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From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33922		 Page 8 of 18
Author:  machinehead61 [ Mon Mar 11, 2013 8:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
From the Military Railway Service (MRS) during WW II came this newsletter - "The Yankee Boomer" and some insight into Whitcomb reliability:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/25066940/YBaug91945

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From the 2nd paragraph down from the top I found this:

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As noted earlier in this thread that a WW II vet of the MRS in Europe said that the Buda engines in the Whitcombs had cylinder head problems.

This seems to verify that by mentioning their need for replacement heads.

Steve
Author:  machinehead61 [ Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
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A photo that hangs in the gift shop at the Rochelle Train park. I will get a better photo later when it can be removed from the frame.

Steve
Author:  machinehead61 [ Sun Mar 17, 2013 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
The weekend for the Rochelle Railroad Days has been established, June 1-2 rain or shine.

http://www.rochellerailroadpark.org/rrdays.html

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I plan on having a hand in 3 Whitcomb displays, one at the Railroad park to inform visitors of the main display at the museum downtown which I will also help in (the museum display will open Memorial Day and remain for an indefinite time) and another at Roberts Armory that will be exclusively about Whitcomb's WW II activity.

Both displays at the park and the museum will have WW II as its central theme.

Last year we estimate that from 2,500 - 3,000 visitors came.

If you live in the area, come on down.

Steve
Author:  prosser [ Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
.

PR
Author:  machinehead61 [ Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
Thanks for posting these photos. The exhaust on top of the hoods I've never seen before and I wonder why it was done.

I would love to see one of these units in our railroad park in Rochelle. I consider them to be the most historically significant Whitcombs due to their WW II service.

Steve
Author:  rlsteam [ Sat Mar 23, 2013 5:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
Steve, check out the thread here, "Hidden narrow gauge find in Panama." Are any of these locomotives Whitcombs?
Author:  machinehead61 [ Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
rlsteam wrote:
Steve, check out the thread here, "Hidden narrow gauge find in Panama." Are any of these locomotives Whitcombs?

I didn't recognize any. The text states that GE locomotives were used and I don't know enough about what I do see to think otherwise.

Thanks for the heads-up though.

This is all that I know about Whitcombs in Panama:

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Steve
Author:  machinehead61 [ Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
I just got this book through the library and the plot thickens . . .

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In the Diesel Spotters Guide by Jerry Pinkepank I found this - but without any source cited:

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It appears that Balwin Locomotives magazine was the source of this 92% stock ownership figure. I'm starting to suspect that when Baldwin issued its new stock for its new corporation, the "Whitcomb Locomotive Company" that it might have later on sold 8% of it to some other investors. Later in 1940 Baldwin bought that 8% stock back and then reorganized it as a division. At any point, there was no former George D. Whitcomb stock in existence after the bankruptcy in 1931.

Mr. Churella made a huge mistake in his book by assuming that Baldwin was part owner of "Whitcomb Locomotive Company"all the way back to 1906. "Whitcomb Locomotive Company" didn't exist until Baldwin created it in 1931. What did exist prior to 1931 was the George D. Whitcomb Company which Baldwin did invest in (less than 50% stock) in December 1928.

I will attempt to contact Mr. Churella.

Steve
Author:  machinehead61 [ Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
And another number that has been thrown around for decades I'm starting to question. Everyone and their mother has said that Whitcomb made the first successful gas locomotive in 1906.

Does anyone see a different year in this add from 1921 ?????


http://books.google.com/books?id=j2kKAQ ... mb&f=false

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Another source also puts the first year in 1909.

I'll put that up later.

Oh well, the truth is some where out there.

Steve
Author:  machinehead61 [ Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
From this source:

http://archive.org/stream/studyofcoalmi ... 9/mode/1up

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I also found Illinois coal mine surveys that counted locomotives in the mines that confirm this 1909 date.

Steve
Author:  machinehead61 [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
Never seen this one before - look at the streamlined Whitcomb for passenger service on the bottom:

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Steve
Author:  Howard P. [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
Looks a little like that Ingalls Shipbuilding loco that the GM&O had. Wonder if it actually was built, or was just an artist's rendering of a proposal.

I have been enjoying the results of your research.

Howard P.
Author:  machinehead61 [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
Howard P. wrote:
Looks a little like that Ingalls Shipbuilding loco that the GM&O had. Wonder if it actually was built, or was just an artist's rendering of a proposal.

I have been enjoying the results of your research.

Howard P.

I have no idea if these were ever built. Without access to the records out in California I don't know how to determine their status.

I'm gratified that you enjoy this research. I know that I'm a bit OCD and don't expect anyone else to enjoy the detailed lengths that I'm going to in order to find the correct history.

I knew when I started that there was a bit of conflicting information but I didn't know how much I was going to dig up later.

I wish I had the budget that Mr. Churella had. His book started out as a Phd. thesis in history and received grant money from three different universities to cover travel expenses needed to go find and dig through collections in many states.

This is all coming out of my own pocket and I'm a father of an autistic son that needs a lot of my time. He routinely melts down and brings our house to a stand still.

Steve
Author:  machinehead61 [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
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Steve
Author:  machinehead61 [ Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research
Also found this:

http://books.google.com/books?id=znb7t5 ... in&f=false

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First, Baldwin did not gain control of Whitcomb until 1931.

Second, Baldwin stated in its court defense that it was Whitcomb that approached Baldwin in 1928 to participate in a recapitalization program.

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Whitcomb and Heim approached William DeKrafft, Baldwin vice president and treasurer. This is understandable considering Samuel Vauclains' indifference to diesels.

Steve
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