Last Alco Built

AlcoGuy · **Joined:** Sun Mar 08, 2015 10:23 am **Posts:** 41

The last Alco built, T6 1017, that is (or recently was) located in Dana, In at the Cargill facility has recently been replaced. Cargill is apparently well aware of the units historical significance and it is to be preserved. My question is what are the plans for this unit? Where is it heading? Is it even still on the property?

Nova55 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:09 pm **Posts:** 597

I heard it went to an Elevator in Michigan.

TrainWatcher · **Posted:** Wed Sep 14, 2016 10:42 am

It currently belongs to Great Lakes Locomotive, (GLLX) and is based with a former GTW SW1500 #1512 and a ex-ATSF CF7 on the former West Michigan Railroad near Hartland, MI.

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

If Cargill were to donate it, my first vote and preference would be for it to go to the Alco museum in Schenectady. (Not knowing anything about whether they would take it, of course!)

AlcoC420 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:17 pm **Posts:** 270

The locomotive was owned by AC Grain, Cargill is only a partner in that company.

They did not have any interest in donating the locomotive.

I did not know there was even an Alco museum, I thought that had died.

I am a part owner in the locomotive.

The locomotive has a failed main generator and needs other work.

The plan is to repair the locomotive and put it to work.

JohnC · **Joined:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:20 pm **Posts:** 217

Overmod wrote:

If Cargill were to donate it, my first vote and preference would be for it to go to the Alco museum in Schenectady. (Not knowing anything about whether they would take it, of course!)

There is no ALCO Museum. The museum died an early death due to gross mismanagement. In fact, the group does not exist anymore either.

Cameron Wolk · **Joined:** Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:34 pm **Posts:** 270

JohnC wrote:

Overmod wrote:

If Cargill were to donate it, my first vote and preference would be for it to go to the Alco museum in Schenectady. (Not knowing anything about whether they would take it, of course!)

There is no ALCO Museum. The museum died an early death due to gross mismanagement. In fact, the group does not exist anymore either.

Matt Giardino might be a credible person to be informed on this matter. The museum does not exist anymore but the Alco Tech & Historical Society does which raises another potential savior. We'll just have to see what happens otherwise.

wm303 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 17, 2016 7:01 am

" . . . but the Alco Tech & Historical Society does which raises another potential savior".

The locomotive does not need a "savior". It needs a main generator and some other work.

JohnC · **Joined:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:20 pm **Posts:** 217

Cameron Wolk wrote:

JohnC wrote:

Overmod wrote:

If Cargill were to donate it, my first vote and preference would be for it to go to the Alco museum in Schenectady. (Not knowing anything about whether they would take it, of course!)

There is no ALCO Museum. The museum died an early death due to gross mismanagement. In fact, the group does not exist anymore either.

Matt Giardino might be a credible person to be informed on this matter. The museum does not exist anymore but the Alco Tech & Historical Society does which raises another potential savior. We'll just have to see what happens otherwise.

Regardless of this groups alleged status; they have no money or a place to keep it. I would much against the idea of adding to their problem. At least with a railroad, just maybe it will receive the TLC it needs.

traingeek8223 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 18, 2016 2:20 pm

Quote:

There is no ALCO Museum. The museum died an early death due to gross mismanagement. In fact, the group does not exist anymore either.

I'm not here to cause start fights and I will not engage in one but these comments are both lies by an unreliable source with an ax to grind.

The ALCO Historical & Technical Society does still exist and while we do not have our own stand-alone museum anymore, 90% of our exhibits that were on display at the ALCO Heritage Museum are still on display and able to be viewed by the public thanks to a partnership with the Walter Elwood Museum of the Mohawk Valley started 2014. In fact more artifacts that have been added since. We have money in the bank and no outstanding debt. We also have a membership base and run a very successful Model Train show, "Rails Along the Mohawk", in Amsterdam, NY once a year. We are however lacking in active bodies to keep the wheels turning and therefore have really paired down what we do so that we may focus on survival for the future. With this in mind we are currently not pursuing any large equipment that would need to be moved thousands of miles and take volunteer labor that we do not have to care for, AT THIS TIME. We are not big, but we are not dead and we are certainly not mismanaged. The locomotive in question here is certainly a significant piece of ALCO history and is deserving of care for the future, which it sounds like it has found.