6323 on an excursion at Valpariso, Indiana 9/2/61:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... 9-2-61.jpg

6319 at Detroit, 2/25/60:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... -25-60.jpg

6322 at Brush Street Station, Detroit, 4/10/60:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... -10-60.jpg

The latter two did not survive, but if I recall, they pulled the last regularly scheduled steam passenger trains on a class one standard gauge railroad in the US, in 1960.

And the ill-fated 5629, sometime before it was scrapped, here at Hammond, Indiana:

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi? ... x13-46.jpg

The 5629 is sitting next to the old Monon roundhouse at the South Hammond yard. Alas, the only thing left from this scene is the Hammond water tower!

Les

I suspect the photo of 6322 was taken about the time of the last scheduled use of steam on the Pontiac-Detroit commuter trains. This must have got some mention in the press at the time, because my dad went in to work on a Saturday at the J. L. Hudson Co. (visible in the picture over the coal bunker) and took his train-loving 7-year-old and a home movie camera with him. He went out of his way to drive the straight-8 Buick to the Birmingham depot to grab the last steam run, and take the train one last time. (We'd moved out of B'ham for Mt. Clemens 3 years before). His brief movie clip (that film cost money) shows the 6322 in Brush Street Station. I remember the trip back north was behind green Diesels, which must have been passenger GP-9s. I'm pretty sure that must have been on a Saturday. The date of the picture is a Sunday, when I presume the commuter trains didn't run, so perhaps the engine was working a train to Durand. Wouldn't surprise me if it's the same weekend, though.

Since 1960, the station was obliterated for the Renaissance Center (now the GM headquarters), and today's news says that the grade-separated route from Milwaukee Junction to the riverfront is to be reconstructed as a bike path. This below-grade cut has become somewhat famous for its artful graffiti and wild appearance in the heart of the city. The department store closed in 1982. A few of the commuter coaches survive as outbuildings and restaurants around Michigan. Some of these had wood roofs and trucks.

Brother! I had assumed you men up around Owosso in GTW country would recite these numbers in your sleep!
1. The last scheduled GTW passenger run was on 3-27-60, when 6319 and 6322 took Nr. 21 in two sections from Detroit to Durand. In fact, this was officially the last class-1 scheduled steam passenger run in all of USA.
2. The above is not fully true: Sister 6323 was used on Nr. 21 Detroit to Durand on 9-20-61 the day before her boiler time ran out for the last time.
3. On 4-10-60 - see photo at Detroit - 6322 ran an excursion Detroit-Richmond via Pontiac. That was the day her stoker malfunctioned and she had the privilege of being towed back into Detroit in the eve by a diesel. I assume 6322's last run on a loaded train was on 4-30-61, a Chicago-South Bend roundtrip.

Hope this helps - Bill Yoder