By the direction she is pointing, I would believe this to be Train #116. Very late afternoon, ready to depart eastward for Lewistown and Harlowton.
I am thinking this might be out on the (Coast Division) far west end. At the time of this photo, all Bipolars were on the Coast Division. So likely this is Tacoma Shops. At one time or another, at least five of my family members worked there, including my father. I am guessing this photo would be dated 1933. #9315 was an N3-s Mallet 2-6-6-2, renumbered in 1938 to #65. Boxcab EF3 set #10507ACB existed only between 1933 and 1937. Bipolar #10251 was renumbered as E2 during the general renumbering of March, 1939. Also, she appears to be freshly painted. The Biploar #10250 went to the Chicago World's Fair "Century of Progress" exhibit in 1933. So perhaps 10251 was repainted at this same time.
These pictures are just so cool. Did the MILW use five-digit locomotive numbers on all of their electrics? Kind of unusual, in the USA at least.
I love when subtle details in a photo can lead an experienced eye to note its approximate date from a decade. So cool!
Yes. From their beginning to the general renumbering of March, 1939. Then they changed to the E letter plus one or two digits theme.
What was the numbering convention they used? IIRC, the MILW's first electric 10200 was later numbered E50?
Monon 4-8-0 222, Lafayette, IN, July 4, 1940 (Ralph H. Payne) New Haven EP-2 0324, 1940s (Photographer unknown)
The numbering for Boxcab electrics was simply started above the 9000 numbered steam engines, such as the N3-s pictured a couple of days back. The passenger motors ("EP1") were 10100AB and up. Freight ("EF1") were 10200AB and up. The latter (repainted back to original black 10200AB, from E50AB) are in the museum in Duluth, far, far from where they should be displayed. That site makes no sense at all, but at least they survive. "EP2" were the Bipolars. "EP3" were the Baldwin-Westinghouse units. "EP4" were the two Little Joe passenger motors "E20, E21". When they made the freight units into three unit sets, for many years after, they did not remove the pilot trucks of the "C" motor. These became Class "EF2". When they finally cur off the cabs and made the pilotless center unit, (nicknamed "Bobtails"), those were Class "EF3". "EF4" were the Little Joe freight motors. "EF5" were when they combined motors into four unit sets, which were minimally 6000hp.... PS- That museum has a video on YouTube about the 10200AB and other MILW electrics. It is full of misinformation....
New York Central 4-6-4 5201, Mitchell, IL, December 31, 1955 (Photographer unknown) New York Central 4-6-4 5222, Mitchell, IL, December 31, 1955 (Photographer unknown)
Weird though, looks like the tenders are full of coal in the one, and there's no stack capped or windows boarded up. They usually would strip usable components when in a dead line, right?
It's almost 1956. She's obsolete from pilot to drawbar. Not only is her snazzy pedestal tender obsolete, so's the coal in it. Well, the road probably still had a potbellied stove in an old dispatch office somewhere. The diners probably still cooked with coal...
New York Central 4-8-4 6014, Rensselaer, NY, December 6, 1952 (C. W. Jernstrom) Pacific Electric Caboose 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 1940s (Photographer unknown)
The NYC 6000s were beautiful machines. With more than 6000 horsepower, they were considered one of the most efficient steam locomotives ever built. It's a shame they were in service for only 10 years, and that none were saved. Thanks for that lovely photo.