A recent message forwarded to me indicates that two CRIP E-units, E-6 630 and E-8 652, are being "auctioned off". Weren't these owned by a museum group near Kansas City? I recall these being restored and operable.

The pre-war E-6 unit #630 was once owned by Smoky Hill. I seem to recall that they had sold it off to a private individual. How, why and where-for I do not know.

I think the the E-8 was always privately owned. I think the owner was once an officer of a railroad supplier.

I went looking for Smoky Hill Railway & Historical Society and found it is now operating under the named of Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad Co. Still as a 501c3.

Both units were restored to operation about 15 years ago, but #630 was trouble-prone and hasn't operated for a number of years. #652 has operated more recently.

There has been an extensive discussion of these units on the Rock Island Technical Society's discussion group. The following excerpt from one message explains the ownership pretty well:

MidWest Rail Holdings, Inc. bought the 630 from Smoky Hill Railway. MidWest Rail is owned by Brad Dusenbery and John Killian. We both are long time memebers of the Midland Railway. The 630 has been on loan to the Midland since we aquired it and so has the 652. The Midland has never had ownership of either locomotive.

The 652 is owned by John Killian and Ron Dringinberg and it was bought from Chrome in the 80's.

The Midland was approached before we put out the advertizing for the sale. They are not in any financal or other trouble.

If the bids are rejected we will still retain ownership. Leasing is also a possiblity.


Brad Dusenbery
MidWest Rail

The manager of the Iowa Northern, a shortline utilizing a former CRI&P route out of Manly, Iowa, has stated they and other preserved RI equipment would be welcome there if someone else found a way to purchase the units and get them to Iowa. Interestingly, Manly is also the site of the most intact of the four extant Rock Island roundhouses, which of course I suggested would be the thing to save first. Currently used for storage by a local grain elevator, the roundhouse has had a middle portion removed for better access to the elevator's trackage, but the rest is ok and the turntable is still functional. At last report, the grain company was considering razing the rest to build new storage bins and there was no local interest to save the roundhouse.

The Rock Island Technical Society's website is at the link below, and you can join the RITSlist there (it is not a Yahoo group):

http://www.simpson.edu/~RITS/

Photos of the Manly roundhouse, taken several years ago, can be found by scrolling down to links on this page:

http://www.simpson.edu/~tinder/060395Manly/June3.html