http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/srchThumbs.aspx?srch=CRIP+536&search=Search The above is a link to a series of pics of ex-Rock Island SW1 536 (built 1942) which is currently in service at a grain elevator in Plainview, TX. Here's a post from A-OK president Dave Donoley concerning this little goat: Rock Island Engine 536 Posted by: "david donoley" **************. com bdd74578 Date: Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:29 am ((PDT)) Warm up your camera RI 536 is leaving Texas for a home on her home track the ROCK ISLAND. The 536 will load out on a truck at Plainview Texas tomorrow (Tuesday July 29th, 2008) and TRUCK East to Wilburton, Oklahoma. Here the SW 1 will be rebuild and put back into service. Yes she will recieve RED and YELLOW paint scheme of A-OK Railroad. Yes she will Keep her number of 536. Need all the information on where this Engine worked on the Rock Island. Dave Donoley A-OK'a active fleet, currently B23-7s and B23-7SSs, are painted in red & yellow reminiscent of the Rock's last paint scheme before the switch to Barringer Blue. This line operates on part of the former Choctaw Route between Howe and McAlester, OK, as well as handles switching chores for the GM plant at Oklahoma City. Numerous cars with AOK reporting marks can also be seen in freights coast to coast, and even on some HO scale cars (!!).
Hmm......I'm overdue a visit to western Arkansas to spoil my granddaughter, and I go right by Wilburton, so................................. I'll also keep an eye open in the Railspot and Sooner State Rails forums as well. It won't be the only raggedy-looking diesel in Wilburton- at least two B23-7s (kept for parts), one ex-Midsouth GP10 and a hi-nosed GP9 are there as well. But I'm sure the new goat (dare I say "new kid on the block"?) won't stay raggedy for long.
Heh...I live near the A-OK tracks here in Wister, OK. I hardly ever hear any locomotives passing by, used to hear about one train a week. Haven't heard anything at all here lately. I'll be sure to take some pics if I see anything though.
Hi all. First post here on Trainboard, though I've been a member for quite a while now. In June I went up to McAlester, OK in hopes of railfanning the A-OK and A&M Railroads but ended up seeing very little action. While going through the Wilburton area I recieved the priveledge of shooting the equipment that was shut down in the 'yard' while tie gangs rolled through and among the B23s and Super-7s was the 536, all dressed up in new Red & Yellow paint. Donoley plans to get the trucks replaced and painted then reapply a few sections of the pilot that were still being painted and have the engine as a whole back in service sometime very soon if not already. I got quite a few pictures of the engine as well.
I worked for the Rock Island as a switchman some years back and remember working on several of the 500 series switch engines. I am not sure if the 536 was among them. This was in Topeka, Ks. Was sad to see the condition of the 536, but it looks like it has made a comeback. Thanks for posting the pics.
Awesome! Thanks for the pics and welcome to both our new guys! So glad to see the A-OK taking care of this unit.
