Mankato scrap yard

Bob Yarger · **Posted:** Mon Aug 25, 2003 8:08 pm

Old Alco HH switcher in a scrapyard at Mankato, MN, evidently in 2001. Did it survive?

http://http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?june01/06-26-01/LO604_Retired_Mankato_2001-06-10_0783_Inset.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Tue Aug 26, 2003 7:37 am

Bob,

The link doesn't seem to work, but if it's the one I'm thinking it is, it's not scrapped yet, but very endangered. Most recently, it was sitting on top of a pile of scrap at the yard, waiting it's turn for scrapping.

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

Scot Lawrence · **Posted:** Tue Aug 26, 2003 10:38 am

> Bob,

> The link doesn't seem to work, but if it's
> the one I'm thinking it is, it's not
> scrapped yet, but very endangered. Most
> recently, it was sitting on top of a pile of
> scrap at the yard, waiting it's turn for
> scrapping.

> Boyd

here is the link:
(the first one had 2 http's in it)

Mankato scrap yard
sscotsman@yahoo.com

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Tue Aug 26, 2003 12:30 pm

That's the one I thought it was. The scrapyard used it as their in-house switcher for a while, then it was placed at the top of a scrap pile a few months ago.

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

dan · **Posted:** Tue Aug 26, 2003 2:27 pm

> That's the one I thought it was. The
> scrapyard used it as their in-house switcher
> for a while, then it was placed at the top
> of a scrap pile a few months ago.

> Boyd
Save it

bnsfbarker@aol.com

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Tue Aug 26, 2003 3:02 pm

I'm happy to report that after a little research, I found out that I was wrong. The unit on the scrap pile is the scrapyard's Davenport critter, not the FM. (No, I'm not happy to see the Davenport scrapped either, though.) The FM is laboring away, switching the scrapyard when it's needed. Hopefully Gopher State won't run it to death and scrap it before a museum can get it.

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Tue Aug 26, 2003 3:13 pm

In addition to the previously mentioned FM and Davenport, my MN contact also says there are some ex-UP baggage cars, and an ALCO S2 with a burned out cab in the scrapyard. Numerous old freight cars too.

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

L Beckman · **Posted:** Tue Aug 26, 2003 4:33 pm

> In addition to the previously mentioned FM
> and Davenport, my MN contact also says there
> are some ex-UP baggage cars, and an ALCO S2
> with a burned out cab in the scrapyard.
> Numerous old freight cars too.

> Boyd

Boyd:

Thanks for the info. For the record, LO604 at the GSMS is an Alco HH660 built in 1940 (s/n 69234) for the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern as their #211. It eventually became RELCO # 604 and last worked under lease for Bix Six Coop Terminal in Burt, Iowa. BTW, this information came from a website named THE YARD LIMIT, which deals exclusively with diesel yard switchers.

I have seen a photo of # 211 (I believe the "J" also had a HH660 numbered 210) when it was painted in EJ&E Orange and Green. Quite a neat paint scheme, to say the least. As our museum is in EJ&E "territory" (we have a number of EJ&E artifacts, including motor cars, cabooses, signals, etc.) I think that LO604 would sure look good here at our museum someday!

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Tue Aug 26, 2003 4:50 pm

Ooops, wrong again. No clue why I typed FM when I meant ALCO. My appologies to all offended ALCO and FM fans out there. I do know the difference, I really do...

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

David Ackerman · **Posted:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:19 pm

Obviously I'm an idiot. I actually thought it was an FM switcher. It sure looks like they're offering after the took the Lowey touches off. But then I've mistaken exotic Alcos for FMs before. (Specifically a USATC RS for European service for a Train Master. Obviously I'm not to be trusted as a diesel spotter.

Sincerely,
David Ackerman

david_ackerman@yahoo.com