Years ago, when I was travelling through Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, I was surprised to see quite a bit of equipment scattered around an area that was toward the Mississippi River as I recall. I particularly remember a wrecking derrick there. There was a recent posting on another thread indicating at least one of these pieces was still there. Anyone have any additional info including who might own that stuff?

Les

The equipment all belongs to Blair Dillman, owner of many businesses in Prairie. Most of it is for sale from what I understand. The CB&Q commuter coaches have been donated to a museum, however there have been difficulties completing the transaction, so they continue to deteriorate. Most of it is in pretty bad shape now, with no one taking care of it...

Photos of the line-up in 2006. I believe the open end obs was the same ex MILW unit that sat near Richland Center WI in the 1980s
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldonliner/136189505/

Does anyone have additional photos of this equipment, particulalry the other heavyweights in the distance? Anyone know what they are?

Someone asked about it on Facebook: Still there.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0620684 ... 6656?hl=en

Thanks for the update. Quite a string of equipment! Don't see the wrecking derrick mentioned earlier but noticed what might be a small diesel behind a tree. Is that what it is? Also, note the turntable.

Les

The streetview image is from 2012. The aerial view is from 2017. It shows far fewer cars, but the crane is visible.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0620795 ... !1e3?hl=en

Look on the other side of N. Villa Louise Road.

They moved most of them over to the other side of the street, leaving what appear to be the cabooses.

Les, I was just thru there Oct. 9 - 12 2017 as we stayed over in Iowa close by and we went over to Prarie Du Chein a few times. The derrick and a open windowed coach were still there on a short side track on the north side of some industry building. They were the only old RR equipment i noticed from the main road that runs paralell to the line where they are. I did not bother to go over and look at them as it was late in the evening, next to those 2 pcs. of equipment was i believe a dirt road crossing, then just north of that a switch from the main track. My son told me he drove over there one of the days we were there and said some of the rail had been pulled on the track between the switch and the road crossing next to where the derrick and coach are sitting. I don't recall seeing any other old RR equipment along that line other than the derrick and coach.

Fritz -

Thanks very much for the info. It took me quite a while using the Google Aerial view but I was finally able to spot the derrick and coach behind the industrial building you mentioned, just off of S. Main Street and near a short stub of W. Wells where it intersects with Main. Quite a ways away from the other equipment.

Also on the aerial view, it looks like there might be a cupola caboose down at the end of the long string of cars. Didn't see a cupola caboose in the street view and wondered if it was also Milwaukee Road. That is, IF it's really a cupola caboose. The Milwaukee did have some old cupola cabooses, but not too many I don't believe.

Thanks again. Good to know that the big crane is still in existence.


Les

Here is what I have on the wrecker:

Industrial Brownhoist
5107 150t Wrecker 1929
Northern Pacific #41 (conv to diesel 12-59)
Burlington Northern #D-152 04-73
Retired 05-87
Unknown Prairie du Chin, WI derelict
(here 07-03-08, still here 10-09-17)

Who owns this?

The wrecker and coach (one of the two donated to the Texas museum), are owned by the same man who owns all the other equipment.

And that is?

Mr. Blair Dillman, last I knew..

Thank you Boyd. I hadn't noticed them name mentioned earlier. It would be a shame to see the wrecker torched but it would not be a surprize.