From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 14, 2014 11:07 am

Just found this photograph. The first color photo of a Whitcomb from WW II.

"Brig. Gen. Carl R. Gray, Director Gen. of Allied Military Railroad Division shakes hands with Col. Charles Poletti, A.M.G. Commissioner on arrival of first train at Rome since Allied occupation. July 4, 1944 "

I am trying to contact the forum member to find where this came from. I found it in this forum:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/show ... ount=17552

Steve

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 14, 2014 1:16 pm

I just found where the image came from:

http://historylink101.com/ww2_color/Wor ... _1176.html

Steve

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Fri May 09, 2014 8:48 pm

Just bought this add on Ebay this week.

It is the only add that I have ever seen that announces that Baldwin has taken over Whitcomb.

Engineering and Mining Journal, July 13, 1931 p. 29

Steve

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2014 12:58 am

I just learned how easy it is to add images to Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitcomb_Locomotive_Works

There are so many websites that have the wrong information about this event that I thought this add would help reinforce the validity of the Wiki article.

Steve

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2014 2:01 am

Keep up the work!

You may well have the only "museum" (real or virtual) dedicated to Whitcomb.

Have you thought about writing a book on this?

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2014 8:48 am

J3a-614 wrote:

Keep up the work!

You may well have the only "museum" (real or virtual) dedicated to Whitcomb.

Have you thought about writing a book on this?

A book has been in the works. I have to get out to the California State Railway Museum to get the all important production information.

Steve

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Sat May 17, 2014 12:18 am

Just last week I found this article from January 30, 1929:

http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bi ... 0130.2.31#

Quote:

"Have Worked Together

The Baldwin Locomotive Works have represented the George D . Whitcomb Company in the sales division in all foreign countries , except Japan , during the past year , and their experience with the Whitcomb organization , its product , and their own success in marketing these locomotives in foreign fields was largely instrumental in bringing about the present alliance which was brought to a successful conclusion by S . Vancalin and William DeKrafft , president and treasurer of the Baldwin Locomotive Works respectively and Carl Heim in behalf of the Whitcomb interests.

Reject Merger Offers

The Whitcomb Company has had several offers during the past 90 days to either sell out its holdings , or to merge with other locomotive companies or with corporations in other lines , but it is the belief of the management that with the present alliance it is better equipped to retain its position of predominance in the field , than it could by under any other management."

I had never heard of this before. Ever since I began my search into this company I could not find when nor how Whitcomb and Baldwin became involved with each other.

Steve

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Sat May 17, 2014 3:29 am

The President and principal owner of the Whitcomb Locomotive Company was William Card Whitcomb until the Spring of 1931 when Baldwin Locomotive Works took it over. Mr. Whitcomb had two daughters, Georgiana and Kathleen. Georgiana would marry Latham Castle on May 1, 1931. They would have one child, John Whitcomb Castle. This Wednesday, May 15, John gave a presentation on his family history and I finally got to meet him. This photograph was taken of John and I at that presentation. Next Monday we will have lunch and share history.

http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bi ... 10506.2.7#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latham_Castle

Steve

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Tue May 20, 2014 11:38 pm

The fruits of my meeting with John Castle:

William Card Whitcomb - photograph courtesy of John Whitcomb Castle. William Card Whitcomb was president and principal stock owner of the George D. Whitcomb Company from around 1908-1931 in Rochelle, Illinois. Under his supervision the company developed its line of industrial locomotives.

Steve

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:12 am

This Monday ( June 9 ) I gave a proposal to the Rochelle City Council to start a feasibility study to acquire the WW II Whitcomb locomotive, a 65-DE-19A sitting in Mason City, Iowa. It was well received and the members started kicking around ideas to estimate the scrap value of the unit as a starting point to offer the company a purchase price that owns the locomotive.

I received (too late for the meeting) a bid to move the locomotive the approximate 300 miles from Mason city to Rochelle for $38,000 from a machinery mover in Rockford.

Next council meeting I will present the bid to keep the fire lit on this project.

Steve

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6466

Steve -

Stumbled across this website when looking for something else:

http://mining.jamison.museum/PAGES/Whitcomb.html

My apologies if it has already been mentioned in this 16 page thread.

Les

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6466

A 44-ton center cab Whitcomb on display in Galena, Kansas:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3381414

Apparently one of only four of this particular model still in existence, one of which is located at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana.

Les

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 21, 2014 11:28 pm

Les Beckman wrote:

Steve -

Stumbled across this website when looking for something else:

http://mining.jamison.museum/PAGES/Whitcomb.html

My apologies if it has already been mentioned in this 16 page thread.

Les

I have seen this web page before but thanks anyways.

Les Beckman wrote:

A 44-ton center cab Whitcomb on display in Galena, Kansas:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=3381414

Apparently one of only four of this particular model still in existence, one of which is located at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana.

Les

I hope to get over to your Hoosier Valley RR Museum some day when we have a vehicle that I would trust that far. We just had one vehicle blow a head gasket and another develop a severe rod knock. Plus I just had knee surgery. Patience is a virtue, so I hear,

Steve

machinehead61 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:11 pm

We just found boxes of articles in the basement of the Rochelle Visitor Center. So far some never before seen photos of Whitcomb locomotives and unidentified employees. More to come.

Steve

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6466

Steve -

Thought you might like to see this, if you haven't already:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hunter182 ... otostream/

Les

From Rochelle IL and doing Whitcomb Locomotive Research

Who is online