The subject of Pacific Electric's GE 44-ton center cab diesels came up, and the final disposition of the last unit, 1654 was asked about. This unit was last reported as in service on the Moscow Camden & San Augustine RR in Texas in 1971. Now a GE 44-tonner has been spotted in Logansport, Indiana and the question, is, could this be the 1654? When it was MC&SA 17, it still had the platform that PE installed on the cab roof to support the "dummy" trolley pole installed to activate overhead-controlled crossing signals. Should a GE in Indiana (or anywhere else) have this addition, it would be conclusive evidence that this relic of the Red Car era has survived. One report says the unit in Logansport has Cummins engines, which the PE units didn't have--they were Cat-powered. Any reports would be appreciated.

Bob,

X2200 South issue #51 (March-April 1975) lists the MC&SA 44-ton as sold 6/11/73 to Transco Service, Inc., at Logansport, IN.

Jay Reed's Compreshensive Guide to Industrial Locomotives (2002) makes no reference to a 44-tonner but shows a 65-ton GE at Transco, ex-Interlake Iron Co., which might account for a unit with Cummins engines.

Alan Maples

Someone ask about the GE 44 tonner at Transco at Logansport, Indiana on another website. It had a fire years ago and was scrapped by Mervis Industries of Kokomo, Indiana. I was offered the engines and generators, but had no interest as they had fire damage.

Transco currently operates an ex-U S military Whitcomb as their main power. There are one or two more locomotives on site, but not sure if they run or are used any more.

They are not very vistor friendly!

As a matter of interest, Oregon and Northwestern locomotive #3, an AS-616 Baldwin diesel, which currently resides at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola was also equipped with trolley poles for Pacific Electric service. It was the former SP 5274.