Oddball critter, caboose

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:17 pm

This four-axle critter was seen in Kansas City, Kansas, derailed on UP property earlier this year. A Porter maybe?

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... _230_c.jpg
http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... _230_d.jpg

And this caboose, apparently ex-GN, on narrow gauge trucks at Virginia City, Montana:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... NX702a.jpg

David H. Hamley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:07 pm **Posts:** 705

That "critter" is a BLH/Whitcomb model S-3, a 45/50 ton 300 HP diesel electric with 4 traction motors. Five of these were built by BLH at Eddystone after Whitcomb production was moved there in 2/52. Several more of them, perhaps all five, still exist. Other owners were Standard Slag (Mingo Jct. and Portsmouth, OH), Babcock-Wilcox (Barberton, OH), and the BLH plant itself. GATX also had this one, and there have been several second owners of the locos.

Here's a fantasy road set for you: Five of these in MU, the HP equivalent of a single GP7. Go dream.

(Psst: None of the 5 had MU)

mikefrommontana · **Posted:** Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:32 pm

Bob:

The caboose is GN caboose that had the cupola removed by the GN for yard/terminal service. The car is sitting on standard gauge archbar freight trucks (not likely original to the car--possib ex Milwaukee trucks). Actually the caboose was the subject of a Brief, wherein I headed up a group to do major roof renewel work on the car in 2005. Of course much more work is still required.

Michael Seitz