It has many of the features of an SW-8, but it appears to have been well modified over the years.

[dknelson]

Wow. What service! Many thanks. Here is hoping someone has data on the origins of the engine -- I suppose it is always possible it was bought new by the industry but that is pretty rare.
Thanks again!
Dave Nelson

[Big_Boy_4005]

You're welcome Dave, it was a fun little project. We got lucky, because just as we cut through their parking lot on our hike around the the whole place, the loco went into action. It moved right out into the open as if on queue.

Maybe if you changed the title of this topic to "can anyone identify this engine" we might get a better answer as to exactly what it is. My theory is that they picked it up used a long time ago, and have made some modifications to suite their needs.

I also noticed that the CP still maintains the track and the crossing signals leading up to the mill. The derail is just across the road. I don't know if they actually deliver the cars all the way up to the mill or just set them out down closer to the station, and make Con Agra come down and get them as necessary.