From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Research

machinehead61 Jun 13, 2012

  1. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    Just bought this add on Ebay this week.

    [​IMG]

    It is the only add that I have ever seen that announces that Baldwin has taken over Whitcomb.

    Engineering and Mining Journal, July 13, 1931 p. 29

    Steve
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Interesting to see a passenger car behind the little engine at right.
     
  3. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    I just learned how easy it is to add images to Wikipedia:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitcomb_Locomotive_Works

    [​IMG]

    There are so many websites that have the wrong information about this event that I thought this add would help reinforce the validity of the Wiki article.

    Steve
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes. There's a lot of really bad information out there, on too many sites. Aside from many who simply copy stuff, so many "historians" just do not do the necessary homework.
     
  5. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    This was a perfect example:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geo_D._Whitcomb_Company&diff=608170388&oldid=474659832

    "In 1929 the company was purchased by The [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]], and the new owners, under George Houston sought a greater base of diversified holdings. From 1931 until 1940 the company was operated as the Whitcomb Locomotive Works, a subsidiary of The Baldwin Locomotive Works. On July 19, 1932 Whitcomb Locomotive Company acquired the [[Milwaukee Locomotive Manufacturing Company]]. During 1940, Baldwin completely took over the company and after that time it was operated as a division of Baldwin known as The Whitcomb Locomotive Company."

    And that most likely came from this:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    I probably will never know where Pinkepank got this from. No sources ever cited.



    Steve
     
  6. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    Just last week I found this article from January 30, 1929:

    http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=STR19290130.2.31#

    I had never heard of this before. Ever since I began my search into this company I could not find when nor how Whitcomb and Baldwin became involved with each other.

    Steve
     
  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Once bad info gets out there, it's almost impossible to get corrected. Somehow it becomes gospel. Nobody questions it. It's lazy and disgraceful.

    I have seen numerous supposed historians (with credentials such as books, etc), and even post high school instructors (unfortunately tenured), who simply quote and re-quote complete garbage about my favorite railroad, the Milwaukee Road. These are respected people, who obviously deserve it not. The actual correct data does exist, has been repeatedly published. Is available for anyone who looks. But still people buy into the BN propaganda campaign, which was total fictional garbage, intended merely to help eliminate a competitor. And they got away with it. Oh well.
     
  8. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    I am not familiar with that fictional history. Is Wikipedia correct?

    Steve
     
  9. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]

    The President and principal owner of the Whitcomb Locomotive Company was William Card Whitcomb until the Spring of 1931 when Baldwin Locomotive Works took it over. Mr. Whitcomb had two daughters, Georgiana and Kathleen. Georgiana would marry Latham Castle on May 1, 1931. They would have one child, John Whitcomb Castle. This Wednesday, May 15, John gave a presentation on his family history and I finally got to meet him. This photograph was taken of John and I at that presentation. Next Monday we will have lunch and share history.

    http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=STR19310506.2.7#

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latham_Castle

    Steve
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    It is a gross oversimplification, with errors.
     
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'd bet you'll sleep very little the night before.
     
  12. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    The fruits of my meeting with John Castle:

    [​IMG]

    William Card Whitcomb - photograph courtesy of John Whitcomb Castle. William Card Whitcomb was president and principal stock owner of the George D. Whitcomb Company from around 1908-1931 in Rochelle, Illinois. Under his supervision the company developed its line of industrial locomotives.

    Steve
     
  13. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    This Monday ( June 9 ) I gave a proposal to the Rochelle City Council to start a feasibility study to acquire the WW II Whitcomb locomotive, a 65-DE-19A sitting in Mason City, Iowa. It was well received and the members started kicking around ideas to estimate the scrap value of the unit as a starting point to offer the company a purchase price that owns the locomotive.
    I received (too late for the meeting) a bid to move the locomotive the approximate 300 miles from Mason city to Rochelle for $38,000 from a machinery mover in Rockford.
    Next council meeting I will present the bid to keep the fire lit on this project.

    Steve
     
  14. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    This is certainly very good. I always worry about news of a cool reception.
     
  15. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    Just got a suggestion for a second mover in Rockford. A number of people thought the $38,000 figure was too high and recommend another bid. Will contact them Monday.

    Steve
     
  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Always good to have a few bids. Going try raising some fund via a campaign, such as perhaps "Kickstarter?"

    Is there any way, as this is a historical item, to approach BNSF or UP for a bit of help?
     
  17. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    It might be possible but first the city has to agree to get this locomotive. I intend to keep it on the radar screen at council meetings in hope of getting the city council to make a definite commitment to get this unit.

    Steve
     
  18. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    We just found boxes of articles in the basement of the Rochelle Visitor Center. So far some never before seen photos of Whitcomb locomotives and unidentified employees. More to come.


    Steve
     
  19. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Lucky find! How did those end up in such a location?
     
  20. machinehead61

    machinehead61 TrainBoard Member

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    That is a very good question. I guess donations from visitors who didn't know about the museum. Since these were in the visitor center they are the property of the city and the city development director (?) now has them in her office. They got them a week ago and never told us about them. Tomorrow I hope to go over there and see if I can search for more Whitcomb articles. I was told by an employee that they had a complete Whitcomb locomotive roster stored in their basement. The only reason I found out about this was by accident. They sent a couple folders full of Whitcomb photos and literature over to the train park and told them to make a folder for visitors to look at ! I told them that they were nuts to put out original material that we have no other copies of and putting them out on a table for strangers to handle - and they didn't even bother to tell the museum that they found this!

    Steve
     

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