Here are a couple of industrial locos in the Columbia SC area that I have been able to photograph so far.
Richard, Nice photos there... The top loco looks like an ex-ICG type unit; the GP looks like an ex-C&NW colored unit, however, it could be ex-CR with that blanked out dynamic brake blister... Any ideas?? Harold
Santa Fe has/had a whole slew of units like the bottom one, and I've been trying for ages to find one in N scale... no luck so far!
SCL / later Family Lines / later CSX had a bunch of units similar..... They took old GP7/9's and rebuilt them into GP16's, similar to the IC Paducah rebuild program..... They ended up with well over 100+ of these units... I think the best way to get one is to do it yourself (kitbash)... Harold
I can't tell you much about either of these locos. Here is what little I know. The blue and yellow geep works at the American Italian Pasta Company and like harold says, looks much like an old CSX G16. The switcher works a steel complex and appears to be a SW1500 and I have no clue as to its heritage. This complex also has what looks like an old SW9 but is park in such a way that it is almost impossible to photograph.
Richard: Where is the steel complex. I am going to be in the Columbia area in a couple of weeks, and that looks intresting to shoot. Thanks Tom
Tom, It's in the Cayce area off exit #2 on I-77. I will verify the exact directions this week when I'm back over there and post them. It is also very near the south end of the CSX yard. You can see pics from there and the NS yard in post under those railroads.
Richard: There are a couple of other industrial loco in the Columbia, do you know if these can be photographed easily. The first two are listed in Jay Reed's book "Comprehensive Guide to Industrial Locos" And the last ones were found on the Taplines website Still Active - I believe Martin Marietta Aggregates Cayce Quarry RS11 2125 State St Cayce Carolina Eastman Div., Eastman Chemical CO 2103 EMD SW9 s/n 14927 COLUMBIA, SC 8/29/1986 Do not know if still active Columbia Silica Sand 5275 Edmund Hwy --- PORTER 45-ton s/n 7565 SOUTH CONGAREE, SC 10/4/1982 Foster-Dixiana Sand 3308 Charleston Hwy ---- GE 45-ton s/n 29972 COLUMBIA, SC 7/29/1982 LONE STAR CEMENT CO. ---- GE 25-ton s/n 28532 COLUMBIA quarry,SC 7/29/1982 RMAC-LONESTAR INC.(SC) 123 EMD NW2 S/N 7521 LEASED FROM L&S COLUMBIA,SC 8/29/88
Tom, The ones I photographed, I found by accident sort of. Guess I will have to go out and hunt for these others over the next two afternoons. This is my last week over here in Columbia for a while so wish me luck. If I find any, I will let you know. The switcher at the steel place is indeed off exit 2 on I-77. The street is 12th street. It is just under two miles to the location. There is a bridge going over the south end of the area and I recommend crossing the bridge to get a look at which side will be the best choice for a photo. The road just after the bridge on the right leads to the south end of the CSX yard. If you follow that street to the end and turn left, that will take you to State street and the entrance to the quarry in Cayce. I didn't know the quarry was supposed to have a switcher and haven't noticed one around so I guess it will not be so easy to catch.
Tom, Hope you have better luck than I did searching for the industrial locos you noted above. I found all the locations you listed but came away empty handed. Let us know how you do and have a good trip to Columbia.
