Also interesting is the car at left side. It it says "Wrecking Car", but at a quick glance almost looks like the white lettering says "Wedding Car."
Whitcomb 65-ton locomotives of the 732nd Railway Operating Battalion (ROB) crossing replacement bridge, Trier Germany, March 1945. Wreckage of original bridge seen to right in photo. The extent of the destruction in Europe was beyond what anyone could imagine. The same train pulled by Whitcombs at Trier, Germany, March 1945 over replacement bridge by the 732nd Railway Operating Battalion. Wreckage of original bridge seen on right in photo. Steve
Downtown DeKalb 1940 Whitcomb switcher. From the Waite Embree collection NIU Regional History Collection. http://archon.lib.niu.edu/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=2&q=tobin Waite Wagner Embree, the eldest of three children born to Elmer and Eva, was born November 27, 1905. After graduating from the University of Illinois, he joined his father and brother, Henry, as a partner in the E.E. Embree and Sons Lumber Yard. In the bottom photo you can see the "Embree's" name on the building which locates these photos as downtown DeKalb, Illinois. Steve
I was guessing orange and white also. A new (old) photo from NIU (Northern Illinois University): Whitcomb locomotives enroute to delivery, DeKalb, IL. near the Chicago & North Western coal chute. Date: 1949, photograph by W.W. Embree courtesy of the NIU Regional History Center. NIU has 9 Whitcomb photos in the Embree collection that have probably never been published before nor seen the light of day since donated back in March of 1967. I asked if there were any Whitcomb photos and the NIU staff dug out the collection and these had been cataloged so they were easy to find. Steve
Whitcomb locomotives - I believe for export to Argentina, 1949, probably DeKalb area. Note broken windows - vandalism post WW II. Ambree collection, NIU Regional History Center. A photo of Waite W. Embree of DeKalb, IL who took these photos and his family donated them to NIU in March, 1967. From NIU Regional History Center collection. Steve
I might be on to a surviving Whitcomb 65 ton WW II veteran locomotive up for possible donation. Rumor has it the unit is in running condition. Try to contact the gentleman tomorrow and go from there. Steve
Still no reply. I'm guessing the contact might be on vacation. In the interim I'm looking around for cost estimates to move a 65 ton locomotive from Mason City, Iowa to Rochelle, Illinois. I wonder if any railroads could tow it on their line and drop it off on a siding in Rochelle. The BNSF and UP both have main lines going through town. Steve
I contacted Lehigh Cement Company in Mason City, Iowa and they confirmed that they still own the Whitcomb and it does date back to WW II. They parked it about 3 years ago after experiencing traction motor problems and bought another locomotive to replace it. They attempted to move it a number of years ago on a local UP line for some service work elsewhere but the UP inspected the Whitcomb and found that the wheels did not measure up to UP standards (flange problems? This unit was built in 1943 and designed for European service). Some scrap dealers did look at it but nothing came from it. Perhaps it cost more to move than the scrap value since it can't be moved by rail. The manager that oversees the locomotive has tried to contact me but my voice mail isn't working and I missed his calls. I will try to call him tomorrow. Steve
Update on the Whitcomb in Iowa - another group is interested in the unit. I'm in wait mode to see if they get it. Another Whitcomb photo from WW II: Steve
Somehow, the words "service station" come across with the wrong mental picture. Still hoping you can get that unit.
"Service station" in a desert war front does send a mental picture that looks to me like a Standard gas station attendent wiping the windshield and asking if I want to fill her up with regular. The manager in charge of the Whitcomb says he does not want the engine destroyed. He asked why Rochelle was interested in it and I gave him the history. He had no idea of what history was behind the locomotive he has and appreciates its historical value now. Steve
Absolutely. I talked to our tourism director and he is definitely interested in it. We have the space in our Railroad Park where our other two Whitcombs reside. This 65 ton unit would be the biggest yet and would probably go to the south where the city owns a grass lot which is used for overflow parking for the park. The manager told me that this other group has yet to come up with any dollar figure. If they back out, we might go apply for a state grant to help move the Whitcomb back home to where it was built. Right now our city government is going through some "restructuring" and the city manager might not be too receptive to spending tourism dollars on a 65 ton tourist attraction. Steve
This is the 65 ton Whitcomb (65DE-19a) from WW II that now operates at the Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern in Kempton PA. This photo is from the gent that arranged the move. It still has its original Buda engines. The Mason City unit replaced its with Cummings. It was moved by three flatbeds. Each Whitcomb truck weighs 15 tons and the body pictured above is 35 tons. The two trucks can go without overload permits. Only the body needs an overload permit and would require a pretty substantial crane to load & unload. Steve
